Solar panels hang over the waters of two reservoirs in Cixi, Zhejiang province. The new solar power project is the largest of its kind in China. [Photo by Xu Yu/Xinhua]

China's largest photovoltaic solar power generation project was officially put into operation in Cixi city in East China's Zhejiang province on Jan 11.

The project will cover 4492 mu (300 hectares) of water in Cixi's Zhouxiang and Changhe reservoirs. Ingeniously, the solar panels will be suspended above the water, allowing the reservoirs underneath to continue to be used for aquaculture.

The 1.8 billion yuan ($262 million) project will have a combined generating capacity of 200 megawatts, enough to generate 220 million kWh of electricity per year.

The electricity produced will be sold to China's national grid and is expected to generate revenues of 240 million yuan each year. The aquaculture farms currently bring the area an income of 13 million yuan annually.