Overview
Da Qaidam is a 247 MW solar PV facility in Qinghai Province, China. It is operational and contributes to the region's renewable energy capacity.
Da Qaidam is a solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant located in the Da Qaidam area of Qinghai Province, China. With a capacity of 247 megawatts (MW), it is a large-scale solar installation that supports China's ambitious renewable energy targets. The facility is operational and plays a key role in the local energy mix. The plant utilizes solar PV technology to convert sunlight into electricity. China is the world's largest solar market, driven by national policies such as the 14th Five-Year Plan for Renewable Energy, which aims to increase non-fossil fuel energy consumption. The facility benefits from China's feed-in tariff system and grid integration initiatives, which have accelerated solar deployment in resource-rich regions like Qinghai. Da Qaidam's location in a high-altitude desert area provides high solar irradiance, making it ideal for solar generation. The plant helps reduce reliance on coal-fired power, contributing to China's carbon neutrality goal by 2060. Its output is integrated into the regional grid, supporting local communities and industries with clean electricity.
Environmental context
The Da Qaidam area is a high-altitude desert with abundant solar resources, making it suitable for large-scale solar PV installations. The facility's construction involved land-use changes typical of solar farms, but the arid environment minimizes impact on ecosystems. Solar PV generation produces no direct emissions, helping to displace fossil fuel-based power and reduce air pollution in the region.
Frequently asked questions
The Da Qaidam solar PV plant is located in the Da Qaidam area of Qinghai Province, China, at coordinates 37.276°N, 95.514°E.
The Da Qaidam solar plant has a capacity of 247 megawatts (MW), making it a large-scale solar photovoltaic facility.
The operator of the Da Qaidam solar plant is not publicly listed, but it is part of China's extensive solar infrastructure managed by state-owned or private energy companies.
China's renewable energy sector is supported by the 14th Five-Year Plan for Renewable Energy, which targets increased non-fossil fuel consumption. The country also uses feed-in tariffs and grid integration policies to promote solar and wind power.
By generating clean electricity from solar energy, the Da Qaidam plant helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, supporting China's goal of carbon neutrality by 2060.