The world’s biggest 1 billion yuan($151 million) floating solar project in China, has connected to the grid. according to press-statement on December 10.
Started by a unit of China Three Gorges Corp., China Three Gorges New Energy Co. the 150MW project started in July, 2017 is located in Panji District, Huainan City, Anhui Province. The plant is situated on a man-made lake which formed after collapsing and flooding a coal mine.
The project will have 166,000 solar panels, producing clean energy, in a country that has some of the world’s worst air pollution. Coal burnt for power and steel smelting is the principle cause of air pollution in these areas.
“The coalmine was very hot and the air was bad. But here I feel safe. The new energy is safe.” said a coal-miner.
China is now world’s largest renewable energy investor, with the government promised to spend $360 billion yearly on clean energy projects by 2020, estimated to create 13 million new jobs for the locals.
Floating solar is getting bigger in China, where ground-mounted projects aren’t utilized to their full efficiencies. About 5.6 percent of solar power generation was idled in the first three quarters, according to data from the National Energy Administration.
A 40 MW solar farm by Sungrow Power Supply Co. was the biggest commissioned floating solar project before construction of China Three Gorges’ plant.