When I think of China, I think of smog.
I think of needing oxygen just to step outside, and a world that’s a grey haze…
What I don’t think of is renewable energy…
Yet the truth is, China is actually pouring tons of money into renewable power. In 2016 they put $1.9 billion into renewable energy. Compare that to the $1 billion that the United States is investing in the sector.
And while solar panels are providing the energy that China desperately needs, they also take up huge amounts of land – something China can’t afford to give up so easily.
China has the largest population in the world, with 21% of people (1.2 billion) in the world in their country, and overpopulation has been a problem for years.
What’s their solution?
Well, we may start seeing the country utilize solar panels in an unlikely place.
Recently, China just turned on the largest floating solar plant in the world.
It’s kinda a no-brainer. After all, 71% of the earth’s surface is water, and floating solar panels don’t take up valuable land space in a world that is quickly becoming overpopulated.
The floating power plant has an output of 40 megawatts. By comparison, wind turbines can produce about 2-3 megawatts each (if the wind is really blowing).
China doubled their solar capacity in 2016, with 77.42 gigawatts of power available, with their solar plants generating more than 66 billion hours of power.
And with their plan to put $365 billion into renewable energy over the next three years, it’s only a matter of time before we see even more growth.
Solar power’s time in the sun is coming.
But surprisingly, China’s leading the charge.
