Like the lyrics of Imagine Dragons, it’s fair to say China is feeling “on top of the world”—and quite literally so. A Chinese clean energy project has quite literally reached new heights, setting up the world’s highest solar-powered EV charging station near Mount Everest.
At an elevation of 4,300 meters in Everest National Park—home to the towering Mount Everest itself (8,849 meters above sea level)—Chinese energy tech leader Aiko Solar teamed up with Huawei Digital Power to establish what’s now recognized as the highest solar supercharging station in the world.
Part of a broader push known as the Sichuan-Tibet Supercharging Green Corridor, this solar carport isn’t just an engineering marvel; it’s a pivotal piece in reducing tourism-related emissions in one of Earth’s most ecologically sensitive and frequently visited mountain zones. According to Mongabay-India, the park sees more than 52,000 tourists and trekkers annually, and accommodating their needs sustainably is becoming increasingly urgent.
To meet that need, AIKO and Huawei developed a 150 kW solar-powered carport paired with a 200 kWh energy storage system. Using AIKO’s N-type bifacial panels and Huawei’s liquid cooling technology, the station delivers 236,800 kWh of clean electricity each year, powering EV chargers designed to withstand the region’s extreme cold, UV exposure, and heavy 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,” said an AIKO spokesperson in an interview with PV Magazine.
Beyond serving over one million people annually, this station sends a strong message: sustainable tourism is not optional—it’s essential. By encouraging the use of electric vehicles in mountainous terrain, the project contributes not just to local carbon reduction but also to AIKO’s broader mission of ushering in a carbon-free society.
Of course, building such a facility at high altitude wasn’t without challenges. From oxygen shortages and temperature extremes to logistical difficulties, the team was pushed—quite literally—to its limits. Still, as the company suggests, this was a case of “mind over matter”, and the results are nothing short of groundbreaking.
This initiative serves as a powerful case study in what’s possible when cutting-edge renewable technology meets bold ambition. It’s not just a triumph of engineering; it’s a blueprint for sustainable development in sensitive environments.
