Kunming's reputation as China's 'solar city' has been bolstered by a recently announced solar power plant project which will be the largest in Yunnan province upon completion.

Yunnan Dingxing New Energy Development Co Ltd (云南鼎兴新能源开发有限公司) announced that it will invest 4 billion yuan (US$580 million) in an amorphous silicon power plant and equipment manufacturing facility located approximately 150 kilometers north of downtown Kunming.

Work on the 1.3 square kilometer facility – which is expected to have an installed generation capacity of 360 megawatts upon completion – is expected to begin 'soon' according to a company press release.

Once finished, the new Dongchuan plant is expected to join a 3.7 billion yuan power plant project in Shilin to make Kunming one of China and Asia's largest solar power generation bases.