If all of China’s solar farms were generating electricity at once, it could power the whole UK several times over. So to answer the question, yes it is a very big deal. In fact, China has more solar energy capacity than any country in the world. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), more than 60% of the world’s solar panels are made in China. China’s geography in the far west and north area is filled with vast plains. In these locations, there is a lot of space and sun coverage, which is why it would make sense to build solar farms here. One such farm in the Tibetan plateau is the largest in the world! Its name is the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park and it is 27 square kilometers (about 10 square miles) in size! This park on the Tibetan plateau cost around 6 billion yuan (around $850 million) and is in an almost constant state of expansion since construction began in 2013. This solar plant also has the capacity to produce 850 MW of power (enough to supply around 200,000 households).
Photograph by Carlos Barria — Reuters
As some of you may probably know, China has a very big problem with pollution due to the burning of coal. To learn more about this, check out our very own article about air pollution in China by Blake Mayourian here. Because of this issue, China is making some real steps to correct where they get some of their energy from. Xie Xiaoping, the chairmen of Huanghe Hydropower Development, a state-run company behind the construction of the Solare Park said that “The development of clean energy is very important if we are to keep the promises made in the Paris agreement.”
As one can clearly see when China signed the Paris Climate Agreement, they are not planning to continue their current situation without some change. In addition, by 2030, China has pledged to “increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 20 percent.” Amit Ronen, director of the George Washington University’s GW Solar Institute, described a recent visit to a few of China’s green facilities as being “awed” by how far the country has come.
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/19/china-builds-worlds-biggest-solar-farm-in-journey-to-become-green-superpower
https://www.c2es.org/site/assets/uploads/2015/07/chinas-contribution-paris-climate-agreement.pdf
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180822-why-china-is-transforming-the-worlds-solar-energy
Interesting article, Wesley! Solar panels are everywhere in America. They are very useful in obtaining clean and renewable energy. China’s pollution problem could definitely be helped by the implementation of solar technology. If China decides to adapt, it may save it’s ecosystem from even more damage! Keep up the great work!
Amazing article! I never knew that China has the greatest solar energy capacity than any country in the world. It’s so interesting that 60% of the world’s solar panels are made in China. I’ll be sure to read more about air pollution in China and learn more about this topic. I’m so happy to know that China is implementing more eco-friendly systems and hope that it won’t have a pollution problem anymore!
China’s solar farms are very impressive. One thing to note though is China is one of the largest consumers of electricity. These solar farms would not be enough to power the majority of China. To uphold the Paris Agreement, China should be more committed to green energy. Great article and pictures.
These solar farms are impressively large! Solar should be an alternative way for dangerous coal pollution. China, which is a large consumer and producer of today’s electronics, should build more of these farms to power the country entirely. More solar energy can also make the air quality cleaner. In the future, China should also use hydroelectricity without having to use or build a dam!
What an interesting article this is. I never thought that panels could have a huge impact on the world. It was so interesting that most of the solar panels that we use are made in China and affect the world today. The pictures really show how many solar panels are in China and are helping the world in a better way. If China keeps on going in this direction then the pollution will decrease drastically and will help China out a lot.
What an interesting article this is. I never thought that panels could have a huge impact on the world. It was so interesting that most of the solar panels that we use are made in China and affect the world today. The pictures really show how many solar panels are in China and are helping the world in a better way. If China keeps on going in this direction then the pollution will decrease drastically and will help China out a lot.
Wow, I had no idea China’s solar farms could power the UK five times over. I’m glad to know the Chinese governments and other governments around the world (other than the U.S. government, of course) are taking steps to prevent climate change. However, I’m worried they aren’t going fast enough – non-fossil fuels being 20% in 2030 seems like a very low goal, and it doesn’t seem like it’d be doing enough to actually mitigate climate change in any non-trivial way. According to the U.N., we have until 2030 before the BIG impacts of climate change come in – severe drought, rising sea levels, and a migration crisis that makes the current refugee crisis look like child’s play. I’m hoping governments around the world will take immediate action to address climate change.
With the drastic of climate change today, it is worrysome that most countries in the world don’t use solar panels. Despite what climate change experts say, some people choose to ignore it and pursue their own political agendas while in the mean time, sabotaging the earth. China has adapted to a more sustainable and clean source of energy to help to resolve their own pollution and in the mean time supplied more than half of the country with solar power.
Considering how much pollution China has, this is very surprising. Now this raises the question, how much energy does China use to where this amount of solar power is negligible? Because China still suffers from extreme pollution in some areas. But even with this in mind, it still shows how China has made leaps and bounds in going solar.
What an interesting article! Solar Panels are definitely the future and the fact that China is taking a lead on this is so amazing. I watched a podcast with Elon Musk in it and he said that China is one of the easiest places to have run on solar because China has a lot of land with sun that are not being used. I guess China heard and they listened to that idea. It was so interesting that most of the solar panels that we use are made in China and affect the world today. This shows that China really wants the world to be a better place and want to clean up the enviorment
Wow, I had no idea that China was so big on solar energy! It’s cool that China makes 60% of the world’s solar panels. Now that I think about China’s large plains, it does make sense that building solar panels would be easy and profitable there. I hope that these solar panels can help China achieve its goals within the Paris Climate Agreement by decreasing its greenhouse gas emissions. Great article!
awesome article ! i would have never guessed china was turning to the solar panel direction! i also never knew how beneficial solar panels could be for the future of china considering climate change and other effects changing this world. it was also interesting to know solar panels well most of them we use are built in china .
Great Article! I’ve always known that Solar panels being very useful in the United States, but I’ve never knew that it had such a significant importance in China as well. I found it very astonishing that 60% of the worlds’ solar panels actually were made in China. Also, the Paris Climate Agreement they pledged to increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy.
Great Article! I can’t believe that Solar Panels had such a big impact on China. I’ve always known about solar panels were primarily used in America but never really knew it was used in China. In fact, 60% of solar panels are made in China. And the Paris Climate Agreement pledged to increase the non-fossil fuel energy as a primary source. Which is great for the environment.
This article was very interesting and informative. I know that China has a large problem with air pollution, due to news coverage. It is nice to see the steps they are making in order to try and reduce air pollution. I am also amazed they are able to make these large solar farms. Hopefully other countries follow in their footsteps.
Great Article! I didn’t know that China has more solar energy capacity than any country in the world. It’s fascinating that most of the solar panels are made from China. Even though China still suffers from air pollution It’s great to see how China is trying to make a change,
fascinating! especially with the pollution in China, this is such a great idea. it’s no surprise that China holds so much power in solar panels, since they control so much manufacturing. I hope that China can achieve its goal for solar power. Maybe America will get involved with the Paris Climate Agreement but at this point it is hard to tell.
China’s finally trying to do something about pollution now. After they realized 1.6 million people die each year from it. Better late than never I guess. I learned that China produces 60% of solar panels. Informative article. Good job.
Interesting article! It’s a relief to hear that China is taking steps to use clean energy. China’s pollution problem is very concerning for the environment and climate, and it’s great that solar energy is being used to combat that. I had no idea that over 60% of the world’s solar panels are produced in China. It’s interesting how many solar farms are built in China because of its vast plains with lots of space and sun coverage.
Great article, Wesley! I can’t believe that China’s solar farms could generate more electricity than needed to power the entire UK! I also didn’t know that more than 60% of the world’s solar panels are made in China. Thanks for sharing this informative article and I can’t wait to read more!
Amazing article, Wesley! I think China’s initiative to use clean energy is very inspiring. The Earth’s resources are exponentially depleting due to human civilization. Therefore, China’s steps to use solar power – rather than coal and fossil fuels – is wonderful. As a highly populated nation, it is extremely wise for China to use clean energy- for the benefit of the world. I learned that more than 60% of the world’s solar panels are made in China. Additionally, I learned that the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park is able to power 200,000 households (which is insane!) Keep up the great articles on environmental issues! They’re always a delight to read.
I had no idea that China’s solar farms generate more solar energy than any other country in the world. I’m very glad that China is trying to use less coal because it’s bad for the environment. It’s great that they have new energy alternatives. I’m glad that they’re still keeping the promises that they made in the Paris Climate Agreement. I can’t believe that the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park is so huge. Great article!
This is a really great article Wesley! I knew that solar energy can produce energy, but i never knew how much it can produce. It is really great that china is using Solar rather than coal because of pollution. I was really shocked when you said that it can power the whole UK. I was also really shocked as you said that 60% of the solar panels are produced in china. I find it hard to believe that the Longyangxia Dam is so great in size. Its really great that they are using that unused space to put more solar panels. I hope you continue to write like this!
Cool article Wesley! It’s interesting how China is finally taking steps to help the environment by reducing their intake of burning coal. It’s also fascinating that China has signed the Paris Climate Agreement, which truly shows the initiative China is taking. I never knew that the solar panels in the Tibetan plateau could produce 850MW of power, which is enough to support 200,000 households. That’s a crazy amount of energy! Moreover, I didn’t know that 60% of the solar panels are produced in China. I remember watching an interview with Elon Musk and he gave a plausible solution to the energy situation China is dealing with now. His idea involved with using Solar Panels that would be located somewhere away from heavily populated areas. It’s really an interesting idea, and I hope China does something similar to this idea to help reduce the number of pollutions.
Great article,Wesley! I have read other articles about how China is taking a big step in going green. I think it is cool how they are reducing their burning of coal. I was awestruck when you said that the sonar panels in China could power the whole UK. A wise man once said “That’s Crazy”. I never knew that 60% of sonar panels are produced in China. Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised. China does contain the global financial center.
Great article! I found this article both interesting and informative. I had no idea China had so much solar energy capacity. It’s also surprising to read the measurements involved. There are so many new facts I learned from reading this article. Thank you for writing this!
Great article! Solar panels have always amazed me. It’s amazing how they spent $850 million on them. I can’t believe it supplied 200,000 house, that’s incredible. I never knew solar farms were a thing. Your article taught me so much about solar panels.
I think solar energy is very important. Especially in chine with all of the pollution and the air not being very clean I think we need more solar panels. We are burning way too many fossil fuels which are greatly negatively impacting our earth. I never knew that 60% of sonar panels are produced in China. But, I am not surprised because China is such an industrial powerhouse. Overall, this was a very informative and great article.
This is a very great and intriguing article! Due to all of the pollution in China, I think the more use of solar panels would be helpful. It is crazy how solar panels in China could power the whole UK. Before reading this article, I had no idea that China produces 60% of the solar panels. I believe that solar panels are our future. Amazing article.
Interesting article! The factories in China cause so much pollution. These solar panels will help the country very much. I did not know how many panels were produced in china. I knew that America also wanted to increase the use of panels. Solar panels will really make the world greener.
Great article! I think it’s pretty cool that China is taking the initiative to protect the environment while producing enough energy to power the country. That is no simple task, but at the rate at which the human population is growing, non renewable resources such as fossil fuels will only run out even quicker. Fossil fuels are known to cause a lot of environmental problems and pollute the earth. I’m not surprised that most of the world’s solar panels come from China, as they are already a leading producer of many goods that are used in the US, that is very often joked upon that all products are “made in China”. Solar panels, although expensive, seem like the cheapest and most popular long term alternative currently, as fossil fuels will eventually run out and become much more expensive and unable to support the growing human population while the sun is sure to stay shining for millions of years. The signing of the Paris agreement is a good step towards a cleaner and brighter future. The quicker we find a renewable alternative, the better it is for humankind. Once again, this was a really informative article. Great Job!