GCL and China National Complete Engineering Corporation will work together to build the plant in the exclusion zone around the Ukrainian power plant, which suffered a catastrophic meltdown in 1986.

The explosion contaminated around 30sq.km directly around the plant, and for 30 years the Chernobyl has been uninhabited, a testament to the risks of nuclear power and poor safety procedures.

Recently, Ukrainian authorities have moved to move a giant protective shield into place over the plant, a massive concrete and steel arch is billed as the "largest movable land-based structure ever built".

The arch, which is designed to last 100 years, will allow the reactor to be secured for the first time in 30 years, and ultimately support dismantling the plant.

Some 40 countries are involved in the effort to replace the hastily-built concrete sarcophagus that was constructed around the plant by the Soviets to contain the fallout.

That sarcophagus is degrading, so the 36,000-tonne New Safe Confinement is being installed.

While the containment won't do much to affect the exclusion zone, the Ukrainian government sees the potential to use the wide open space to support a new solar photovoltaic plant.

"Its cheap land and abundant sunlight constitute a solid foundation for the project. In addition, the remaining electric transmission facilities are ready for reuse," Ukrainian resources minister Ostap Semerak said.

CCEC will act as the contract manager to oversee the development, while GCL will actually build the one gigawatt plant, which is expected to begin construction in 2017.

"Once completed, Chernobyl will re-catch the global attention as a revived site of solar energy," GCL chairman Shu Hua said.

"There will be remarkable social benefits and economical ones as we try to renovate the once damaged area with green and renewable energy. We are glad that we are making joint efforts with Ukraine to rebuild the community for the local people.

"We have been dedicated to providing integrated solar services and will take diverse approaches this year to drive penetration and achieve global presence. The Chernobyl project is also one of our key steps to approach abroad."