China has completed the installation of 15,927 heliostats at a 100-megawatt solar thermal power plant in Amdo county, Nagqu, Xizang. The project is the world’s highest-altitude molten-salt solar thermal power plant and is expected to connect to the grid in October.
The China project is also the first tower-type solar thermal power plant in Xizang. It was built in an ultra-high-altitude area with extreme cold, strong winds and a relatively weak power grid.
The solar field covers about 800,000 square meters. The heliostats are mirrors that track the Sun and reflect sunlight toward a receiver at the top of a 210-meter-high tower.
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Unlike regular solar panels, the plant first turns sunlight into heat. Molten salt stores and carries that heat, which can then be used to produce electricity.
The site receives more than 2,800 hours of sunshine each year, giving the plant a strong solar resource. Once operating, it is expected to generate about 255 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.
Building the plant at high altitude created several challenges. Construction teams had to adjust their methods to deal with severe cold, strong winds and the thinner air found on the plateau.
The plant also uses an intelligent control system. It is designed to help operators monitor the facility and improve maintenance while keeping the system running steadily.
The project is expected to provide environmental benefits as well. Once fully operational, it could save about 60,000 tonnes of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 165,000 tonnes each year.
The project has also supported local communities. Training programs for farmers and herders are expected to help local residents increase their income by about 118 million yuan ($17.47 million).
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The plant is important because it shows that large-scale solar thermal technology can be developed in a difficult high-altitude environment. If it performs as planned, the project could provide useful experience for building renewable energy systems in other remote regions with challenging conditions.
