The Delingha 50 MWp thermal power plant constructed by CGN New Energy, a subsidiary of China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN), was connected to the grid on 30 June.
The solar farm is located in the northwestern province of Qinghai. As China's first large commercial parabolic-trough CSP plant, it is a landmark in he country’s solar-thermal energy development, and makes China the eighth country to have a large solar thermal power station.
Built on a sparsely populated plateau, 3000 metres above sea level, the station occupies an area of 2.46 square kilometres.
With low temperatures and oxygen deficiency problems on the plateau, CGN mapped out an implementation plan for solar and thermal technologies, which suited China’s environment, and also pioneered the injection of heat transfer oils step by step.
The project commenced construction in August 2015, and is the country’s first solar power plant connected to the power grid. It was also the first solar thermal power project that received a preferential loan from the Asian Development Bank.
In addition to improving the stability of the regional power system, the project is expected to offer data support to China’s future large CSP projects in deserts, help the country accumulate construction, operation and management experience of solar thermal projects, and lay a solid foundation for building large CSP stations.
In addition, thanks to this project, CGN has received approval to build a national research centre for solar and thermal energy. R&D and standards setting at the centre will enable the two projects to help push China’s CSP industry and play a role in the design of the country’s trough-type solar and thermal power systems.
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