China Moving Forward on World’s Largest Solar Roof
Who’s getting the world’s largest solar roof? China, of course. The Nanjing South Railway Station, to be specific. Building solar roofs on top of railway stations (where the world’s fastest trains are running) seems to be a growing trend in China.
The 7-MW solar roof on the Nanjing South Railway Station will be powered by solar modules from Chinese solar company China Sunergy, Green Stocks Central recently reported. Just a couple weeks prior to this announcement, China Sunergy also reported that it had received a 120-MW solar supply deal in Italy. Overall, in 2010, China Sunergy “entered into collectively over 600 MW of PV module contracts for year 2011 delivery” the company announced at the time. Looks like a company to keep an eye on.
“China Sunergy is delighted to be the module supplier for the ‘largest stand-alone BIPV project in the world,” Mr. Stephen Zhifang Cai, CEO of China Sunergy, said regarding the Nanjing South Railway Station project last week. “We are very happy to see our high-quality solar panels being used in this landmark project, which will certainly raise public awareness and appreciation of renewable energy. We look forward to playing an increasingly bigger role in building China’s eco-friendly projects.”
Apart from being solar powered, the Nanjing South Railway Station will also be one of the most energy-efficient public buildings in China.
As we all know, China is steaming ahead of the rest of the world on clean energy like solar. I’m sure there are a number of companies there hoping to grow by leaps and bounds in the coming years. And I’m sure there are many in the U.S. that wish they had such opportunities. Maybe if U.S. politicians start making decisions based on the needs of U.S. citizens and not 20th or even 19th-century energy sources, we will catch up.
Related Stories:
1. China’s Multi-Billion Dollar Renewable Energy Program Set for Launch Soon
2. Wow, China IS Serious About Clean Energy!
3. China Adding 500 Gigawatts of Renewable Power by 2020!
Photo Credit: Magalie L’Abbé
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The Chinese could power their entire network with solar power and ultracapacitors. Simply place photovoltaics along the right-of-way.
The ultracapacitors need not be small, just park them in the right-of-way and use regenerative braking from the trains to recapture braking energy. The right-of-way can also serve as a path for high-voltage lines.
Does it make sense to install solar panels in China? Much of the time the skies are gray because of the constant, unrestricted pollution in most populated areas of the country.
Anytime you see video from China, the skies always looks so dark and gray. Not everything is better in that country….
David W: it sure does. otherwise, the country certainly wouldn’t be pumping billions and billions of dollars into the technology. you do not need FL weather to make use of solar energy these days.
It is a good way how to raise people´s awareness about alternative energy sources. I assume there is no much time left to change obsolete technologies for the new ones. China is one of the highest consumers of energy so they have to search for another option. As the air is highly polluted in China so they will have to find the way how to protect this project from any failure. And I am sure they will make it…
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