At 19:58 on April 29, the Three Gorges Energy Qingyu HVDC Phase II 100 MW Solar Thermal Project – Qinghai’s first 100 MW solar thermal power project, EPC-led by PowerChina Northwest Engineering Corporation Limited (PowerChina Northwest) – successfully completed its turbine first-stage commissioning and achieved full system grid connection on the same day. This milestone sets a new record for PowerChina Northwest’s construction speed in solar thermal power station development, demonstrating the company’s profound technical expertise and mature management capabilities in the new energy solar thermal sector while enhancing its core competitiveness in strategic emerging businesses.
During implementation, the construction team integrated Party building with production momentum. Overcoming extreme environments including gobi deserts and severe sandstorms, they conducted multiple major technical studies and national-level research projects. The team resolved critical challenges such as high-precision heliostat field control and high-temperature molten salt heat transfer/storage technologies, laying the foundation for PowerChina Northwest’s autonomous development in solar thermal industry chains. Through optimized project planning, streamlined construction processes, strengthened talent development, and strict quality-safety controls, the project established a full-lifecycle management model enabling simultaneous construction and operation of light concentration, heat storage/exchange, and power generation systems – solidifying PowerChina Northwest’s EPC competitiveness in solar thermal operations.
The project significantly boosted local employment while enhancing ecological sustainability through heliostat field matrix construction and reclaimed water systems, achieving dual benefits of energy development and environmental protection. Located in Wutumeiren Township, Golmud City, Qinghai, the 287-hectare tower-type concentrated solar power demonstration project features a 12-hour molten salt energy storage system enabling 24/7 stable power supply. With annual output reaching 227.1 million kWh – enough to meet clean energy needs for 189,300 households – the project will reduce CO₂ emissions by 226,300 tons annually, equivalent to ecological benefits from planting 188,600 mu (12,573 hectares) of forest.
This grid connection marks a breakthrough in large-scale 100 MW solar thermal application in Qinghai, accelerating the province’s green energy transition and contributing PowerChina Northwest’s expertise to China’s solar thermal power expansion.
