Largest Solar Parks in the World: Based on Energy Generation Capacity
No doubt solar energy is one of the best forms of renewable energy available on the earth. Wide usage, sustainability & low maintenance are some of the top benefits of adopting solar power.
As governments around the world are getting more cautious about the pollution caused by the use of fossil fuels, every country seems to be increasing its renewable energy capacity.
Related: Solar Energy vs Fossil Fuels: A Definitive Comparison
In this post, I am here with a complete list of the top 10 solar parks in the world. This list comprises solar parks around the world in increasing order of their power generation capacity.
Before we begin, let me tell you a bit about solar parks & why every country seems to be investing a huge amount of money building these parks.
What is a Solar Park or Photovoltaic Stations?
Solar parks often termed solar farms or photovoltaic stations referred to development areas where solar power generation is done on a larger scale.
Various state governments & big organizations create these parks to fuel up their energy needs & become environment-friendly.
Unlike normal rooftop installations, these parks contain hundreds or even thousands of solar panels installed in an open ground. Also, the average power capacity of these parks is comparatively very high.
Countries around the world are investing a huge sum to develop these parks – so as to reduce the overall use of fossil fuels & achieve sustainability.
Top 10 Largest Solar Parks in the World
In this list, I have sorted these 10 solar parks based on their average energy production & not by the size of land equipped. Let’s revert to the last one.
10. NP Kunta Ultra Mega Solar Park
The NP Kunta Ultra Mega Solar Park which is also known as the Ananthapuram Ultra Mega Solar Park is located in the Ananthapur district of Andhra Pradesh, India.
This solar park is widely spread across 32 square kilometers having a total generation capacity of 900MW & the total planned capacity is 1500 MW.
This park has a capacity of 200MW during the first phase of the park that was commissioned on 9 May 2016.
750MW has been planned for phase two but the construction has come to a halt because of a political fight between two parties of the state. At present, it has a total capacity of around 900 MW.
Name: Anantpuram Ultra Mega Solar Park
Location: Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh – India
Capacity: 900 MW
Area: 32 sq. km
09. Datong Solar Power Top Runner Base
Datong Solar Power Plant is one of the biggest solar power plants that are located in China.
According to the statistics presented by the government, this solar power plant had generated up to 870 million watts of electricity within the period from July 2016 to January 2017. It is equal to 120 million watts of power generation per month.
During the first phase, it has a capacity of 1GW. And by the end of construction of the third and the final phase, it will have a total capacity of 3GW.
Afterward, when the construction is completed it may become the largest solar plant in the world.
Name: Datong Solar Power Top Runner Base
Location: Datong City, Shanxi province – China
Capacity: 1000 MW
Area: 20 – 25 sq. km
08. Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park
Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park is located in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh covering a total area of 24 square kilometers. It has an average capacity of 1000MW – all powered by 4 million solar panels each having the capacity to produce 315 and 320 watts.
On a clear day, this solar power plant can generate 8 GW of electricity that is more than enough to meet the demand of that entire district.
This solar plant is finally completed and inaugurated by the chief minister on 8 Jan 2019.
Name: Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park
Location: Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh – India
Capacity: 1000 MW
Area: 24 sq. km
07. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is located in the city of Dubai covering a total area of 77 square kilometers.
This solar park’s first phase was commissioned on 22 October 2013. By the end of 2020, this solar park reached a generating capacity of 1.013GW. They have aimed to reach the generating capacity of 3GW by the end of 2030.
The fourth phase of 700 MW CSP + 250 MW PV and the fifth phase of 900 MW PV are still under construction.
Name: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park
Location: Dubai – UAE
Capacity: 1013 MW
Area: 77 sq. km
06. Noor Abu Dhabi
Noor Abu Dhabi Complex Solar Power Plant is located in the Sahara Desert, Sweihan in Abu Dhabi. This solar complex has covered an area of 80 square kilometers with 3.2 million solar panels.
From the date of commission of this solar park, it has a net production of 2000GW with the help of which they are powering 66000 houses in that area.
It is one of the largest concentrated solar power plants having a production capacity of 1177 megawatts. And once it is completed it is aiming to provide electricity to 1 million households.
Name: Noor Abu Dhabi Complex Solar Power Plant
Location: Sahara Desert, Sweihan – Abu Dhabi
Capacity: 1177 MW
Area: 80 sq. km
05. Tengger Desert Solar Park
The Tengger Desert Solar Park is the fifth largest solar park in the whole world. This solar park is located in Zhongwei, Ningxia, China.
The total area this solar park covers is 43 square kilometers. In the year 2018, it had a power capacity of around 1,547 MW.
Name: Tengger Desert Solar Park
Location: Zhongwei, Ningxia – China
Capacity: 1547 MW
Area: 43 sq. km
04. Benban Solar Park
With a total power generation capacity of 1650MW, Benban Solar Park is currently the fourth largest photovoltaic power station in the world.
This solar power park is located in Benban in the country of Egypt covering an area of 37.2 km2.
The commissioning of this solar park started on 13 March 2018 in which the first 50MW called the “infinity 50” was installed and connected to the grid. The construction was finally completed in November 2019.
Name: Benban Solar Park
Location: Benban – Egypt
Capacity: 1650 MW
Area: 37.2 sq. km
03. Golmud Desert Solar Park
Competing to become the world’s second-largest solar power plant in China’s Golmud Desert Solar Park.
Huanghe Hydropower Golmud Solar Park which is located in Qinghai, China has planned to reach 16GW when completed.
As the name suggests this solar park is located in Golmud Desert is the home to 55 solar plants that help to generate a capacity of 1800MW.
It is also home to the world’s largest individual solar power park with 200MW when it was first commissioned in the year 2011.
Name: Huanghe Hydropower Golmud Solar Park
Location: Qinghai – China
Capacity: 1800 MW
Area: __ sq. km
02. Pavagada Solar Park
Pavagada solar park is located in the Tumkur district of Karnataka, India. This solar power is covered in 53 square kilometers.
The generating capacity of this park is 2050MW making it the world’s second-largest solar power park after Bhadla solar park.
The construction of this solar power park began in October 2016; by 9 April 2019, this solar power plant had a commissioned capacity of 1,400 MW.
By November 2019 additional 450MW was commissioned making its project capacity to 1850MW.
Name: Pavagada solar park
Location: Tumkur, Karnataka – India
Capacity: 1850 MW
Area: 53 sq. km
01. Bhadla Solar Park
Bhadla solar park is the largest solar park in the world. It is located in the Jodhpur district which is in Rajasthan, India.
This solar plant is covering a total area of 5,700 hectares.
The solar park has the highest capacity of 2245MW. The commissioning of this park began in 2017, NTPC announced that they have installed 115 MW of capacity at the park. By the end of September 2018, a total of 1365 MW had been commissioned.
When the park became fully operational by incurring an investment of 100 billion dollars resulting in a generating capacity of 2245MW making it the number one solar park in the world.
It took four phases to complete this solar park in which only 420MW of capacity was auctioned by NTPC Limited.
In the second phase, 250MW was auctioned. In the third phase, 1000MW was auctioned on 11 May 2017.
The fourth and final phase is completed by December 2018.
Name: Bhadla solar park
Location: Jodhpur, Rajasthan – India
Capacity: 2245MW
Area: 57 sq. km
Conclusion
Many other solar parks are still developing, and they may cross the current list when finally commissioned.
These solar parks are helping the world in which every additional solar panel is like removing another vehicle off the road.
Solar parks are also helping to utilize solar energy and make good use of it.
What do you think about this list? Do let us know in the comments section. Additionally, you can connect with us on Instagram @solar.funda for the latest solar energy updates.
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