At 11:02 AM on May 9, 2025, the Three Gorges Energy Golmud 100MW Solar Thermal EPC Project—jointly undertaken by Shouhang Hi-Tech Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Shouhang Hi-Tech”) and its consortium partners—achieved stable full-system operation with a six-hour continuous load test, marking the successful grid connection of another landmark project in China’s concentrated solar power (CSP) sector.
Located in the Wutumeiren Solar Power Base in Golmud City, Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province, the project features a 100MW molten salt tower-type solar thermal power generation unit. Utilizing advanced tower-type concentrating solar power (CSP) technology and an eight-hour molten salt thermal energy storage system, the plant ensures stable, continuous power output. Once operational, it is designed to deliver approximately 2,271 annual utilization hours, generating 227.138 million kWh of electricity per year. This will save 69,240 tons of standard coal annually while reducing CO2 emissions by 188,950 tons, along with cutting particulate matter (7.267 tons), sulfur dioxide (36.34 tons), and nitrogen oxides (40.65 tons).
The project was executed by a consortium comprising Shouhang Hi-Tech, China Electric Power Engineering Consulting Group Northwest Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd., PowerChina Sichuan Engineering Co., Ltd., and Shanghai Investigation, Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd. Shouhang Hi-Tech led the installation of the heliostat field, receiver, and molten salt storage tanks, as well as the supply of air-cooling and auxiliary cooling systems and plant commissioning. Leveraging its core expertise and operational experience in CSP, the company ensured seamless integration and precision in critical systems, underpinning the project’s smooth progress.
Despite challenges such as extreme plateau cold, frequent sandstorms, logistical hurdles in equipment transportation, and tight construction timelines, the consortium collaborated effectively to deliver the project safely, efficiently, and to high-quality standards. This demonstrated the technical prowess and execution capabilities of all parties in advancing large-scale renewable energy initiatives.
The grid connection of the project not only alleviates solar and wind power curtailment issues in Golmud but also accelerates the optimization of the local energy mix and spurs growth in emerging sectors like energy storage. By enhancing regional clean energy utilization efficiency and power system performance, the project injects robust momentum into Qinghai’s ambition to become a national clean energy demonstration province and achieve its “dual-carbon” goals.
