Two Chinese companies are planning to revive the nuclear disaster site of Chernobyl by setting up a large solar power park.
According to media reports, two Chinese companies – GCL System Integration Technology (GCL-SI), a subsidiary of the GCL Group and China National Complete Engineering Corp (CCEC) – have announced plans to set up 1 GW solar power capacity at Chernobyl, Ukraine.
Construction of the project shall be responsibility of China National Complete Engineering Corp while GCL System Integration Technology shall supply the solar power equipment and be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the project.
While there will be obvious safety and health concerns regarding installation of the solar power park, there are also certain advantages related to the proposed project. Ukraine’s minister of environment and mineral resources stated that the area receives ample amount of solar radiation and existing transmission lines are also available for use. Additionally, the land is understandably cheaper.
“There will be remarkable social benefits and economic ones as we try to renovate the once damaged area with green and renewable energy. We have been dedicated to providing integrated solar services and will take diverse approaches this year to drive penetration and achieve global presence. The Chernobyl project is also one of our key steps to approach abroad,” said Shu Hua, the chairman of GCL-SI.
The exact location of the solar power park is yet to be announced but the Ukrainian authorities have allowed development activities in Chernobyl indicating that the radiation levels are under control.
The Chernobyl event remain the deadliest nuclear power plant disaster in human history. The World Health Organisation estimated that around 4,000 people have been killed due to radiation effects since the reactor meltdown at Chernobyl nuclear power plant in April 1986.
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