Largest Solar Power Plant in the World Goes Live in China

The state-owned Power Construction Corp. of China has successfully brought a 5-GW solar power plant into commercial operation, making it the largest operating photovoltaic (PV) facility in the world. Located in the desert area of northwestern China’s Xinjiang province near Urumqi, the solar park covers approximately 200,000 hectares (494,000 acres). This new facility surpasses the generation capacity of the world’s next two largest solar farms: the 3-GW Ningxia Tenggeli and the 3-GW Golmud Wutumeiren, both located in western China.

China leads the world in renewable energy generation capacity, especially in solar power. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), China’s solar additions increased by 116% from 2022 to 2023. The agency also reported that China commissioned as much PV capacity in 2022 as the rest of the world combined. The IEA forecasts that China will contribute almost 60% of new renewable capacity expected to become operational globally by 2028, with nearly half of China’s electricity generation coming from renewable energy sources by the end of the forecast period.

The Xinjiang facility is projected to generate approximately 6.1 billion kWh of electricity annually. Xinjiang province, known for its abundant solar and wind power resources, hosts various “megabase projects” which are part of China’s plan to install 455 GW of solar and wind power over the next few years. Due to its strategic location, much of the electricity generated in Xinjiang is transmitted to the more densely populated areas in eastern China.

Overall, China’s commitment to renewable energy development and its massive investments in solar power facilities like the one in Xinjiang highlight the country’s crucial role in achieving global renewable energy goals.