China to Build Giant Solar Plant at Chernobyl

Two Chinese firms have announced plans to construct a solar power plant inside the exclusion zone surrounding Chernobyl starting next year.

Chernobyl is a Ukrainian city that was abandoned in 1986 following a massive explosion caused by their nuclear reactor. The disaster polluted the surrounding area with radiation, making it mostly inaccessible – until now.

No clear blueprints or exact locations have been confirmed by the companies –GCL System Integration Technology and China National Complete Engineering Corp, however the plant’s construction is projected to power over 150,000 homes, amounting to over 1,000 megawatts of energy.

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“There will be remarkable social benefits and economic ones as we try to renovate the once damaged area with green and renewable energy,” Shu Hua, the chairman of GCL-SI, said in a press release.

Though they have become the number one manufacturer in solar power, China has been encouraged to slash their carbon footprint since they reportedly derive 66% of their energy from coal use, according to the Energy Information Administration. The nation has since announced plans to eliminate all CO2 emissions by 2030 by expanding their international solar power presence and tripling their generated wind power.

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