The New Solar Power Plant in Xinjiang is Now Operational
China has recently completed its new solar power plant in Xinjiang, which is now connected to the power grid. The plant, which spans 80,937 hectares in the desert near Ürümqi, has a capacity to produce 6.09 billion kWh of electricity annually. This amount of energy is enough to power a country like Papua New Guinea for an entire year. The plant, operated by China Electric Power Construction Corporation, began operations on June 3rd.
Xinjiang is located in northwest China and acts as a bridge between Central Asia and East Asia. With a population of about 25 million people and spanning over 397 million hectares, the region borders several countries including Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Xinjiang’s rich wind and solar power resources make it an ideal location for large-scale renewable energy projects that can deliver electricity to the densely populated eastern coastal regions of China.
Ürümqi, with a population of about 4 million people in 2020, is the largest city in the region and serves as a hub for transportation, culture, politics, and commerce. The city has experienced significant economic growth since the 1990s and solidified its position as a key player in the development of the region.
The new solar power plant in Xinjiang is part of China’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its position in solar power production. The country’s solar power generation capacity has increased by 55.2% since 2023 according to data released by China’s National Energy Administration
