At 02:16 on April 29, the first full-system startup of the Three Gorges Energy Golmud 100 MW Solar Thermal Project unit was successfully completed, marking a critical breakthrough in the project’s construction and laying a solid foundation for its timely commissioning and operation.
To ensure the smooth execution of the unit’s full-system startup, the consortium led by Northwest Electric Power Design Institute, Shouhang Hi-Tech, Sichuan Electric Power Construction Co., Ltd., and Shanghai Investigation, Design & Research Institute collaborated closely with commissioning partner Central China Electric Power Test & Research Institute. Key equipment suppliers, including Harbin Turbine Company, Dongfang Electric Corporation, and Shanghai Boiler Works, provided robust operational support. During the startup, the turbine run-up curve was strictly followed, with stable parameters and excellent performance observed throughout the process. The turbine achieved 3,000 RPM in a single attempt. Tests such as generator AC impedance, short-circuit, no-load characteristics, excitation dynamic response, and mock synchronization were all successfully conducted.
The project, with an installed capacity of 100 MW, employs tower-type concentrated solar power (CSP) technology and integrates an 8-hour molten salt thermal storage system. It boasts an annual power generation of 227.138 million kWh and a capacity utilization rate of approximately 2,271 hours per year. The design introduces several innovations: a dual-tower shared common system and centralized control room, an adjacent SGS-steam turbine building layout, and a semi-enclosed annular molten salt platform—all of which offer valuable insights for scaling up future tower-type CSP projects. Building on this milestone, the construction teams will redouble efforts to achieve grid-connected power generation as the next critical goal.
This achievement highlights China’s advancements in solar thermal technology and paves the way for sustainable energy solutions in arid regions.
