The telegraph: Panda power!China is building the world's cutest solar station
Time:2017-07-06

China really loves its giant pandas and the adorable black and white bear is the inspiration behind a new green energy station helping power the Asian nation.


The world’s first panda solar station in Datong, Shanxi, has just been connected to the grid, covering a total area of 248 acres.


It will have a capacity of 100MW when fully connected, providing 3.2 billion kWh of green electricity in 25 years. That’s equivalent to saving 1.056 million tons of coal, or reducing 2.74 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.


The panda-shaped power plant, a project backed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will also play a crucial role in getting young people to engage with sustainable development.


“Designing the plant in the shape of a panda could inspire young people and get them interest in the applications of solar power,” said Panda Green Energy’s CEO, Li Yuan, last year.


Young candidates from around China will be recruited to participate in summer camps at the panda power stations, with a focus on providing them with a deeper understanding of green energies.


There are also plans to bring panda power stations to Fiji and the Philippines, with the aim of building 100 across the globe over the next five years.