At an altitude of approximately 3,000 meters, Talatan in Qinghai Province presents a unique plateau landscape shaped by strong sunlight and desert winds.
As the first tower-type concentrated solar power (CSP) project developed by China Energy Investment Corporation (CHN Energy), the 100 MW Guoneng Qinghai Gonghe CSP project achieved a major milestone from construction start in late February 2024 to grid connection in December 2025. Within just 22 months, the project demonstrated remarkable efficiency while overcoming the challenges of high-altitude construction, strong winds, and sandy conditions.
Throughout the construction process, the project set several notable records. The concrete structure of the 188-meter receiver tower was completed 15 days ahead of schedule. Installation of all 23,340 heliostats in the solar field achieved a 100% precision compliance rate, while the main power block was enclosed 30 days earlier than planned. From tower foundation excavation to grid-connected power generation, the project completed the full construction cycle in only 22 months—setting a new benchmark among similar projects.
The plant adopts molten-salt tower CSP technology with up to 12 hours of thermal energy storage. This allows the facility to continue generating electricity even when solar irradiation fluctuates, providing stable and reliable power supply to support the Qinghai–Henan UHVDC transmission corridor and contributing to the integration of renewable energy into China’s power grid.
