BP Solar will help Weihai become the world’s largest solar city.

BP Solar has announced that it is to help Weihai, in north east China, become the world’s largest solar city.

The company, part of BP Alternative Energy, has already developed Solar Cities projects in Australia, including Adelaide, Alice Springs and the western suburbs of Sydney.

If successful, the Weihai Green Energy City project will deploy up to 100MW of solar electricity, solar thermal, and energy efficiency applications, in an effort to meet peak energy needs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Brooke Miller, Regional Director of BP Solar Australasia, explained why Weihai was chosen for the project: “With a population that dramatically increases in summer due to its popularity as a tourist destination, Weihai has its own distinct peak power challenges.”

The project is hoped to be of mutual benefit to both Australia and China. “As a direct consequence of the Federal Government’s support for the Solar Cities concept, seven Australian cities will demonstrate how the power of the sun can address their peak energy challenges, reduce the requirement for investment in electricity infrastructure and cut emissions. We look forward to completing the feasibility study and adding the city of Weihai to this list,” Miller added.

BP Solar is a global company with over 2,300 employees. Its Australia division employs around 250 people at its Sydney Olympic Park facility, which recorded export sales of over AU$90 million (around £42m) in 2007.