Nation’s Largest Linear Fresnel CSP Project Enters Commercial Trial Operation in Xinjiang

China’s largest comprehensive energy demonstration project adopting Linear Fresnel concentrating solar power technology has officially entered commercial trial operation on 7 July. Located in the Gobi area of Hami in Xinjiang, the 1 GW solar thermal and photovoltaic hybrid project developed by China Three Gorges Corporation marks a major industrial breakthrough for the large-scale application of domestic linear Fresnel power generation technology.

The project features a matched hybrid power generation structure, consisting of a 100 MW molten salt concentrating solar power station and a 900 MW photovoltaic power station. Its solar thermal unit is equipped with 260,000 high-precision tracking mirrors, covering a heat collection area of 800,000 square metres. An integrated 8-hour high-temperature molten salt heat storage system is deployed onsite, delivering steady and continuous heat storage and power generation capacity under diverse weather conditions.

The hybrid operational model enables efficient complementary power generation throughout the day. The photovoltaic unit operates at full capacity to generate electricity during daylight hours, while the solar thermal system concentrates solar radiation and stores thermal energy simultaneously. When photovoltaic output declines at night or on cloudy days, the molten salt system releases stored heat to sustain continuous power supply. This operational mechanism effectively mitigates the intermittency and volatility inherent in wind and solar power generation, improving the stability and reliability of new energy power delivery.

The large-capacity and zero-emission advantages of molten salt solar thermal storage underpin stable power output for up to eight consecutive hours. The official grid connection and commercial trial operation of the Hami project realises the full transformation of linear Fresnel CSP technology from laboratory research and small-scale trials to large-scale industrial deployment in China.

The project team will conduct comprehensive reviews of the whole industrial process, including grid connection, system commissioning and commercial trial operation. Operational data, technical parameters and maintenance experience accumulated during the trial phase will be compiled into standardised operational guidelines and technical specifications. These standardised achievements will provide complete and replicable technical support for the construction and operation of subsequent large-scale comprehensive solar energy projects across the industry.