China Three Gorges Renewables, a state-owned power company, has unveiled plans to construct an ambitious 8GW solar photovoltaic (PV) project in Ordos, Inner Mongolia. Scheduled to commence construction in September, the project forms part of a comprehensive energy initiative that will also feature 4GW of wind power, 4GW of coal-fired capacity, and 5GWh of battery energy storage.
With an estimated investment of RMB79.8 billion (US$10.98 billion), China Three Gorges Renewables will hold a majority 56% stake in the project, with Inner Mongolia Energy Group controlling the remaining 44%. The project aims to bolster energy supply to the Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei regions through an ultra-high voltage power transmission line.
The solar PV facility is slated to become operational by June 2027, contributing significantly to China's renewable energy ambitions. Recently, China commissioned the world's largest solar project, a sprawling 5GW installation in Xinjiang's Ürümqi region. Spanning 200,000 acres in a desert area, the project, developed by state-owned Ürümqi Zhonglvdian New Energy Co Ltd, is expected to generate over 6,090GWh annually, meeting a substantial portion of energy demand comparable to that of Los Angeles.
According to DNV, a Norwegian analysis firm, China is poised to substantially increase its renewable energy capacity by 2050, with solar energy alone projected to contribute 38% of domestic electricity production, up from 5% currently. The report forecasts that new solar installations will account for 58% of all electricity generation capacity additions in China through the end of this decade.
