Overview
On Oct 1, the million-kilowatt Gonghe hybrid photovoltaic-concentrated solar power (PV-CSP) project in Qinghai—integrating PV generation, thermal storage and electric-to-heat conversion—was successfully connected to the grid, marking China’s first three-tower CSP base. Located in Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, the project pairs a 900 MW PV plant with a 100 MW molten-salt tower plant, spanning about 2,150 hectares. The CSP section features a 219.1-meter receiver tower and 10,310 pentagonal heliostats; the PV section uses about 1.898 million modules. It is a key project in China’s second batch of large-scale wind-solar bases.
Background & Interpretation
1. Industry and Policy Context
As “shagehuang” (desert, Gobi, wasteland) mega bases accelerate, surging renewable capacity raises the bar for grid peaking and absorption. CSP, with its storable and dispatchable heat, is seen as a key long-duration peaking solution. The state targets about 15 GW of CSP by 2030, moving the sector from pilot to base-scale deployment.
2. Core Drivers and Underlying Mechanism
The project couples PV with molten-salt CSP: by day, heliostats concentrate sunlight onto the receiver tower to heat molten salt, storing heat for night or cloudy generation—“power never stops.” A 20 MW electric heater converts surplus PV electricity into heat stored in salt, cutting curtailment. Once operational it is expected to deliver about 2.2 TWh/year, save ~690,000 tons of standard coal and cut ~2.07 million tons of CO₂, acting as a giant long-duration peaking resource.
3. Market Structure and Value-Chain Impact
By end-August 2026, China had 2.2 GW of CSP in operation and 3.1 GW under construction—the world’s largest combined total; Qinghai alone runs 710 MW and builds 1.35 GW. The project provides a long-duration peaking blueprint for desert bases and supports plateau county economies. Heliostats, receivers, molten-salt storage and EPC form the core chain.
Implications & Outlook
CSP is shifting from pilot to base-scale, highlighting long-duration storage value. “PV + CSP” coupling is likely to become standard for northwest mega bases, boosting demand for molten salt, mirror fields and domestic equipment. Watch the economic inflection of unit cost versus utilization hours and actual absorption rates.
Takeaways for Industry Participants
- Power groups should evaluate CSP’s peaking and absorption value within bases;
- Equipment and EPC firms can localize molten salt, mirror-field and tower systems;
- Local parks can leverage renewables for jobs, but must balance ecology and land use.
This column compiles industry information and shares technical perspectives; it does not constitute investment advice.