Today solar plant is commonly known to everyone. While some countries are building massive solar plants that are able to supply electricity to several big cities. Others are implementing pilot projects that may be generating electricity for a few homes only. However, these pilot projects are definitely worth your attention.
Cochin International Airport, India
Cochin International Airport is one of the biggest and busiest in the country. Moreover, it is the first one in the world that has been running completely on solar power.
Even though at first it seemed to be not real that such a huge structure can be powered by solar panels only. This airport has proved the world that it is more than possible. This airport is not only working on solar energy. But it is also giving the surplus energy to the electrical grid. At nights the airport still has to take electricity from the grid. But taking into account that surplus energy that was sent to the grid before, it means that the airport is power neutral. How amazing is that!
The airport solar farm has 46,150 solar panels and stretches for only 40 acres (0.16 square kilometers). It is still enough to run a big airport like this one. Seeing this amazing success, all other Indian airports have announced the plans to implement similar projects in the nearest future.
Sungrow Solar Farm, China
This unique farm floats on top of flooded coal mine that collapsed a while ago. Since there is not much use from the emptied land. Using it as a base for the solar plant is the best possible way to put it to use. The farm’s capacity is 40 MW of energy. It is a great example of China’s plans to “go green”.
In general, floating solar farms are the best kind of solar farms. Here are the reasons. First, water helps to keep the solar panels relatively cool that helps to boost power efficiency. Second, unlike desert solar farms that need to be cleaned regularly, due to sandy winds, that cover the panels and reduce power efficiency. Floating solar farms do not need a lot of cleaning. And also a positive thing for water reservoirs on which the farms reside – water there will not evaporate that fast.
Solar Star, California, USA
This solar plant with a capacity of 579 MW and 1,7 million solar panels is the biggest solar farm in the USA. It spreads for 3,200 acres (13 square kilometers). In 2015 when it was completed. Solar Star also was the largest solar plant in the world. At the moment the farm is providing electricity to 255,000 houses in California.
Solar Panel Bike Path, Netherlands
Solar Panel Bike Path was constructed in 2014 as a pilot project. However, the results were extremely positive. Not only Netherlands, but many other European countries started implementing similar projects for local bike paths. At first, it did not seem that effective due to a small size of usual bike paths. On the other side, when it comes to a greener life, there is not such thing as a little effort.
The First Photovoltaic Road, Jinan, China
Following the example of Netherlands, China implemented their own project. But it is not a bike path. It is actually the first solar panel road that was opened in the end of 2017. The road stretches for 1 km only. For this project special solar panels had to be made so that they could hold the weight of a few cars. It might have been more expensive than usual solar farms. We know that every new technology becomes cheaper with time. So who knows – maybe in 10 years all roads will be solar roads?
The first 100% solar energy powered territory – Tokelau, New Zealand
Tokelau is just a territory in the Pacific Ocean that consists of three coral atolls with a population of around 1,500 people. It occupies an area of 10 square kilometers (4 square miles). Moreover, it is the first world’s nation that is 100 percent dependent on solar energy. How did that happen? For many years the people of Tokelau were using diesel stations to generate electricity. The cost of these diesel stations were about 1 million dollars per year. Together with the high costs and the fact that diesel barrels had to be delivered from Samoa from the distance of 500 kilometers. Used barrels were difficult to store on such small atolls. Now, after 10 years of relying only on solar energy, Tokelau territory is the best example of that perfect green lifestyle we are all eager to have.
Chernobyl Solar Plant, Ukraine
Thanks to the HBO and their newest Chernobyl series, we now know all the details of that horrific accident that turned a few towns nearby the nuclear station into wastelands. Trying to use these lands somehow, Ukraine has started a solar farm project. At the moment this solar farm has a capacity of only 1 MW that can power around 2000 homes. But the planned capacity is 100 MW. Further development of the farm depends on investors.