Once a distant dream of clean energy, solar power now spreads like sunlight itself. Vast, unstoppable, and life-giving. Miles-long rows of solar panels humming under the desert sun, powering whole regions. This list cuts through the noise, ambitious announcements, and glaring projections. 

What follows are the top 10 solar power plants that are actually operational and verifiably producing power as of 2025. No speculative or half-built megaprojects and planned expansions. These solar installations are real, built, and documented proof of humanity’s transition to clean energy. These are the giants of today, but in the conclusion, we’ll look at the next wave of colossal solar farms now rising across deserts and plateaus, ready to redefine what “largest” means all over again.

1 China’s Gonghe Talatan Solar Park – 15,600 MW

China continues to push expansion in regions like Qinghai and Xinjiang. The Gonghe / Talatan complex is already reported at 15,600 MW and is still expanding.

China is racing to build new solar farms that cover hundreds of square kilometers to meet emissions targets. 

2 China’s Midong solar project – 3,500 MW

In June 2024, China connected the 3.5 GW Midong solar project near Ürümqi in Xinjiang to the grid, making it, at that moment, the world’s largest single operational PV plant. The installation spans desert terrain and is reported to generate around 6.09 billion kWh annually. Although some media and aggregated lists claim 5 GW, reliable sources like  Reuters and PV Magazine confirm 3.5 GW as the commissioned figure. According to some sources, additional capacity and a 9.35 expansion are also underway.

3 India’s Bhadla Solar Park – 2,245 MW

Located in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan, Bhadla Solar Park is India’s largest and one of the world’s largest operational solar parks, with 2,245 MW installed capacity. It was built in phases (I–IV) from 2015 onward and fully commissioned by 2020. It occupies around 56 km² and receives high solar irradiation, making it a strategic clean-energy project for India’s ambitions. There are smaller expansions and sub-projects, such as a 100 MW AMPIN plant within its park area, but the core 2,245 MW figure is stable.

4 China’s Huanghe Solar Park – 2,200 MW

The Huanghe Hydropower / Hainan (Gonghe) Solar Park in Qinghai province has an operating capacity of 2,200 MW. It is developed in multiple phases and is part of larger solar-hydro complementary schemes. The site is often cited in “largest solar farms” compilations due to its stable operational status. Plans exist for integrating additional wind or solar expansions, e.g., as part of the broader Gonghe / Talatan complex, but the 2,200 MW figure is for the confirmed commissioned solar portion.

5 India’s Pavagada Shakti – 2,050 MW

Pavagada Solar Park (Tumkur district, Karnataka) is a large grid-connected plant with a capacity of 2,050 MW, commissioned mostly by 2019. The state government and multiple independent developers developed the project under a “wasteland lease / solar park” strategy. Some sources mention proposals for further expansion to 3 GW, but these are not yet fully confirmed. 

6 UAE’s Al Dhafra Solar PV plant – 2,000 MW

The Al Dhafra Solar PV project in Abu Dhabi achieved full operational status in June 2023 with a nameplate of 2.0 GW (2,000 MW). It is widely billed as the largest single-site solar PV plant in the world, which means that it is not an aggregated complex. The facility spans about 20 km² of desert land near Abu Dhabi and uses nearly four million bifacial panels. It’s expected to supply power to ~200,000 homes and reduce 2.4 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.

7 Egypt’s Benban Solar Park – 1,650 MW

Benban Solar Park, located in Aswan governorate, is Egypt’s flagship PV complex with 1,650 MW operational capacity, with a combined maximum output of 1.8 GW. The project comprises 41 individual solar plants connected to a shared infrastructure/grid. It was fully commissioned around 2019 and is regarded as Africa’s largest solar installation at this scale. Future augmentation within that complex may be discussed in local planning, but there is no strong, widely accepted evidence of major new capacity beyond the 1,650 MW core.

8 China’s Tengger Desert Solar Park – 1,547 MW

The Tengger Desert Solar Park, located in Ningxia, Inner Mongolia region, is commonly reported as having a capacity of 1,547 MW and is fully operational. Its capacity data is relatively stable because it is a more mature project. It is often included in “largest solar farms” lists globally and is less controversial in terms of verification than many newer mega complexes.

9 India’s NP Kunta Ultra Mega Solar Park – 1,500 MW

NP Kunta Ultra Mega Solar Park (also known as Ananthapuram) in Andhra Pradesh has a 1,500 MW capacity and operational status. However, the site is less frequently featured in international top-solar lists, suggesting that while its capacity is cited, verification is weaker than the others above. Many sources list it in India’s “ultra mega solar park” roster with plans and partial operation. That locale may also have newer additions or upgrades, but the 1,500 MW figure is commonly quoted. 

10 Noor Abu Dhabi, Sweihan – 1,117 MW

Also known as the Noor Abu Dhabi or Sweihan Solar Plant, this PV installation has 1,117 MW capacity and began operations in 2019. It is sometimes cited as the largest single-site solar plant at the time of commissioning. The plant has 3.2 million panels and cleans them using a robotic, waterless system. While newer, larger plants have overtaken it, Noor Abu Dhabi remains a reliably documented major solar facility.

One of major solar projects in the world also includes the Mohammed bin Rashid (MBR) Solar Park in Dubai, UAE. While its ultimate planned capacity is much higher (several GW), the currently confirmed operational capacity is around 1,013 MW, or slightly more, depending on the latest commissioned phases. Many list it as 2,620 MW, but that likely includes planned or under-construction phases. This park has a planned production capacity of 5,000 MW by 2030, with investments totalling AED 50 billion. After completion, it is stated to save over 6.5 million tons of carbon

A whole new class of solar megaprojects is coming  

Solar megaprojects are more than a static “top 10” list, and this one is just a snapshot in time, reflecting the biggest solar power plants that are already operational and verifiably delivering power in 2025. Yet, the energy scene is changing fast. Many of these giants are already being expanded, and a new generation of truly massive solar and hybrid parks is rising that may reshuffle the rankings completely.

One of the boldest among them is Khavda (Gujarat Hybrid Renewable Energy Park) in India. Planned for a total capacity of 30 GW, combining solar and wind (26 GW solar + 4 GW wind) on 72,600 hectares of land. It aims to power 18 million homes and reduce tens of millions of tonnes of CO2. By March 2024, Adani Green Energy had already operationalized 1,000 MW of that park. The full buildout is expected by 2026–2029.

Many of the current top 10 will scale up further, while entirely new entrants will leapfrog into top positions. For example, Khavda could become the new global benchmark, and China’s continued mega-expansions may produce plants in the 20+ GW range. Today’s list of giants may look quaint in a decade. The race toward ever-greater scale is far from over, it’s just entering its most exciting phase.