China's Qinghai has ocean of solar power, but no storage

High on the Tibetan Plateau in western China's Qinghai province, a sea of solar panels stretches out across 345 sq. kilometers, making it the world's largest photovoltaic power park. With another nearly 265 sq. kilometers of new panels set to be installed, the state-owned solar park in Gonghe County, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, will soon occupy an area about the size of the U.S. city of Chicago.

Built by Huanghe Hydropower Development Company, the park might sound like an impressive feat amid a global race toward a green transition -- a comprehensive shift away from fossil fuels and to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly economy -- but a major shortfall of investment in complementary power storage facilities has led to an imbalance between electricity supply and demand.