Northeast China's first solar thermal power station marks a major leap forward in the country's green energy transition, proving that clean power can be successfully scaled in extreme, severely cold climates, said industry experts.
Commissioned by the end of June in Da'an, Jilin province, the 100-megawatt project by China General Nuclear Power Corp establishes a replicable national blueprint for high-latitude renewable energy development, they said.
Solar thermal power, which uses molten salt or other mediums to store and convert solar energy, offers both peak shaving and energy storage capabilities, enabling a 24/7 clean power supply.
Solar thermal power generation is a green, low-carbon, grid-friendly power source with the dual functions of peak regulation and energy storage, said Jiang Tonghai, chairman of CGN (Jilin) New Energy Investment Co, adding that it is an effective, safe and reliable means of replacing traditional energy with new energy.
According to CGN, a key innovation of the plant is its 40-MW molten salt electric heater, which allows for effective multi-energy coordination with CGN's previously operational 260 MW wind power and 130 MW photovoltaic projects in the vicinity.
