China Built a Solar Power Plant the Size of Half of Moscow

At an altitude of nearly 3000 meters, China has created the Talatan Solar Park - the largest high-altitude network of solar farms in the world. Its area is about 420 km² - roughly half the size of Moscow. Together with wind turbines and hydroelectric plants, this gives the region almost complete energy autonomy.
According to The New York Times, the project in Qinghai province is already generating 16,930 megawatts - enough to power all of Chicago. Plans are in place to expand to over 2600 km², which is nearly three times the size of Moscow. Electricity here is 40% cheaper than coal and powers not only cities but also data centers for AI.
But the main thing is not the size, but the engineering. The Chinese have maximized the geography: thin air makes the light brighter, and cold increases the efficiency of the panels. During the day, solar panels operate, and at night, wind turbines on the ridges. When there's a shortage, they connect a bit of electricity from the neighboring coal province. And the excess daytime energy goes to hydroelectric plants: water is pumped up during the day and released at night, creating a self-regulating energy cycle.
This infrastructure is part of China's strategic course to abandon oil and coal imports in favor of its own renewable energy. Meanwhile, five new dams are being built on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which could make the project the largest hydroelectric project in the world.
Nearby, data centers are emerging, where cold air reduces energy costs by 40%.
Source: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/12/business/china-solar-energy-tibetan-plateau.html">The New York Times</a>
View on the map: <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/36%C2%B011'26.5%22N+100%C2%B032'31.9%22E/@36.1720321,100.4900253,17334m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d36.1907!4d100.5422?hl=en&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTAwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D">Google Maps</a>
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