Solar power plants have come a long way since the first photovoltaic plant in 1913 in Cairo, with five rows of mirrors that generated 88kW. One hundred and nine years later, the energy generated by these ten monster photovoltaic plants dwarfs that 88kW of solar power.
List of The Largest Solar Power Plant
1. Tengger Desert Solar Park, China, 1,547MW
Known as the “Great Wall of Solar,” Tengger Desert Solar Park spans 1,200km – 3.2% of the Tengger desert. Capable of generating 1,547MW of solar energy and owned by Zhongwei Power Supply Company and the China National Grid, this plant came online in 2017.
2. Sweihan Photovoltaic Independent Power Project, UAE, 1,177MW
Located in Abu Dhabi in Sweihan in the United Arab Empire, the Sweihan PV independent power project spans 7.8km². Capable of generating 1,177MW of solar energy and owned by the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, Jinko Solar, and Marubeni Corporation, this plant came online in 2019.
3. Datong Solar Power Top Runner Base, China, 1,070MW
Located in Datong City, in the Shanxi province, Datong Solar Power Top Runner Base spans 1km² and is panda-shaped. This power plant can generate 1,070MW of solar energy and own by State Power Investment, China Guangdong Nuclear Solar Energy, China Three Gorges New Energy, Yingli Green Energy, Huadian Shanxi Energy, JinkoSolar Holding, Datong Coal Mine Group, Huadian Shanxi Energy, and Datong United Photovoltaics New Energy. Datong Solar Power Top Runner Base came online in 2016.
4. Yanchi Ningxia Solar Park, China, 1,000MW
Located in Ningxia, China, the Yanchi Ningxia Solar Park, the Yanchi Ningxia Solar Park is capable of generating 1,000MW of solar energy. Owned by Ningxia Yanchi County Guangfu Electric Power, this solar plant came online in 2016.
5. Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park, India, 1,000MW
Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park is located in the Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, and spans 22.99km². Capable of generating 1,000MW of solar energy and owned by Prayatna Developers, Greenko Group, Azure Power, and SBG Cleantech Project, this plant came online in 2017.
6. Longyangxia Dam Solar Park, China, 850MW
Spanning 27km², the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park can generate 850 MW of solar energy. State Power Investment Corporation operates this power plant which came online in 2015.
7. Enel Villanueva PV Plant, Mexico, 828MW
Located in Coahuila, Enel Villanueva, the PV Plant spans 24km² and can generate 828 MW of solar energy. A subsidiary of Enel – Enel Green Power Mexico (EGPM) owns this power plant which came online in 2018.
8. Kamuthi Solar Power Station, India, 648 MW
Located in Tamil Nadu, India, the Kamuthi Solar Power Station spans 10km² and can generate 648 MW of solar energy. Tantransco owns this plant which came online in 2016.
9. Solar Star Projects, US, 579MW
Two projects comprise the Solar Star Projects – Solar Star 1 and Solar Star 2, located in Kern County and Los Angeles County. The combined facilities span nearly 13km² and can generate 579 MW of solar energy. BHE Renewables owns this project that came online in 2015.
10. Topaz Solar Farm, US, 550MW
Located in Carrisa Plains in San Luis Obispo County, California, Topaz Solar Farm spans a total of 19km² and is capable of generating 550 MW of solar energy. BHE Renewables owns this plant which came online in 2014.
Conclusion
Over the past 100 years, solar power has become more efficient and considerably less expensive. Solar energy costs have decreased so much that even residential neighborhoods are adopting solar power, too.
