Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, Dubai, UAE —
In the desert outside Dubai, a giant solar park is rising. Plans are in place to erect solar panels and concentrated solar power arrays with a cumulative capacity of 5,000 megawatts -- what would be the largest single-site solar park in the world.For more on solar megaprojects around the world, scroll through the gallery...
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, Dubai, UAE —
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, viewed via Google Earth. The park started with a 13-megwatt photovoltaic array in 2013, adding 200 megawatts in phase two and 800 megawatts in phase three (due for completion in 2020). Dubai Electricity and Water Authority say the total investment for the solar park could reach $13.6 billion.
Tengger Desert Solar Park, Ningxia, China —
The largest photovoltaic park in the world at the time of writing, Tengger in Zhongwei in the northern autonomous region of Ningxia, China has a reported capacity of 1,547 megawatts. Development started in 2012 and comprises 45 interconnected projects, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).
Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park, Andhra Pradesh, India —
With over 4.5 million photovoltaics and a 1,000-megawatt capacity, Kurnool was, for a time, the largest operational solar power station in 2017. India is investing heavily in solar power with its National Solar Mission. By the end of 2018, national on-grid capacity stood at just over 26,000 megawatts, per the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Datong Panda Power Plant, Shanxi Province, China —
Connected to the grid in June 2017, Panda Green Energy's solar farm puts the animal after which it's named on the map. The solar arrays form the shape of two giant pandas, and over 25 years the company say the 100-megawatt park can produce 3.2 billion kilowatt hours of energy. But the Datong site is only a tiny fraction of the company's massive 2,110-megawatt, 68-power plant portfolio, as of June 2018.
Datong Panda Power Plant, Shanxi Province, China —
A wider view of the Panda plant with other facilities, southeast of Datong. The Datong Solar Power Top Runner Base has a reported output capacity of 1,070 megawatts.
The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, California —
Located in the Mojave Desert, Ivanpah was the largest concentrated solar power facility in the world when it opened in 2014. Its three 450-foot towers are topped with water tanks, which are boiled by intense reflected sunlight and can create enough steam to generate 392 megawatts of electricity, per the US Department of Energy.
Yanchi Ningxia Solar Park, Ningxia, China —
Built with Huawei Technologies solar know-how, the Yanchi Ningxia Solar Park has a 1,000-megawatt capacity and was the largest single photovoltaic plant in the world when it opened in 2016, according to the IEEFA.
Benban Solar Park, Aswan, Egypt —
Inaugurated in March 2018, the Infinity 50 Solar Park in southern Egypt is the first of a reported 32 stations that will comprise the Benban Solar Park. Benban's total capacity once completed has multiple projections, from 1,465 to 1,650 to 1,800 megawatts.
Benban Solar Park, Aswan, Egypt —
An aerial view of Benban in construction via Google Earth. Earlier in 2019 other solar farms at the 14-square mile site announced completion, including the 186-megawatt plant by ACCIONA Energía and Enara Bahrain Spv Wll. Sixteen plants funded by the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development aim to contribute 750 megawatts of the total output capacity.
Pavagada Solar Park, Karnataka, India —
When completed, the Pavagada Solar Park will generate a massive 2,000 megawatts say its developers Karnataka Solar Power Development Corporation Limited. The park is divided into 40 blocks each contributing 50 megawatts, with the developers claiming the whole 2,000 megawatts will be connected to the grid by June 2019.
Longyangxia Dam Solar Park, Qinghai province, China —
Captured by NASA's Landsat 8 satellite in January 2017, the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park in Qinghai province has a capacity of 850 megawatts. At the time the site had a reported 4 million solar panels, part of a wider effort by China to produce 110 gigawatts of solar power by 2020.
Villanueva Solar Farm, Coahuila State, Mexico —
With 2.5 million solar panels, the Enel Green Power-operated park near the town of Villanueva has a capacity of 754 megawatts. The plant was inaugurated in March 2018 when the first portion of the site became operational, with the developer claiming it offsets over 1 million tons of carbon dioxide per year and generates enough electricity for over 1.4 million Mexican homes.
Ananthapuramu Ultra Mega Solar Park, Andhra Pradesh, India —
Also known as the NP Kunta Ultra Mega Solar Park, the 7,180-acre project will have a capacity of 1,500 megawatts when completed. Local news reported the start of power generation in May 2016.
Noor-Ouarzazate Solar Power Station, Morocco —
The Noor-Ouarzazate Solar Power Station in Morocco is the largest concentrated solar power site in the world, producing enough electricity to power a city the size of Prague. Spread across 3,000 hectares -- equivalent to 3,500 soccer pitches -- its 580-megawatt output saves the planet from over 760,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
Noor-Ouarzazate Solar Power Station, Morocco —
The Noor-Ouarzazate pictured in 2016 before the erection of the concentrated solar power tower. Morocco's ambitious green energy target is to produce 42% of its power from renewable sources by 2020 -- as of February 2019 it was already producing 35% from renewables.
Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Park, Madhya Pradesh, India —
Conceived by the Madhya Pradesh state government in 2016, the 750-megawatt Rewa plant was built with the help of a loan from the World Bank. It began supplying electricity in July 2018.