BEIJING: CHN Energy has successfully connected the 3 GW Mengxi Lanhai Solar Plant to the grid, making it the largest single-site solar facility in China and the second-largest worldwide. Located in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, the $1.6 billion project was completed in just 14 months and is a cornerstone of China’s “West-to-East Power Transmission” strategy.
Spanning 70 square kilometers, the plant features over 5.9 million solar panels and is equipped with advanced infrastructure, including two 500 kV gathering stations and eight 220 kV substations. It will transmit power to coastal regions via an 800 kV ultra-high-voltage line, generating 5.7 TWh annually—enough to supply electricity to 2 million households.
Constructed by Power China and financed by CHN Energy’s subsidiary China Guodian, the project was built on land affected by coal mining subsidence. Innovative flexible mounting systems with telescopic poles were used to address ground instability, ensuring efficient panel alignment.
Cutting-edge technologies such as robotic pre-assembly arms, drone docking stations, and smart cleaning robots enhance operational efficiency, boosting assembly by 25% and maintaining the plant’s performance through automated monitoring and cleaning.
The Mengxi Lanhai plant follows the 3.5 GW Midong PV farm in Xinjiang, currently the world’s largest solar facility.
