It is said Every 24 hours, enough sunlight touches the Earth to provide the energy for the entire planet for 24 years. Thanks to increasing public recognition of its environmental benefits, government initiatives and declining manufacturing costs, the share of solar power in Energy sector is rising like never before. By the end of 2017, cumulative photovoltaic capacity reached about 401 gigawatts (GW), estimated to be sufficient to supply 2.1% of global electricity demand. Lets look at some of the largest solar parks operating in the world.
List of Operational Largest Solar Power Plants:
1. Tengger Desert Solar-Park, China
Tengger Desert Solar-Park is the world’s largest photovoltaic plant. It is located in Zhongwei, Ningxia, China. It has a peak power output of 1,547 MW.
2. Bhadla Solar-Park, India
Located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Bhadla SolarPark is the largest operating solarpark in India. Its current capacity is 1,365 MWp. The park is proposed to have a capacity of 2,255 MWp.
3. Kurnool Ultra Mega SolarPark, India
The plant is located in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh. Its total capacity is 1000 MWp.
4. Datong SolarPower Plant, China
The current commissioned of plant stands at 1000 MWp. However, with a projected capacity of 3000 MWp – Datong Plant, has the potential to become the world’s biggest single-location solar PV project.
5. Longyangxia Dam SolarPark, China
This plant has the capacity of 850 MWp.
6. Enel Villanueva PV Plant, Mexico
Located in the Mexican state of Coahuila, the photovoltaic (PV) facility comprises capacity of 828 MWp
7. Rewa Ultra Mega Solarproject, India
Rewa Ultra Mega Solar is a operational solarpark in Madhya Pradesh with a capacity of 750 MWp.
8. Kamuthi SolarPower Project, India
Kamuthi solarpower plant is a 648-mw power project set up by the Adani Green Energy, part of the Adani Group, in Tamil Nadu in 2016.
9. Pavagada SolarPark, India
The Shakti Sthala solarpark is located in the drought-prone Pavagada region of Tumkur district, about 180km from Bengaluru. Its commissioned capacity currently stands at 600 MWp.