26 August, 2015 – Massive solar power stations are being built in the world’s “sun belts” − with the US and India competing to have the largest in the world.
Source: Solar power takes giant strides as prices fall – Climate News Network
LONDON—The U.S. Navy is investing in what it says will be the largest solar farm in the world in order to provide power for 14 of its bases. This reflects a global trend of massive solar power stations being built in the world’s “sun belts,” led by the United States and India. The 210 MW, Mesquite 3 solar project, under construction about 60 miles (97 km) from Phoenix, is one of a growing number being installed across the American Sun Belt, which has expanding populations and plenty of sunshine, but also large areas of arid and unproductive land. The price of solar panels worldwide has fallen so far that, in sunny climates, they can compete on cost with any other form of energy generation. In the same week that the U.S. Navy disclosed its plans for its project that will come online by the end of 2016, the central Indian state of Madya Pradesh announced it will construct a 750 MW plant on barren, government-owned land in the country’s Rewa district. India’s energy minister says that it would be the world’s largest solar plant. India plans to have the plant in operation by March 2017.