The floating solar farm indicates China's ambition to acquire clean energy. The initiative surfaces at the time when the United States withdrew from the important Paris climate pact.
This is the largest floating solar farm in the world. This solar power plant is equipped with the 160,000 panels that can generate 40-megawatt electricity. The panels are rested on the lake in the Anhui province in China. Previously a coal mine was situated in that area and the lake emerged after the collapse of that coal mine, Phys.org reported.
China is still considered as the highest carbon emitter in the world as the majority of the Country's electricity is generated by coal. This floating solar farm attracted all when the U.S. President Donald Trump decided on June 2 to withdraw from the vital Paris climate pact. The aim of this climate pact was to save the planet from the negative impact of the climate change.
The move of the U.S. President helped China to snatch the spotlight regarding the fight against the global warming. Interestingly, it might be a coincidence that Beijing hosted the international conference on the clean energy days after the U.S. President's announcement. The announcement helped China to produce the floating solar farm as a step to keep its commitment to accelerate the use of the renewable energies.
Energy expert of the Wood Mackenzie consultancy, Frank Yu, commented that withdrawal of the U.S. creates an opportunity for China to lead the climate change. China has already produced the world's two-thirds solar panels. The Beijing Forum focused on the initiatives to develop the renewable energy by the Chinese authorities and the companies. The floating solar farm is a major step regarding this initiative.
Director of the WRI Energy Program, Alex Perera, China is moving rapidly even without or with the U.S. obviously in terms of innovation and investment. Beijing now can feel that it has a dominating position in the game. From 2012 China has been emerging as the largest investor in the world in adopting clean energy. The country spent $88 billion on the wind and solar energy last year and the floating solar farm is another major development towards this investment.
China is aiming to generate 20 percent of the power consumption using the low-emission energy by 2030. The launch of the floating solar farm is a good example of the said power consumption. Beijing is reaping the financial benefits of the clean energy and it hopes to fight the air pollution, the Climate Group President, Helen Clarkson, stated. To push forward the climate agenda, China has pointed out its preparation to deal with the local U.S. governments.
The floating solar farm is a major step to combat the catastrophe of the climate change. Now Beijing conference is used by the California Governor in seeking the Chinese partnership on the climate change. The Governor Jerry Brown received a red-carpet treatment by the Chinese President Xi Jinping. Brown criticized the Donald Trump's withdrawal decision from the Paris Agreement and signed an important memorandum with the Chinese President.
The Science Times previously revealed that California achieved the goal in generating electricity to cover half the U.S. state for three hours on March 11. The California Independent System Operator plays a significant role to cover a major portion of California's electricity grid. Now the floating solar farm is also a new achievement by China in generating power. The agreement between China and California is a major step towards enhancing the use of clean energy.
Brown also signed a vital agreement with the Sichuan province and the floating solar farm in Anhui province explores Chinese initiative to adopt clean energy. Interestingly, the energy secretary of the U.S., Rick Perry, also attended the forum but did not get the same reception like Jerry Brown. Rick Perry met with the seventh-ranked Chinese official only. Meanwhile, important climate negotiator of China, Xie Zhenhua, revealed that the country will strengthen the cooperation with California and other U.S. cities, states, research institutions.
