Large solar installations can transform into architectural and engineering works that are not only functional and useful but also beautiful. And so, a solar park can become a tourist attraction and set in motion, in addition to the jobs and economic development linked to clean energy, other activities too — such as tourism — that have no obvious connection with the renewables sector. Below are some of the projects that have distinguished themselves more than others for having managed to combine the need to obtain clean energy by harnessing the sun with respect for the environment, producing installations that have been widely described as "beautiful".

Disney's photovoltaic installation in Florida

When Disney decides to build its own solar park, it can only do so in its own way. The solar installation currently under construction takes the shape of the iconic face of its most famous character: Mickey Mouse. A 5 MW installation with 48,000 panels that supplies electricity to Walt Disney World and the nearby Reedy Creek Improvement District.

The solar installation at Chattanooga airport in Tennessee

Located at the south-west corner of Chattanooga airport, this 2.1 MW solar installation was built on a space that cannot be used for aeronautical purposes. The solar complex brings together two solar parks: on one side, 3,948 solar panels generating 255 watts per panel and, on the other, a further 3,542 panels of 310 watts each. Together, the two installations manage to produce approximately 85 per cent of the airport's entire energy needs. The Airport Authority's goal is to reach 3 MW of installed capacity, which would make the airport energy self-sufficient and carbon neutral.

Planta Solar in Spain

The Planta Solar installation consists of two concentrating solar power plants whose design echoes the shape of a lotus leaf: Planta Solar 10 and Planta Solar 20. Located in Sanlúcar la Mayor, Spain, at the time of its construction the complex boasted the most powerful solar power tower in the world — a record that held until 2014, when the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility was built in California. Planta Solar 20, the larger of the two installations, produces 48 megawatts a year, enough to power 10,000 homes.

The Topaz Solar photovoltaic plant in California

Viewed from above, Topaz Solar, which covers part of Carrizo Plain in southern California, is reminiscent of the retro graphics of the old Tetris video game. It is made up of 9 million thin-film photovoltaic modules spread across 1,900 hectares, making it one of the largest photovoltaic power plants in the world. Having come into operation in 2014, its 550 megawatts produce enough electricity to power approximately 180,000 homes. According to calculations carried out by Nasa, this installation prevents 407,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere every year — the equivalent of taking 77,000 cars off the road.

Crescent Dunes Solar in Nevada

Crescent Dunes Solar is a 110-megawatt concentrating solar power installation. Completed at the end of 2014 and situated in the desert on the outskirts of Las Vegas. Its construction initially sparked controversy because, during the general start-up test, its enormous power caused considerable problems for local wildlife. Researchers and technicians subsequently managed to resolve the issues that had arisen, and it has since come to be appreciated both for its contribution in terms of clean energy and for the futuristic architectural structure that sets it apart.

The heart of New Caledonia

It has not yet been built, but once completed it will certainly become the most beautiful solar park in the world. It is inspired by the Heart of Voh, a nearby area that has the natural shape of a heart and is home to mangrove vegetation. The so-called "Heart of New Caledonia" will be built on the island of Grande Terre, the largest island in New Caledonia, in the south-western Pacific Ocean. On completion, its 7,888 panels will be able to supply clean energy to 750 homes, saving approximately 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over its estimated 25-year lifespan.

Japan's post-Fukushima Kagoshima Nanatsujima

In southern Japan, in Kyocera, lies Japan's largest solar installation. A power plant with a capacity of 70 megawatts that supplies around 22,000 Japanese homes. Following the nuclear disaster at Fukushima, this 280-million-dollar project represents Japan's commitment to investing in clean, renewable energy. Kagoshima Nanatsujima does not stand out for being futuristic or original: it is its story that is, rather. It is in fact one of the few solar installations open to the public: it offers guided tours and science exhibitions. Inside, a circular observation hall has been set up from which visitors can observe the installation but also enjoy the panorama that, on one side, looks out over Kagoshima Bay and, on the other, towards the Sakurajima volcano, thus attracting a number of tourists. It is perhaps an unusual way to introduce and inform citizens about clean energy, its benefits and the methods used to produce it.

In China, the giant panda-shaped solar installation

A solar installation to produce renewable energy, but also to raise awareness among young people on the subject of energy sustainability. The Panda power plant in Datong, located in north-east China, is a photovoltaic installation with a total installed capacity of 50 megawatts in the shape of a giant panda. The black parts of the panda, such as the ears and arms, are made up of monocrystalline silicon solar cells supplied by Chinese company Xi'an Longi Silicon Materials Corp, while the belly and the grey-and-white face are composed of thin-film solar cells produced by First Solar, a US company. An original way to achieve the integration, within a single installation, of two of the world's most cutting-edge solar technologies, while celebrating China's symbolic animal. Once completed, the Datong installation will be capable of producing a total of 3.2 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy over the next 25 years.

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