Large scale solar power plants started being put into operation in the 1980′s due to a response in the West to the oil embargo’s of the 1970′s. While growth was strong in the first years of the 19080′s, it slowed after oil prices dropped and then growth stagnated until the 1990′s when concerns about global warming and dwindling supplies of oil and natural gas started reaching the kitchen table in houses across the world. All the new solar power plants listed here were built in the 2000′s and the ones being built right now are the largest ever.
List of Solar Power Plants
Many of the largest solar power plants are situated in Germany, so this list is one for the largest plants in a specific country and the largest photovoltaic power station that is being built in that country along with their respective Nominal Power in MW.
For comparison the largest nuclear power plant generates over 7900 MW and the largest solar thermal plant is rated for 354 MW.
Germany
- Completed: Solarpark Senftenberg. Located near Cottbus the plant uses some 700 000 solar modules. 166MW.
- Under Construction: N/A
Canada
- Built: Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant. This is the largest photovoltaic power plant in North America and the largest in the world up to 2010. 80MW.
- Under Construction: N/A
Italy
- Built: Montalto di Castro Photovoltaic Power Station. Developped by SunPower and using 78 720 solar panels, this massive project was completed in late 2010. 72MW
- Under Construction: N/A
Spain
- Built: Olmedilla Photovoltaic Park. It was completed in 2008 and generates enough energy to power 40 000 homes. It’s cost was $530 million. 60MW.
- Under Construction: N/A
USA
- Built: Copper Mountain Solar Facility. It was built for $141 million and has additions planned that will boost it by over 200MW by 2015. 48MW
- Under Construction: Topaz Solar Farm: Will be completed in 2012. 550 MW
Portugal
- Built: Moura Photovoltaic Power Station. 376 000 panels over 250 hectares. Will have an additional expansion of 20MW. 46MW.
- Under Construction: N/A
Ukraine
- Built: Ohotnikovo Solar Park. Was completed in 2011 and has another 40MW under construction. 40MW.
- Under Construction: N/A
Czech Republic
- Built: Ralsko Solar Park. Completed in late 2010. 38.3MW.
- Under Construction: N/A
France
- Built: Le Gabardan Solar Park. Another 20MW will be added. 38MW.
- Under Construction: N/A.
India
- Built: Gunthawad Solar Park. Currently Asia’s largest solar power farm. 30MW.
- Under Construction: Charanka Solar Park. Will produce some 500MW by 2014. Will be Asia’s largest solar powered farm until the completion of the Ordos Solar Project in China in 2019 which will be able to produce 2000MW.
