In China, few months ago the first panda shaped power plant has been developed, with a project that involved the coverage of a 250 acres farm with the productive potential of 50-megawatt.

On the 29th of June, such project has been completed, representing the first step of an even more ambitious plan that aims to complete a 100MW power plant.

A Chinese solar power company has just completed the first phase of an ingenious PR stunt: building a 100MW solar power plant in the shape of a panda bear. 

On the 29th of June the first part of the work was connected to the electricity grid in Datong, according to Panda Green Energy, and the Chinese state press Xinhua News Agency.

In building the panda plant, Panda Green Energy mixed darker monocrystalline silicon (the light-absorbing material in most solar cells) and lighter-colored thin film solar cells in order to achieve a design resembling the China’s national animal.

Even though the image is only representative and the real deal is quite far from that, not in terms of shape but mostly for the vividness of colours, the importance is still significant from a functionality perspective, with the plant holding the potential to reduce by 1 million tons the coal burnt over the next 25 years.

The panda plant was first discussed in May 2016 by Panda Green Energy’s largest shareholder, China Merchants New Energy, and was then made public in September as part of a project with the United Nations Development Program aimed at promoting sustainable development among youths and engaging them in the need of getting involved to solve the sustainable development issues.

Furthermore, The Panda Power Plant project was also incorporated at the beginning of this year into the “Belt and Road” initiative, China’s enthusiastic plan to invest in development projects in countries along the old Silk Road. The new panda plant in Datong appears to be the first of a large number of panda and other animals built inside and outside China. In fact, the creation of another one in Fiji, was announced in May.

Datong’s panda plant is a showy example of China’s great commitment to increase and spread the use of renewable energy, while reducing coal use whilst gradually disposing of it.

Such commitment is aligned to the results from the latest Global Status Report on Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21), which shows China’s leading position in the renewable energy investment, generation, and capacity. More specifically, the mentioned solar energy gathering efforts can be seen as part of China’s key assets, with the country that contributed to almost half of additions to global solar capacity over the last year.

Written by: Pietro Paolo Frigenti