World’s highest altitude solar facility now generating power in Tibet

• The world’s highest-altitude solar facility, situated at an elevation of over 17,000 feet, has begun generating electricity in Tibet. It operates in extreme cold and aims to address regional energy shortages.
• The facility includes 170,000 bifacial solar panels for increased efficiency and a battery storage system that provides power for up to four hours after sunset.
• Once fully operational, it will generate 150 megawatts — enough to power 40,000 homes — which experts say demonstrates renewable energy’s viability in harsh and remote environments.

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The world’s highest-altitude solar facility has begun generating electricity in Tibet. Situated at an elevation of 17,152 feet, the project operates in a region where temperatures frequently fall below freezing.

What purpose will this facility serve?

The Huadian Tibet Caipeng PV-Storage Project is located in Naidong District, Shannan City, Tibet. The facility is designed to supply power to local communities, particularly during winter and spring, when energy shortages are most common in this region.

It features 170,000 bifacial solar panels, which are capable of capturing sunlight from both sides, improving efficiency by approximately 20% compared to standard solar panels.

How much power can it generate?

To ensure a steady energy supply, this project also includes a battery storage system that can provide power for up to four hours after sunset. Currently, the project is only partially operational, but once fully completed, it is expected to generate up to 150 megawatts of electricity — enough to power approximately 40,000 homes.

The first section of the facility was completed in late 2023 at a slightly lower altitude of 16,732 feet. Since then, it has produced 60 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, which could sustain 6,000 homes for an entire year.

What happens next?

Industry experts noted the facility’s success as an example of renewable energy production in extreme and remote environments.