If you’re soaring over Datong, China, don’t be alarmed if you see a giant panda smiling from the ground below. That is just a new solar farm, named the Panda Power Plant, built by Panda Green Energy’s largest shareholder China Merchants New Energy Group (CMNE) and the UN Development Program (UNDP).
Phase one was completed June 30, which consisted of building one 50-megawatt power plant. Since then, the project has delivered power to northwestern China. A solar farm of this size has enough capacity to power more than 8,000 homes.
To achieve the cute design, two types of solar panels were used—black monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells and white thin film PV cells.
“Designing the plant in the shape of a panda could inspire young people and get them interested in the applications of solar power,” says Panda Green Energy’s CEO Li Yuan.
Another panda-shaped solar farm is in the works, forecasted to begin production later this year. When the second power plant is up and running, the combined farms will produce 100 megawatts and output 3.2 billion kilowatt-hours of solar energy in the next 25 years.
Not only does this project help push clean energy, but it’ll contribute to a larger UNDP program to promote green ideology to China’s youth. The solar farm will act as a tool for education, serving as a fun summer camp destination.
“The camp will offer participants a deeper understanding of green energies and first-hand experience of environmental protection, with top notch mentors and facilitators in the field to monitor and provide on-site support,” according to UNDP.
The company has sizeable long-term ambitions, aiming to build over 100 new solar arrays in the shape of the friendly animal within the next five years.