The first solar power plant in Shandong began operations in Weishan county in Jining on Jan 9.

The one-megawatt solar energy grid-connected PV plant, with an investment of 50 million yuan, will supply power to 1.3 million people annually. It was built by Shandong RealForce Enterprises.

With an expected operating period of 25 years, the power plant is expected to save 12,000 tons of coal and reduce 32,400 tons of carbon dioxide.

Photovoltaic power generation uses photovoltaic volts from a semiconductor surface to transfer light energy into electrical energy.

The promotion and application of this technology will change the traditional dependence on coal to produce energy.

At present, less than 50 one-megawatt (MW) PV power stations have been constructed around the world, mainly in Germany and Spain.

China's MW PV power plants are funded by the government and have been constructed at or near the Shenzhen Expo and Shanghai Chongming Island.

Shandong RealForce Enterprises, which has three energy companies, has formed a new energy industrial chain for research, production and applications.

The company has established institutes in Nanjing and Tianjin and applied for more than 20 national patents.

The enterprise has been honored as "China's most influential new energy industry”.

Shandong RealForce Enterprises plans to invest 60 billion yuan in new energy by 2015. The company also plans to produce 5 billion lithium-ion power batteries and 500 MW solar cells annually.

By Ji Yuan (China Daily Shandong Bureau)

Editor: Li Jing