SunCable Project in Australia:
The SunCable project is expected to produce 6 gigawatts (GW) and begin supplying electricity by 2030. Here’s a look at other major solar projects that have been announced, are under construction, or are already operational worldwide.
Midong Solar Project in China:
Most of the largest solar parks already in operation are located in China, which is increasing its renewable energy capacity at a much faster pace than the rest of the world.
In June, the Midong solar energy project in the Xinjiang region was commissioned, with an operational capacity of 3.5 GW.
The project is touted as the largest ever completed in China, overtaking two other giant projects in the Ningxia and Qinghai regions.
However, it is likely to soon be surpassed, with other mega-projects already in the works, such as the Tengger solar park in Inner Mongolia, which is expected to have a capacity of 8 GW, according to data from Global Energy Monitor (GEM).
China is building almost twice as much wind and solar capacity as all other countries combined. It has 339 GW under construction, of which 180 GW is solar energy, according to GEM.
Khavda Solar Park, India:
The Khavda solar park is a vast renewable energy project under construction in Gujarat, India, near the border with Pakistan. A hybrid solar-wind project, it is expected to have a massive capacity of 30 GW when fully operational, around 2027.
However, the site has already started producing electricity, with 551 megawatts of solar capacity commissioned earlier this year, according to Adani Green Energy, one of the companies developing the immense site.
Once completed, the park will be the largest renewable energy installation in the world and will be capable of powering 16.1 million homes annually.
India, which currently relies heavily on coal, aims to install 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
Al Dhafra, United Arab Emirates:
The United Arab Emirates inaugurated last year the 2 GW Al Dhafra solar power plant, just weeks before hosting the UN climate negotiations.
Located south of the capital Abu Dhabi, it covers 21 square kilometers of desert, approximately one-fifth the size of Paris.
The project features more than 4,000 photovoltaic modules and can produce enough electricity to power 160,000 homes in this oil-rich Gulf state.
The UAE aims to triple its renewable energy consumption over the next seven years to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Benban Solar Park, Egypt:
The Egyptian Benban solar park, built about 40 kilometers from the city of Aswan, was connected to the national grid in 2019.
It is often described as the largest solar project in Africa and one of the largest in the world, with a capacity of about 1.5 GW, a capacity that could increase if planned expansions continue.
Visible from space, the $4 billion World Bank-funded project spans 37 square kilometers and powers 420,000 homes, according to the UN.
Chill Sun Project, United States:
Among the largest solar parks planned in the United States is the Chill Sun solar project. The projected 2.25 GW facility is expected to be built in the sunny state of Nevada, which already hosts dozens of smaller solar plants.
The United States is rapidly increasing its renewable energy capacity, although at a much slower pace than China.
The U.S. has 40 GW of wind and solar energy under construction and generates 16% of its electricity from wind and solar, according to Ember, a think tank.
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