China has recently connected what it claims to be the world’s largest solar power plant to the grid in northwestern Xinjiang. Spanning 200,000 acres, this solar farm boasts an impressive annual output of 6.09 billion kWh.
Located in the desert near Ürümqi, the region’s capital, the site became operational on June 3. The Chinese state-owned Power Construction Corporation manages the plant, as reported by Reuters.
To illustrate the plant’s massive output, it can supply enough electricity to power the entire population of Papua New Guinea for a year. Additionally, it could also meet the annual energy needs of Luxembourg. The new solar farm has even garnered praise from Elon Musk.
Xinjiang, with its sparse population and abundance of solar and wind resources, is an ideal location for large-scale renewable energy projects. These projects are designed to transmit most of their power over long distances to China’s densely populated eastern regions.
