The Planet’s Largest Photovoltaic Power Plants

The Planet’s Largest Photovoltaic Power Plants

Ranking the World’s Most Powerful Solar Farms

The Growth of Utility-Scale Solar Energy

Over the past decade, a sharp decline in the cost of solar power has led to a surge in the construction of large-scale solar farms worldwide. These projects vary in technology and design, but this list focuses exclusively on the largest photovoltaic power plants ranked by total output. These projects highlight how far large-scale photovoltaics have come

7. Agua Caliente Solar Project – 290 MWp

Located in Yuma County, Arizona, the Agua Caliente Solar Project has a total capacity of 290 MWp. Completed in April 2014, this solar power station uses thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic panels, generating an average annual output of 626 GWh

6. California Valley Solar Ranch – 292 MWp

Built on 4,700 acres of former grazing land, the California Valley Solar Ranch covers approximately 1,500 acres and is situated in Carrizo Plain, northeast of California Valley. The photovoltaic power plant generates 250 MWp using high-efficiency crystalline photovoltaic panels

5. Ferme Solaire de Cestas – 300 MWp

As the largest solar project in Europe, Ferme Solaire de Cestas provides France with 300 MWp of installed solar capacity. Located 20 km south of Bordeaux, the plant contains approximately 984,000 solar panels spread over 250 acres. The power generated from this facility is sold to the grid operator for 105€/MWh over 20 years, making it competitive with new-generation nuclear plants, which negotiate between 110-120€/MWh

4. Longyangxia Dam Solar Park – 329 MWp

Located in China’s Qinghai Province along the Yellow River, the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park has a total capacity of 329 MWp. Completed in just nine months in 2013, the facility spans more than 9 square kilometers (2,200 acres) and is an example of integrating hydro and solar power production

3. Desert Sunlight – 550 MWp

The Desert Sunlight Solar Farm, tied with Topaz for the second-largest photovoltaic power plant, has an installed capacity of 550 MWp. Situated in the Mojave Desert, approximately six miles north of Desert Center, California, the plant was completed in 2015. It features 8.8 million cadmium telluride photovoltaic modules and covers 16 square kilometers (3,950 acres)

2. Topaz Solar Farm – 550 MWp

Topaz Solar Farm, located in San Luis Obispo County, California, has an installed capacity of 550 MWp. Construction began in November 2011 and concluded in November 2014. The project comprises 9 million CdTe photovoltaic modules based on thin-film technology and covers over 25 square kilometers (6,175 acres)

1. Solar Star I and II (World’s Largest) – 579 MWp

The largest photovoltaic solar farm to date is Solar Star, a 579 MWp facility near Rosamond, California. Fully completed in June 2015, it currently holds the record for the world’s largest installed photovoltaic power capacity. The project consists of 1.7 million solar panels spread across 13 square kilometers (3,200 acres)

Photovoltaic Potential

These seven massive projects are helping lead the transition to a more sustainable energy future. Together, they have a total installed capacity of 2,770 MWp, supplying electricity to more than 1,100,000 homes simultaneously. In addition to providing clean energy, these solar farms collectively offset over 2 million metric tons of CO2 emissions every year