On May 25, 2025, the heat absorption tower of the China Power Construction Corporation’s 1 million kilowatt photovoltaic and thermal power project successfully reached its top. This achievement was reported by Zhang Caidan, the executive deputy manager of the project, to China News Network on May 26.
The photovoltaic and thermal project is located in the Hainan Ecological Solar Power Generation Park in Gonghe County, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. It features a designed installed capacity of 1 million kilowatts, consisting of a 900,000 kilowatt photovoltaic power station and a 100,000 kilowatt thermal power station. This configuration aims to optimize the scale ratio of complementary power sources, thereby enhancing the overall quality of electrical energy.
The heat absorption tower, which stands at a height of 178 meters, utilizes a reinforced concrete conical structure with a tapering cross-section. Most of the main structure is designed as a straight section. According to Zhao Bing, the production manager of the photovoltaic and thermal project, the tower is surrounded by 10,310 pentagonal heliostats, each with an area of 48.5 square meters. These heliostats focus sunlight onto the receiver at the top of the tower, converting solar energy into thermal energy that is stored in an 8-hour molten salt storage system. Furthermore, the thermal power station employs a 20,000 kilowatt electric molten salt heater (electromagnetic type) for the first time in the country, enabling the recovery of excess electricity generated by the 900,000 kilowatt photovoltaic power station, thus achieving energy storage capabilities.
Once completed, the 100,000 kilowatt thermal power station is expected to generate an average annual grid-connected electricity output of 130.78 million kilowatt-hours. This will result in a saving of approximately 39,400 tons of standard coal and a reduction of approximately 108,300 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/completion-of-heat-collection-tower-marks-milestone-for-china-electric-power-constructions-1-million-kw-solar-project/
