Large‑scale Molten‑salt CSP Project on Qingyu‑DC Corridor Enters Full Operation in Qinghai Gobi

Xining, China – A 100‑megawatt concentrating solar‑power project for the Qinghai‑Henan ultra‑high‑voltage direct‑current transmission corridor has reached commercial operation, constructed by Zhejiang Thermal Power under China Energy Engineering Corporation within Qinghai’s extensive gobi‑desert terrain. This large‑capacity molten‑salt energy‑storage facility stands as one of China’s key demonstration installations for concentrated solar thermal power.

Equipped with a 12‑hour long‑duration molten‑salt storage system, the plant mitigates well‑known constraints of conventional renewable generation including random output, intermittency and volatility. It delivers robust peak‑shaving, voltage‑stabilising and load‑shifting capacity, feeding consistent, high‑quality clean power along the Qingyu‑DC ultra‑high‑voltage corridor. The scheme represents a practical case of coordinated source‑grid‑load‑storage development for China’s evolving new‑type power system.

From grid‑connection on 29 April 2025 through to completion of trial operation, cumulative power output from the facility has hit 99.107 gigawatt‑hours. All mechanical and control subsystems maintain steady operational performance, with core technical metrics meeting design benchmarks, validating on‑site construction standards and delivery management frameworks.

Upon full commissioning, the site will generate an estimated 227 gigawatt‑hours of electricity per annum under full‑load conditions. The output can satisfy annual clean‑power consumption for nearly 190 000 households. Annual carbon‑dioxide abatement reaches approximately 226 300 tonnes, delivering ecological benefits equivalent to afforesting 188 600 mu of land.

The operational plant optimises allocation of Qinghai‑based clean‑energy resources and reshapes local power‑generation mixes. It fosters economic transformation across western regions and advances the build‑out of a clean, low‑carbon, safe and efficient modern energy system.

Long‑duration thermal‑storage capacity will continue to smooth renewable‑energy output fed into the cross‑provincial ultra‑high‑voltage transmission route. Further practical operational data from this gobi‑based concentrating solar‑thermal installation will feed into national engineering experience for large‑scale molten‑salt CSP deployment across arid zones.