The world’s largest solar plant has been activated in China, boasting an annual capacity of over 6 billion kilowatt hours. This expansive facility, located in the desert region of Xinjiang, spans 200,000 acres – comparable in size to New York City. With a capacity of 5GW, it can satisfy the electricity needs of a country the size of Luxembourg or Papua New Guinea.
China has been a global leader in solar power adoption, increasing its capacity by more than 50 per cent in 2023. This new solar project surpasses the Ningxia Teneggeli and Golmud Wutumeiren solar projects in China to claim the title of the world’s largest. The International Energy Agency (IEA) hailed China’s commitment to renewable energy, with projections indicating that the country will account for nearly 60 per cent of global new renewable capacity by 2028.
According to a report from Longi Green Energy Technology, if solar panels were fitted to rooftops and buildings in China, the generated electricity could power all households in both China and South-East Asia. However, concerns have been raised regarding overcapacity in the solar panel sector, leading to potential trade tensions. In response, US President Joe Biden announced a doubling of tariffs on Chinese solar cell imports to address the global market glut.