With the installation of 523.1 MW of Astronergy PV modules, the first phase of Kela Power Plant, the world's largest hydro-solar power plant and the world's highest power station of its kind started power generation in Sichuan province, China, on 25 June. The next phase will take the project’s total installed PV capacity to 1000 MW.
Kela PV power plant is located on the eastern Tibetan Plateau at an altitude of 4600 metres. So it is constantly affected by extreme weather conditions such as strong winds, blizzards, and freezing, which places extremely high demands on the reliability and durability of PV modules.
The solar-hydro complex is part of a huge renewable production base planned by the Chinese government to generate clean energy for 100 million households. With an installed capacity of 1 GW of solar panels and 3 GW of hydropower generators in the Yalong River plateau, the plant will be able to produce 2 billion kWh of electricity annually, according to state news media.
Image: Kela hydro-solar project (courtesy of South China Morning Post)
