China's Gobi Solar Plant Stores Heat in Salt for Night Power

China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG) has commenced commercial trial operations for the world's largest solar photovoltaic and concentrated solar power hybrid plant in the Gobi Desert. This 1-gigawatt Hami project, located in Xinjiang, distinguishes itself by storing solar energy as heat in molten salt, allowing it to continue generating electricity for up to eight hours after sunset. This innovative approach bypasses the need for traditional lithium-ion batteries, offering a novel solution for consistent renewable energy supply.

The plant's design integrates concentrated solar power (CSP) technology with photovoltaic (PV) panels. The CSP component captures sunlight and uses mirrors to focus it onto a receiver, heating a fluid that is then used to generate steam for turbines. In this specific implementation, the heat is stored in molten salt, a method that has been explored for its potential to provide dispatchable solar power. The molten salt storage system acts as a thermal battery, releasing stored heat to drive power generation when direct sunlight is unavailable.

This development marks a significant step in large-scale renewable energy storage and grid stability. By utilizing molten salt, the Hami project aims to provide a more reliable and continuous power output from solar resources, addressing the intermittency challenges often associated with solar energy. The project's ability to deliver power after dark without relying on electrochemical batteries could influence future designs for solar power plants seeking to maximize uptime and minimize reliance on battery supply chains.