World's biggest solar farm to come up in China

07 January 2009

China Technology Development Group and Qinghai New Energy plans to build a 30-megawatt on-grid solar power station with a long-term capacity of 1 gigawatt, which could make it the biggest photovoltaic project in the world.

China Technology Development Group Corporation, a provider of solar energy products and solutions in China focusing on a-Si thin film technology and Qinghai New Energy Group have signed an agreement with the local government of Qinghai Haixi Mongolian-Tibetan Autonomous Region to build a 30MW on-grid solar power station in Qaidam Basin of northwestern China.

Under the agreement, CTDC and QNE will design, construct and manage the solar power station. The local government of Haixi Region will help them obtain various local and central government backed incentives and providing land. 

The installed power-generating capacity of the first phase of Qaidam solar power station will be 30 MW and has a long-term objective of extending it to 1GW.

The Qaidam solar power station, the first of its kind in China to integrate crystalline silicon and thin-film solar modules, will be the largest on-grid solar power station in China after full completion. CTDC and QNE will begin construction of the project in 2009 with initial investment of $150 million.

With ample sunshine, vast desert landmass and broad power grids, Qaidam Basin, is generally regarded as one of optimal locations in China to build large scale on-grid solar power plant.