The world’s largest solar farm has just gone online in China’s northwestern Xinjiang desert. Covering 33,000 acres, this colossal 3.5-gigawatt (GW) facility is situated outside Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang. According to the Power Construction Corp of China, the project was officially connected to the national grid on Monday. It will generate about 6.09 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity each year.
To put this into perspective, the electricity produced could power approximately 2.03 million electric vehicles (EVs) annually, assuming each EV consumes about 3,000 kWh per year. This amount of electricity is sufficient to power a country roughly the size of Luxembourg or Papua New Guinea.
This massive facility covers an area of approximately 33,000 acres, comparable to the size of a small city. The project required an investment of CNY 15.45 billion (USD .13 billion) and was constructed in stages by China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Corp and Power Construction Corporation of China.
China now boasts the three largest solar farms in the world by capacity. The Ningxia Tenggeli and Golmud Wutumeiren solar farms, each with a capacity of 3 MW, are already online.
Its capacity was boosted by more than 50 percent in 2023. This new solar farm has overtaken the Ningxia Teneggeli and Golmud Wutumeiren solar projects to become the largest in the world.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has described China’s drive towards renewables as “extraordinary.” China commissioned as much solar capacity last year as the entire world did in 2022.
“China accounts for almost 60 percent of new renewable capacity expected to become operational globally by 2028,” the report stated. “China’s role is critical in reaching the global goal of tripling renewables because the country is expected to install more than half of the new capacity required globally by 2030.”
At the end of the forecast period, almost half of China’s electricity generation will come from renewable energy sources.
The Midong project is a significant milestone in China’s ambitious push for renewable energy. China has been aggressively expanding its solar capacity in recent years, and the Midong project is a prime example of this commitment. This project is part of China’s larger “megabase” project, which aims to install a staggering 455 GW of wind and solar power generation capacity. These megabase projects are strategically located in sparsely populated areas with abundant sunshine and wind resources. The generated electricity is then transmitted to major population centers on China’s eastern seaboard.
The Midong project is not just a win for the environment; it’s also expected to bring significant economic benefits to China. The project required an investment of CNY 15.45 billion (USD $2.13 billion) and created numerous jobs during construction. Additionally, the clean electricity generated by the solar farm will help reduce China’s reliance on fossil fuels, leading to lower greenhouse gas emissions and improved air quality.
However, the project’s location in Xinjiang province raises concerns. Human rights groups have documented human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in the region. Some critics argue that projects like Midong could indirectly support these activities. The Chinese government maintains that the concerns are unfounded.
The environmental impact of large-scale solar farms is another area of ongoing debate. While solar energy is undoubtedly cleaner than fossil fuels, constructing and maintaining these facilities can disrupt ecosystems and wildlife habitats. Careful planning and responsible management are crucial to minimize these impacts.
