China to build a 10 MW solar PV power plant in Dunhuang

BEIJING, Feb 05, 2009 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- On March 20, China's economic planner, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), will unveil who wins the bid for constructing a 10 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation plant in Dunhuang of Northwest China's Gansu Province.

"By now, 38 enterprises have joined the bidding for the construction job including one from Denmark, one from Germany and 36 domestic ones," said Zhao Pingqian, an official with Dunhuang's development and reform commission.

Chinese bidders include China Power Investment Corporation, China Huaneng Group, China Guodian Corporation, China Datang Corporation, China Huadian Corporation and Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (STP.NYSE), according to Zhao.

Covering one million square meters, the solar PV power plant involves a total investment of 500 million yuan and will generate on average 16.37 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year.

Zhao said, "Bidders paid a visit to the building site in mid January and a briefing is expected to be held in February."

The bid winners are obligated to complete the construction of the solar PV power plant within 18 months and are franchised to operate the project for 25 years, according to NDRC.

Statistics show that China has only approved three solar PV power generation projects, including one 1-MW project on Shanghai's Chongming Island and one 225-KW project in Ordos of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Chinese first desert solar power station to be in place

BEIJING, Nov 20, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- China's first desert solar power generation station will come into operation and get connected to grid in this December at Tengger Desert of Northwest China's Gansu Province, said Li Shimin, vice president of Gansu Natural Energy Research Institute.

This solar power generation program covers more than 20,000 square meters with an annual capacity of 0.5 MW.

Gansu has rich solar energy resources with annual solar radiation of 4,800-6,400 MJ/m2 and 1,700-3,300 of sunshine hours each year.

In addition, Gansu will invite biding for the construction of a 10-MW solar photovoltaic program in the desert area of Dunhuang.