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Three Gorges Renewables Connects 100 MW Tower CSP Plant to Grid in Golmud, Qinghai: A Milestone in China’s Solar Thermal Energy Development

Three Gorges Renewables Connects 100 MW Tower CSP Plant to Grid in Qinghai's Golmud

On May 9, 2025, Three Gorges Renewables successfully connected its 100 MW Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) tower plant to the grid in Golmud, Qinghai Province. This achievement marks a significant milestone in China’s renewable energy journey, particularly in the advancement of solar thermal technologies. The project, which underwent a six-hour continuous load test, demonstrated stable full-system operation, signaling the readiness of the plant for commercial operation. As China continues to diversify its energy mix and reduce carbon emissions, this project stands as a testament to the country’s commitment to sustainable energy innovation.

Understanding Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

What is CSP?

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is a renewable energy technology that uses mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight onto a small area. The concentrated light is then used as heat to produce steam, which drives a turbine connected to an electrical generator. Unlike photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, which convert sunlight directly into electricity, CSP systems generate electricity indirectly through thermal energy.

Types of CSP Technologies

Parabolic Trough: Uses curved, trough-shaped reflectors to focus sunlight onto a receiver tube.
Solar Power Tower: Utilizes a field of mirrors (heliostats) to focus sunlight onto a central receiver atop a tower.
Linear Fresnel Reflector: Employs flat mirrors to focus sunlight onto elevated receivers.
Dish Stirling: Uses a parabolic dish to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver at the focal point, typically powering a Stirling engine.

The Three Gorges Renewables project in Golmud employs the solar power tower configuration, which is known for its high efficiency and suitability for large-scale power generation.

The Golmud 100 MW CSP Tower Project

Project Overview

Located in the high-altitude, sun-rich region of Golmud in Qinghai Province, the 100 MW CSP tower plant is part of China’s broader initiative to develop renewable energy in its western provinces. The project is developed by China Three Gorges Renewables Group, a subsidiary of the China Three Gorges Corporation, which is best known for the world’s largest hydroelectric power station—the Three Gorges Dam.

The Golmud CSP plant features a central receiver tower surrounded by thousands of heliostats that track the sun and reflect its rays onto the receiver. The concentrated solar energy heats molten salt, which is then used to generate steam and drive a turbine. The plant includes a thermal energy storage system that allows it to continue generating electricity for up to six hours after sunset, enhancing grid stability and dispatchability.

Technical Specifications

Capacity: 100 MW
Technology: Solar Power Tower with molten salt thermal storage
Thermal Storage Duration: 6 hours
Location: Golmud, Qinghai Province, China
Developer: China Three Gorges Renewables Group
Grid Connection Date: May 9, 2025

Strategic Importance of the Project

Energy Security and Grid Stability

One of the key advantages of CSP technology is its ability to store thermal energy, which allows for electricity generation even when the sun is not shining. This makes CSP a valuable complement to intermittent renewable sources like wind and PV solar. The Golmud plant’s six-hour storage capacity enables it to provide power during peak evening demand, thereby enhancing grid reliability and reducing reliance on fossil fuel-based peaking plants.

Decarbonization Goals

China has pledged to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Projects like the Golmud CSP plant are critical to meeting these targets. By replacing coal-fired power generation with clean, dispatchable solar thermal energy, the project contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality in the region.

Regional Development

Qinghai Province, located on the Tibetan Plateau, is one of China’s most solar-rich regions. The development of renewable energy projects in this area not only leverages its natural resources but also promotes economic development and job creation in remote and underdeveloped regions. The Golmud CSP project has created hundreds of construction and operational jobs and has spurred investment in local infrastructure.

Historical Context and Policy Support

China’s CSP Development Timeline

China began exploring CSP technology in the early 2000s, but it wasn’t until the launch of the National CSP Demonstration Program in 2016 that the sector gained significant momentum. The program aimed to build 20 demonstration projects with a total capacity of 1.35 GW. These projects were designed to test different CSP technologies and business models under real-world conditions.

Some notable milestones include:

2018: The 50 MW Delingha parabolic trough plant became China’s first commercial CSP project.
2019: The 100 MW Shouhang Dunhuang tower plant was connected to the grid.
2021: The 100 MW Luneng Haixi hybrid CSP-PV plant began operation.

The Golmud project builds on the lessons learned from these earlier initiatives and represents a new phase of commercial-scale CSP deployment in China.

Policy and Financial Incentives

The Chinese government has supported CSP development through a combination of feed-in tariffs, research funding, and inclusion in national energy planning. The Golmud project benefited from favorable policies under the 14th Five-Year Plan, which emphasizes the development of “new energy bases” in western China. Additionally, the project received financing from state-owned banks and support from local governments eager to attract clean energy investment.

Global Context and Comparisons

International CSP Projects

Globally, CSP has seen significant development in countries with high solar irradiance, such as Spain, the United States, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates. Some of the world’s largest CSP plants include:

Noor Ouarzazate (Morocco): A 580 MW complex combining parabolic trough and tower technologies.
Ivanpah (USA):

Three Gorges Renewables Connects 100 MW Tower CSP Plant to Grid in Qinghai’s Golmud

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