Gansu Province Leads China in Concentrated Solar Power with 620,000 Kilowatt Capacity

Strategic Insights -

Gansu Province has established itself as a leader in concentrated solar power (CSP) with an installed capacity of 620,000 kilowatts, surpassing the rest of China. This achievement is attributed to the innovative use of molten salt to store heat energy from sunlight, which is then converted into steam energy at night, ensuring a stable output of clean electricity. Unlike photovoltaic (PV) power generation, CSP also compensates for the lack of power generation at night, on cloudy, or rainy days. The 100 MW molten salt tower solar thermal power plant in Dunhuang Optoelectronic Industrial Park is a prime example of this technology, demonstrating its ability to produce up to 2 million kilowatt-hours per day in summer and 1.2-1.3 million kilowatt-hours per day in winter.

Key Takeaways:

  • Gansu Province has the highest installed capacity of CSP in China, reaching 620,000 kilowatts as of October 13.
  • Concentrated solar power (CSP) uses molten salt or other media to absorb heat energy from sunlight, converting it into steam energy through equipment and processes.
  • CSP not only stores the sun's heat energy using molten salt but also converts this heat energy into steam energy at night, compensating for the lack of power generation from PV at night or on cloudy or rainy days.
  • The 100 MW molten salt tower solar thermal power plant in Dunhuang Optoelectronic Industrial Park generates up to 2 million kilowatt-hours per day in summer and 1.2-1.3 million kilowatt-hours per day in winter.
  • The function of a solar thermal power plant is similar to that of a thermal power plant for the power grid, actively responding to load changes and helping the power grid regulate peak and frequency.
  • The energy consumption and production capacity of a solar thermal power plant are green throughout the entire process.
  • Gansu Province has several solar thermal power plants, including Shouhang Gaoke Dunhuang 100 MW molten salt tower solar thermal power plant, Dunhuang Dacheng concentrated solar thermal power project, and Jinta Zhongguang Solar Energy "100 MW solar thermal + 600 MW photovoltaic" project.

Statistics:

  • 620,000 kilowatts - Gansu Province's installed capacity of concentrated solar power (CSP)
  • 100 MW - Capacity of the Shouhang High-Tech Dunhuang 100 MW molten salt tower solar thermal power plant
  • 2,000,000 kilowatt-hours - Maximum electricity generation per day in summer
  • 1,200,000-1,300,000 kilowatt-hours - Minimum electricity generation per day in winter

Sources:

  • State Grid Gansu Electric Power Company
  • Jiuquan.gov.cn
  • Shouhang High-Tech Dunhuang 100 MW molten salt tower solar thermal power plant
  • Dunhuang Dacheng concentrated solar thermal power project
  • China Energy Engineering Aksai Huidong solar thermal and photovoltaic multi-energy complementary demonstration project
  • Three Gorges Hengji Energy Pulse Guazhou 700 MW "solar thermal and energy storage+" project
  • CNNC Xin'ao Yumen "solar thermal and energy storage+" demonstration project
  • Jinta Zhongguang Solar Energy "100 MW solar thermal + 600 MW photovoltaic" project