Northeast China's first solar thermal power station opens for business

Northeast China's first solar thermal power station, the 100-megawatt Jixi solar thermal project, officially began generating electricity in Da'an, Jilin province, on Monday, according to the China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN).

The commissioning of the plant marks a major breakthrough in the application of solar thermal power generation technology in high-latitude and severely cold regions, providing a replicable and scalable model for the development of similar renewable energy projects across the country, it said.

A key innovation of the plant is its 40-megawatt 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.

During periods of peak wind and solar generation, the system can convert surplus electricity into thermal energy for storage. This design effectively mitigates the curtailment of wind and solar power, significantly enhancing the comprehensive utilization efficiency of regional clean energy.

The project is expected to generate 180 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually once put into operation. Compared to traditional coal-fired power generation, the plant will save approximately 54,000 metric tons of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 139,000 tons each year, it said.