The Golmud Wutumeiren Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Park welcomes a new energy project, and a globally leading solar thermal power station will be erected on this sun-drenched Gobi desert. Over the years, CGN has continuously deepened its research and development of solar thermal technology, overcoming multiple bottleneck equipment challenges. The recently launched tower-trough combined project has put into large-scale application the self-developed ultra-large aperture trough collector. The ultra-large mirror field, coupled with a 15-hour long-duration thermal storage device, can not only provide stable and continuous power supply but also flexibly adjust grid load. The Gobi solar energy resources will be converted into stable and clean electricity, providing solid support for the construction of a new power system in Northwest China.

Extra-large mirror field equipped with domestic equipment

The total sunlight-collecting area of the project is 3.7 million square meters, equivalent to 518 standard football fields. It is divided into three tower-type mirror fields and one trough-type mirror field. The trough-type area uses self-developed collectors with an opening of 8.6 meters. Technical verification was completed in April this year, with a concentration ratio of 107.5 times and a temperature difference for energy storage far exceeding that of traditional heat transfer oil systems. The core components of the entire equipment were jointly developed with domestic enterprises, achieving full technological autonomy and controllability.

Ultra-long thermal storage empowers peak shaving of the power grid

The project is equipped with a 15-hour molten salt thermal storage device, boasting a thermal storage capacity of 11,747 MWh, currently ranking first globally in terms of single-unit thermal storage capacity. The stable and long-lasting thermal storage enables the power station to possess excellent peak shaving capabilities, effectively alleviating the pressure on Qinghai's new energy consumption and enhancing the level of regional power supply guarantee. Upon completion, the project will generate 1 billion kWh of electricity annually, saving 320,000 tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 860,000 tons per year.Keywords: Chinese energy storage companies, molten salt thermal storage, domestically produced equipment

Deeply cultivating research and development to establish industry benchmarks

CGN entered the solar thermal field in 2011 and boasts the only national-level research and development platform for solar thermal technology in China. It has successfully completed multiple representative solar thermal projects and is simultaneously advancing the construction of the world's highest-altitude trough power station. The company has accumulated nineteen appraisals of scientific and technological achievements, holds sixty-eight authorized patents, participated in the compilation of thirty national industry standards, and continues to rely on innovation to drive the upgrading of the solar thermal industry.Editor/Li Xiaohua