China's solar power industry has achieved another milestone with the commissioning of Phase II of the Huadian Tibet Caipeng Solar-Storage Power Station in Shannan, Tibet—the world's highest-altitude photovoltaic (PV) project.
From CNENERGYNEWS
China's solar power industry has achieved another milestone with the commissioning of Phase II of the Huadian Tibet Caipeng Solar-Storage Power Station in Shannan, Tibet—the world's highest-altitude photovoltaic (PV) project. The new phase, situated at an altitude of 5,228 meters, surpasses the 5,100-meter altitude of Phase I, once again setting a new national record for solar power installations.
As of October 2024, solar power accounts for 24.8% of China's total grid-connected installed capacity, surpassing both wind and hydropower to become the country's second-largest energy source. According to the latest data from the China Electricity Council, China's grid-connected solar power capacity reached 793 gigawatts, representing a 48% increase compared to the same period last year.
Solar power installations are geographically concentrated in the eastern, central, and western regions, with the east and west combined contributing nearly 75% of the total. In terms of development models, the eastern regions primarily adopt distributed solar installations, while the western regions favor centralized systems. Yang Kun, Executive Vice Chairman of the China Electricity Council, predicts that approximately 250 gigawatts of new solar capacity will be added in 2024. By the end of the year, total solar capacity is expected to exceed 850 gigawatts, accounting for more than one-quarter of China’s total installed power generation capacity.