The hybrid solar-hydro design leverages the consistent energy production of hydro power to offset the variability of solar power.
In China, world’s largest hybrid solar-hydro plant produces electricity on Tibetan Plateau
The station covers an area of over 16 sq km (6.2 square miles), comprises more than 2 million solar panels and its 1GW power output can fully charge 15,000 electric vehicles with a 550km range in one hour.
Because the power station site is in the high-altitude plateau of western Sichuan – 4,000 to 4,600 metres above sea level – construction workers faced extreme cold weather.
At that altitude, construction is only possible for less than half the year. At the most hurried time of construction, workers had to install 7,000 support bases, 1,200 solar panel brackets, 33,000 solar panels and 30 box transformers within 24 hours.
“Currently, the clean electricity produced by the station annually can satisfy the electricity demands of about 700,000 average households. It saves over 600,000 tonnes of standard coal annually, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by over 1.6 million tonnes,” Kela station project manager Yang Zhiwei told CCTV.
