One alternative way to significantly reduce our dependence on fossil fuels is by way of solar power energy. In the past years, many solar power plants installation increased just to reduce the harmful emissions and continue to increase the clean energy contribution.
Infinite availability of sunlight and the limited supply of fossil fuels are the main reason for developing numbers of solar power plants across the world. In spite of their high value set up, solar power plants play a vital role in reducing the use of coal for energy generation.
Below is the list of the largest solar farms in the world.
Waldpolenz Solar Park in Germany
Waldpolenz Solar Park, which holds the title of the most extensive thin-film photovoltaic power system in the world, is raised inside the former military airbase, east of Leipzig, Eastern Germany. The plant features up-to-date thin film technology and 40-megawatt solar power system. Waldpolenz Solar Park has 550,000 modules, which is the first solar slim-film that can supply 40,00 MWh of energy per year.
It cost about 130 million euro building Waldpolenz Solar Park with its size equivalent to 200 soccer fields and was completed by the end of 2008. Almost 1,000 partners who engaged in the offer, financed the installation of this power plant with capital loans and equity.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park of Dubai
A solar power plant that spreads over a total area of 77 square kilometers, located about 50 kilometers south of the city of Dubai. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the world’s greatest one-site solar farm and is expected to reduce about 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions in a year. The 8000 MW solar farm has three stages: Phase A, B, and C.
Phase A which features 200MW, is currently under construction and the expected completion will be in April. Phase B is 300MW which will begin in April 2019, and the 800 MW last phase is scheduled to kickoff in 2020. The investment reached $320 million by a monopoly led by Spanish company TSK and ACWA Power.
Spain’s Arnedo Solar Plant
Arnedo Solar Plant is a photovoltaic power plant located in La Rioja, Spain. The installation of this solar farm cost 181 million euro and was possible through Isolux Corsan in October 2008. T-Solar, a company who installed the power system, is presently operating this solar power plant.
The capacity of Arnedo Solar Plant is about 34 MW which is produced using 172,000 modules with 200 watts each. Arnedo Solar Plant can produce approximately 49,936,510 kWh a year, which is enough to provide electricity to 12,000 households.
Amareleja Photovoltaic Power Station of Portugal
Amareleja Photovoltaic Power Station or known as Moura Photovoltaic Power Station is one of the largest solar power stations located in the town of Moura in Portugal, one of the districts in Europe where shines the most radiant. The construction of this solar farm has undergone two stages. The first stage was on 2008 and the second phase completed in 2010, which occupies 130 hectares and took 250 million euro.
Amareleja Photovoltaic Power Station has a capacity of 62 MWp, with approximately over 376,000 solar panels, enough to provide power to almost 30,00 households in Portugal. The project is expected to reduce 86,500 tons of carbon emissions annually, and it is a serious help to our environment to help prevent further effects of global warming.
Tengger Desert Solar Park in China
Tengger Desert Solar Park located in Zhongwei, Ningxia, China is the world’s largest solar power plant built in 2015. The solar park had a capacity of 1547MW and known as “The Great Wall Of Solar” in China. This solar farm occupies the area of 36,700 kilometers squared in Tengger desert and the solar field covers about 1,200 kilometers squared of the land.
Takeaway
Solar power plants are currently increasing in numbers due to growing needs for power and electricity. Although there are still available supplies of coals and fossil fuels, we still need to to have an alternative way of power generation to help supply enough energy that we need for the years to come.
About the Author
Caleigh Martin is a businesswoman and a freelance blogger focusing on latest trends in energy production and technology. She browses on the internet websites regularly like GStore, to pick up latest updates regarding business and technology. When not in work, she visits and spends her time with family.