XINING - A photovoltaic power plant in northwest China featuring integration of solar- and hydro-power generation started grid connection and trial operations on Wednesday.

The 320MW hydro-solar project near the Longyangxia Dam in Qinghai Province is the largest of its kind in China, according to the project's contractor company under China Power Investment Corporation.

The company said by combining hydropower generation, the station will be able to address the lack of stability in grid connection, a problem plaguing many photovoltaic plants that operate in the daytime and hinge their efficiency on weather conditions.

The project began construction in March and is expected to deliver an annual 498 million kilowatt-hours onto the grid.