China has switched on the world’s largest floating solar farm (in the eastern Anhui province), as it continues its shift away from coal to solar and wind power.

The 40MW plant, which can power 15,000 homes, consists of 160,000 panels resting on a lake that emerged after the collapse of a coal mine (the site was chosen because the cool surface of the water improves power generation).

The floating solar farm is said to be the latest demonstration that China is serious about its green-energy plans.

Earlier this year, Beijing said it would spend $361 billion on expanding the country’s renewable-power capacity by 2020. By 2022, China is aiming to have 320GW of wind and solar power capacity, along with 340GW of hydropower.

China is now the largest solar-energy producer in the world. Its capacity reached 77.42GW at the end of last year, according to the National Energy Administration.

Renewables make up 11% of the country’s energy use, but that number could go up to 20% by 2030. Coal consumption has now been falling for the last three years in a row.