China has commissioned a solar power plant featuring mirror concentrators in Gansu Province. An array of 30,000 mirrors and a 200-meter-tall tower enable round-the-clock clean energy production. According to the developers, the plant generates approximately 1.8 billion kWh of electricity annually and reduces CO₂ emissions by more than 1.5 million tons.
The world is on the verge of a global energy transformation, and concentrated solar power is emerging as a key technology capable of reducing reliance on fossil fuels. China, already a global leader in the adoption of renewable energy, has taken another significant step forward by launching a large-scale solar power plant utilizing mirror concentrators in Gansu Province.
This facility is not only a demonstration of technological progress but also a symbol of the country's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality.
Mirror-based solar power plant in Gansu Province
The project was implemented in a desert area of Gansu Province, where solar energy potential is among the highest in the world. The power plant consists of 30,000 heliostats—mirrors equipped with solar tracking systems.
These mirrors direct sunlight onto two massive tower structures, each 200 meters tall. This creates a powerful stream of concentrated solar radiation that heats the heat-transfer fluid and initiates the electricity generation process.
The project's key innovation lies in the use of two towers instead of one. In the morning, mirrors direct sunlight toward the eastern tower, while in the afternoon, they direct it toward the western tower. This configuration ensures a more even distribution of solar energy throughout the day, reduces losses, and increases the facility's operational efficiency.
Specifications and operating principle
The technology is based on the method of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). Each mirror reflects and directs sunlight with high precision, heating a special mixture of molten salts contained in receivers at the tops of the towers. The heated heat-transfer fluid is used to generate steam. The steam drives turbines, which, in turn, generate electricity.
The main advantage of this system lies in the ability to store thermal energy in molten salts. This enables the power plant to generate electricity not only during the day but also at night, becoming a stable energy source that operates virtually continuously.
According to the developers' calculations, the complex is capable of generating approximately 1.8 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, which is enough to supply electricity to around 170,000 households.
Efficiency and environmental impact
Compared to traditional solar power plants that use only photovoltaic panels, the mirror-based solar power plant in Gansu Province offers a number of advantages.
The key factor is the thermal energy storage system, which allows electricity generation to continue even at night or in cloudy weather.
The reflectivity of the mirror surfaces exceeds 94%, ensuring the efficient concentration of solar radiation. According to the developers' estimates, the new system increases efficiency by approximately 24% compared to traditional CSP power plants.
Furthermore, the project’s environmental impact is reflected in a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions—up to 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂ per year.
Comparison with global counterparts
Several major concentrated solar power projects already exist on the global energy map.
The Ivanpah power plant operates in California, USA, consisting of three towers and tens of thousands of mirrors. However, unlike the Chinese facility, it lacks such an advanced thermal energy storage system and cannot operate as effectively at night.
The Noor complex in Morocco employs various CSP technologies, including parabolic mirrors. However, that system is also based primarily on a single-tower architecture, making the project in Gansu Province the world's first facility to utilize a dual-tower configuration.
Thus, China has unveiled not only a large-scale energy facility but also a fundamentally new technical approach that could influence the future development of solar energy.
Strategic importance for China
Such projects are of strategic importance to China. The country has set a goal to reduce its reliance on coal-fired power generation and gradually transition to renewable energy sources.
The development of CSP power plants makes it possible not only to diversify the country's energy mix but also to strengthen China's technological leadership in the clean energy sector.
Source: pv-magazine
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