The site of the world’s most destructive nuclear meltdown could be resurrected as a power plant once again – but this time harvesting solar energy.

The exclusion zone that surrounds the site of the Chernobyl nuclear power station could be turned into the world’s biggest renewable power plant, according to Ukraine’s government.

When the plant had a meltdown in 1986 it led to the deaths of an estimated 100,000 people, and has caused continuing problems for the animals in the area.

Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Show all 12 1 /12 Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A woman stands near the grave of her brother, a "liquidator" or an emergency worker who fought the blaze at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, during a commemoration ceremony on the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster at the Mitino cemetery in Moscow Reuters Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Belarussian soldiers of an honor guard carry wreaths during a memorial service for the victims of the Chernobyl disaster in Minsk EPA Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A woman holds a portrait of her relative, a victim of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, as she visits the memorial during a commemoration ceremony in Kiev Reuters Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko lays flowers during a commemoration ceremony at a monument to "liquidators", emergency workers who fought the blaze at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant Reuters Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A woman puts flowers to a monument to Chernobyl liquidators at Mitino Cemetery in Moscow AP Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Nataliya Khodemchyuk, 64, from Ukraine, a widow of Chernobyl liquidator Valery Khodemchyuk, sits at his grave at the Mitino Cemetery in Moscow AP Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A woman holds portrait of her relative, a victim of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, as she visits the memorial during a commemoration ceremony in Kiev Reuters Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Ukrainians light candles and lay flowers at the memorial for 'liquidators' who died during cleaning up works after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, during a ceremony in Slavutich city EPA Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A rescue worker which served during the Chernobyl nuclear disaster visits a memorial during a commemoration ceremony in Kiev Reuters Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster Women hold portraits of their lost husbands near a monument honoring people who were killed during cleanup efforts after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, during a memorial ceremony in Kiev EPA Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A woman lays flowers at the Chernobyl victims' memorial in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev Getty Images Ukraine marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster A woman holds a photograph of her husband who died following the clean-up operations for the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear explosion, at the Chernobyl's victim monument in Ukraine's capital Kiev AP

But that same desolation could make the 1,600 square miles of now uninhabited space the perfect place to turn into a solar farm. Nobody can enter the area anyway, so filling the space with solar panels would help make it useful once again.

At four gigawatts, the power generated would be equal with the old nuclear reactor and make it by far the biggest solar power plant in the world.

And the area still has the infrastructure required for delivering large amounts of energy because the transmission lines from the nuclear reactor remain in place.

“We already have high-voltage transmission lines that were previously used for the nuclear stations, the land is very cheap and we have many people trained to work at power plants,” Ukraine’s environment minister said. “We have normal European priorities, which means having the best standards with the environment and clean energy ambitions.”

The area also still has personnel with training in generating and distributing electricity.

Ukraine: Chernobyl disaster visiting on the 30th anniversary

The project could already have the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which has said that it “may consider participating in the project so long as there are viable investment proposals and all other environmental matters and risks can be addressed to the bank’s satisfaction”.