“‘Cause I’m on top of the world, ‘ey; I’m on top of the world, ‘ey; Waiting on this for a while now; Paying my dues to the dirt.” You’re not alone if you feel on top of the world like Imagine Dragons. China is certainly up there with you after covering ‘the peak of the world.’ They’ve pushed their limits to their peak (literally), and now they are reaping the benefits. This not-so-little endeavor of theirs has caused something never seen before and serves more than one million people annually.
China covered the ‘peak of the world’
Mount Everest is the Earth’s highest mountain above sea level, with an elevation of 8,849 meters. A Chinese company recently managed to “cover” what many have called the ‘peak of the world,’ with a new solar station. The innovative endeavor was completed in the Everest National Park, approximately 4,300 meters above sea level, marking this solar station as the highest in the world.
The pioneering new solar station is part of a larger project called the “Sichuan-Tibet Supercharging Green Corridor” to promote sustainable tourism in the Everest National Park. Per Mongabay-India, more than 52,000 tourists and trekkers visit the park annually, which means sustainable tourism is essential to minimize the negative impacts of tourism while maximizing its benefits for the environment, local communities, and the tourism industry itself.
How the station at the ‘peak of the world’ contributes to sustainable tourism
Managing a flux of tourists has proven difficult, especially keeping their total carbon footprint as low as possible. The Chinese world-leading new energy technology company, Shanghai Aiko Solar, or AIKO, teamed up with Huawei Digital Power to make life easier for electric vehicle owners who venture into this high-altitude region, but also to ensure enough power to accommodate all.
The team decided to kill two birds with one stone by integrating AIKO’s innovative N-type bifacial panels with Huawei Digital Power’s liquid cooling technology to settle a 150 kW solar carport on Mount Everest, connected to a 200 kWh energy storage system. The world’s highest solar-powered supercharging station resulted in something never seen before.
Its result has never been seen before
The energy storage system generates 236,800 kWh of clean energy annually and supplies electricity to a charging station that serves the needs of more than one million tourists. These solar panels’ design and high energy efficiency ensure consistent performance. The solar modules have been specially manufactured to withstand adverse conditions such as low temperatures, high UV exposure, and snow loads.
“The charging station is designed with a structure that accommodates 20 parking spaces, with three main chargers and 4.6 kW supercharging guns. The carport structure integrates solar panels to maximize space and efficiency.” – Aiko Solar spokesperson during PV Magazine interview.
The project encourages tourists to use electric vehicles in mountainous locations, supporting the company’s global vision of leading a carbon-free society. The project was not without challenges and pushed the company’s limits to its peak and perhaps beyond. The remote location and high altitude led to oxygen shortages and extreme temperature deviations, making it difficult to manage personnel and equipment. They had to manage each construction phase carefully with precise planning and adaptability to the tough conditions.
This project emphasizes the extreme importance of sustainable tourism and symbolizes mankind’s ambition to explore new limits in renewable energy. Mind over matter proves useful and in this case, successful. AIKO pushed the limits to the peak. The company, the environment, local communities, and the tourism industry are reaping the benefits of the world’s highest solar-powered supercharging station. We hope this project inspires many tourist attractions to promote sustainable tourism and embrace a carbon-free society.