Today, Astronergy (Chint Solar) and its partners formally launched the first 10 MW phase of a planned 100 MW photovoltaic power station in central China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Initially covering two square kilometers in Shizuishan City in the arid Gobi Desert region, which receives on average 1,600 hours of sunlight per year, the project is expected to be completed within three years.

In response to ongoing local and regional government calls for the development of new energy resources, in light of Ningxia’s unique combination of geography and meteorology, Astronergy teamed up with a number of investment and technology partners to prepare proposals. After several rounds of consultations, demonstration initiatives, and inspections, Astronergy’s power station won strong support from across the board.

Half of the first phase of the project will use Astronergy’s conventional crystalline silicon (c-Si) PV modules. The other half will use Astronergy’s revolutionary new amorphous silicon/microcrystalline silicon tandem junction thin film technology (a-Si/uc-Si) — one of the first photovoltaic installations in the world to do so.

At full buildout, the power station will generate 100 MW of clean and renewable electricity. Considering an average daily consumption of 2 kWh per family per day, the Astronergy station will provide adequate power for over 50,000 families.