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From collapsed coal mines to floating solar farms, why China's new power stations matter

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  • Pouran, Hamid M.

Abstract

Inauguration of the world’s largest floating solar power plant on a collapsed coal mine exemplifies China's commitment to transition to a low carbon economy. This 70 MW project covers more than 63 ha of the flooded area and can provide electricity for 21,000 homes. It also demonstrates China's ambition to amend its fragile environmental status namely air pollution, which claims 1.6 million lives every year. Soon after the completion, many countries expressed interest in building similar power stations, and within few months some companies released innovative products tailored specifically for improving the efficiency of floating solar power plants. China has a unique capacity to implement new ideas, scale them up and commercialise efficiently and now its self-declared war on pollution in 2014 seems to be reshaping the world energy landscape. China's plan to build 1 GW floating solar farms on abandoned coal mines present a stark contrast to the current environmental policies of the government of the United States. The innovative thinking behind these projects suggests that not only this country is taking the lead in renewable energies, but it is moving beyond speed, efficiency and mass production, and becoming a hub for innovation in green energy technologies.

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  • Pouran, Hamid M., 2018. "From collapsed coal mines to floating solar farms, why China's new power stations matter," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 414-420.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:123:y:2018:i:c:p:414-420
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2018.09.010
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    1. Zhu Liu & Dabo Guan & Wei Wei & Steven J. Davis & Philippe Ciais & Jin Bai & Shushi Peng & Qiang Zhang & Klaus Hubacek & Gregg Marland & Robert J. Andres & Douglas Crawford-Brown & Jintai Lin & Hongya, 2015. "Reduced carbon emission estimates from fossil fuel combustion and cement production in China," Nature, Nature, vol. 524(7565), pages 335-338, August.
    2. Niu, Dong-xiao & Song, Zong-yun & Xiao, Xin-li, 2017. "Electric power substitution for coal in China: Status quo and SWOT analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 610-622.
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    1. Pouran, Hamid & Padilha Campos Lopes, Mariana & Ziar, Hesan & Alves Castelo Branco, David & Sheng, Yong, 2022. "Evaluating floating photovoltaics (FPVs) potential in providing clean energy and supporting agricultural growth in Vietnam," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    2. Hamid M. Pouran & Seyed M. Karimi & Mariana Padilha Campos Lopes & Yong Sheng, 2022. "What China’s Environmental Policy Means for PV Solar, Electric Vehicles, and Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-13, November.
    3. Yuliang Yang & Chaoqun Cui, 2022. "Which Provincial Regions in China Should Give Priority to the Redevelopment of Abandoned Coal Mines? A Redevelopment Potential Evaluation Based Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-22, November.
    4. Padilha Campos Lopes, Mariana & Nogueira, Tainan & Santos, Alberto José Leandro & Castelo Branco, David & Pouran, Hamid, 2022. "Technical potential of floating photovoltaic systems on artificial water bodies in Brazil," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 1023-1033.
    5. Noelia Araújo & Lucília Cardoso & Jose Antonio Fraiz Brea & Arthur Filipe De Araújo, 2018. "Green Jobs: The Present and Future of the Building Industry. Evolution Analysis," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(12), pages 1-17, December.
    6. Ronyastra, I Made & Saw, Lip Huat & Low, Foon Siang, 2023. "A review of methods for integrating risk management and multicriteria decision analysis in financial feasibility for post-coal-mining land usage selection," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    7. Rafi Zahedi & Parisa Ranjbaran & Gevork B. Gharehpetian & Fazel Mohammadi & Roya Ahmadiahangar, 2021. "Cleaning of Floating Photovoltaic Systems: A Critical Review on Approaches from Technical and Economic Perspectives," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-25, April.
    8. Evgeny Solomin & Evgeny Sirotkin & Erdem Cuce & Shanmuga Priya Selvanathan & Sudhakar Kumarasamy, 2021. "Hybrid Floating Solar Plant Designs: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-25, May.
    9. Liang, Jinhao & Irfan, Muhammad & Ikram, Muhammad & Zimon, Dominik, 2022. "Evaluating natural resources volatility in an emerging economy: The influence of solar energy development barriers," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    10. Ronyastra, I Made & Saw, Lip Huat & Low, Foon Siang, 2024. "Monte Carlo simulation-based financial risk identification for industrial estate as post-mining land usage in Indonesia," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    11. Ma, Chao & Wu, Runze & Liu, Zhao & Li, Xinyang, 2024. "Performance assessment of different photovoltaic module technologies in floating photovoltaic power plants under waters environment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    12. J. Charles Rajesh Kumar & MA Majid, 2023. "Floating solar photovoltaic plants in India – A rapid transition to a green energy market and sustainable future," Energy & Environment, , vol. 34(2), pages 304-358, March.
    13. Erdem Cuce & Pinar Mert Cuce & Shaik Saboor & Aritra Ghosh & Yahya Sheikhnejad, 2022. "Floating PVs in Terms of Power Generation, Environmental Aspects, Market Potential, and Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-25, February.
    14. Carlson, D'Arcy & Robinson, Stacy-ann & Blair, Catherine & McDonough, Marjorie, 2021. "China's climate ambition: Revisiting its First Nationally Determined Contribution and centering a just transition to clean energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).

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