The world's largest solar farm seen from satellite
Environment — di Rudi Bressa
Here is what 4 million solar panels look like from space. China is home to the world's largest solar farm.
The world's largest solar farm seen from satellite
Here is what 4 million solar panels look like from space. China is home to the world's largest solar farm.
It is a constant chase of records. The title of largest solar farm has passed over the years from Spain, through California, then on to South Africa and India. In February, thanks to images taken by Nasa's Landsat 8 satellite, we learned that the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park in China is today one of the largest solar farms in the world.
It comprises 4 million solar panels installed over the course of 4 years, from 2013 to the present. On 5 January, the plant covered an area of 27 square kilometres in Qinghai province, with a capacity of 850 MW of pure renewable energy. Almost twice the output of a small nuclear power station. Some 200,000 households could potentially benefit from the electricity generated by the plant.
The other solar farms
Over the years, the title of "largest solar farm" has passed through the hands of the Topaz Solar Farm in California, with 550 MW. Then, also in California, Solar Star with 579 MW, before passing to India's Kamuthi Solar Project, with an installed capacity of 648 MW.
A record-breaking solar farm
The plant was built thanks to an investment of more than 800 million euros. According to Reuters, China will invest a further 360 billion euros in renewable energy over the next 3 years, with the aim of reaching 110 GW of solar energy and 210 GW of wind power.
This latest Asian record only confirms China's leadership in the solar sector: the country is today the world's leading producer of solar energy, with 77.42 gigawatts of installed capacity, capable of generating around 66.2 billion kilowatt-hours in 2016. The United States follows with 14 gigawatts, Japan with 8.6 gigawatts and India with 4.5 gigawatts.
But the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park's record is set to remain so for only a little longer. China's titanic plans for the construction of mega solar farms include the building, already under way, of a plant in the Ningxia region. More than 46 square kilometres of panels, with an installed capacity, once completed, of 2 GW. In Italy, 368 MW of new capacity were installed in 2016 — one fifth of the output of the new plant which, once completed, will supply energy to around 7,000 households. A small village.