China's "Solar Great Wall" aims to generate 100 gigawatts by 2030, providing renewable energy for Beijing, creating 50,000 jobs, combating desertification, and investing up to $100 billion in solar infrastructure along the Yellow River.
China plans to build a 1km-wide solar array in the geostationary orbit about 36,000km above Earth. At this distance from atmospheric interferences such as day-night cycles and changing weather, the array will constantly gather solar energy, anticipated to surpass terrestrial photovoltaic systems by more than tenfold in efficiency.
The nation put up 357 gigawatts of solar and wind, a 45% and 18% increase, respectively, over what was operating at the end of 2023, according to China's National Energy Administration. That's akin to building 357 full-size nuclear plants in one year.
Wind and solar now account for 37% of the total power capacity in the country, an 8% increase from 2022, and widely expected to surpass coal capacity, which is 39% of the total right now, in 2024. Cumulative annual utility-scale solar & wind power capacity in China, in gigawatts (GW)
Will China's space solar array be more efficient than photovoltaic panels?
China's 1km-wide space solar array is expected to collect energy at a constant rate more than 10-times more efficient than photovoltaic panels on Earth Renewable energy, crucial for the energy transition and attaining net zero status, is broadening its horizons in application.
Is China a good source of energy?
It's the top supplier of batteries, solar panels and wind turbines, plus the electrolyzers used to make hydrogen fuel, according to the International Energy Agency. The vast scale of Chinese manufacturing has lowered the cost of solar and wind, which are cheaper ways to make electricity in most cases now than fossil fuels.
Will China build a'solar Great Wall'?
The construction is part of China's multiyear plan to build a “solar great wall” designed to generate enough energy to power Beijing. The project, expected to be finished in 2030, will be 400 kilometers (250 miles) long, 5 kilometers (3 miles) wide, and achieve a maximum generating capacity of 100 gigawatts.