On the vast Gobi Desert of Wutumeiren Township in Golmud, Qinghai, the 100MW concentrated solar power (CSP) project under China Three Gorges Renewables' Qingyu DC Transmission Phase II Section 3 has reached a significant milestone. Over 20,000 heliostats, resembling silver sunflowers, continuously track sunlight to convert solar thermal energy into sustainable green electricity.
Since its grid connection and initial full-capacity operation this year, the project completed trial runs addressing technical deficiencies. Through operational parameter verification under various conditions based on balance diagrams, the facility achieved stable full-load generation on multiple days including November 14, 17, and 20. All performance metrics met design specifications, confirming optimal system performance and establishing solid foundations for commercial operation. This achievement marks a new phase of maturity for 100MW-class CSP technology in China's high-altitude regions.
The project's construction timeline highlights remarkable challenges overcome since March 2023. Despite harsh desert conditions, strong sandstorms, and high-altitude hypoxia, the development team successfully completed steam turbine commissioning and full-system operation on April 29, 2025, followed by full-capacity generation on August 15, paving the way for sustained stable operation.
As these "silver sunflower" arrays continue rotating across Qinghai's Gobi landscape, the Qingyu DC CSP project steadily delivers increasing volumes of clean energy to Central China via the Qingyu transmission corridor. This initiative not only establishes a benchmark for large-scale CSP deployment in high-altitude regions but also accelerates China's transition toward a green, low-carbon energy system.
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