Akse County's Giant Tower Concentrated Solar Power Plant: How "Sunflowers" on the Gobi Desert Illuminate the Night?

Akse County's Giant Tower Concentrated Solar Power Plant: How "Sunflowers" on the Gobi Desert Illuminate the Night?Located in Akse County, Jiuquan City, at the westernmost end of the Hexi Corridor, a recently grid-connected tower concentrated solar power (CSP) project, the largest single-unit project under construction in China, has begun operation. Situated on a Gobi Desert plateau nearly 3,000 meters above sea level, with temperatures plummeting to -15, this project utilizes advanced technology to convert the desert's abundant solar energy into a continuous supply of electricity, even at night, opening new avenues for green energy utilization

Akse County's Giant Tower Concentrated Solar Power Plant: How "Sunflowers" on the Gobi Desert Illuminate the Night?

Located in Akse County, Jiuquan City, at the westernmost end of the Hexi Corridor, a recently grid-connected tower concentrated solar power (CSP) project, the largest single-unit project under construction in China, has begun operation. Situated on a Gobi Desert plateau nearly 3,000 meters above sea level, with temperatures plummeting to -15, this project utilizes advanced technology to convert the desert's abundant solar energy into a continuous supply of electricity, even at night, opening new avenues for green energy utilization. This article delves into the working principles of this remarkable tower CSP plant and the impressive technological innovations behind it.

I. A "Mirror Garden" on the Gobi: The Precise Operation of 11,960 Heliostats

The core component of the Akse County tower CSP plant is 11,960 heliostats, resembling a field of "sunflowers" blossoming across the Gobi Desert, covering a total area of 580,000 square metersequivalent to 81 standard football fields. Each heliostat precisely tracks the sun's movement, reflecting sunlight onto a towering receiver tower. These are not simple flat mirrors; instead, they are precisely assembled from ten triangular mirrors and a small pentagonal mirror, forming a slightly concave surface. This design allows each heliostat to concentrate sunlight into ten beams. When all heliostats work together, over 100,000 beams converge precisely on the receiver at the top of the tower, creating over 10,000 light spots for maximized energy concentration.

The heliostats boast a reflectivity of 94%, significantly higher than the approximately 70% of ordinary household mirrors. This high reflectivity ensures efficient solar energy utilization, minimizing energy loss and maximizing power generation efficiency. This technological breakthrough is key to achieving high solar energy utilization and lays a solid foundation for the project's success.

II. The 180-Meter Receiver Tower: A Molten Salt "Energy Storage Device"

The receiver tower stands tall above the "mirror garden," reaching a height of 180 metersequivalent to a 60-story building. Its internal pipelines are filled with over 21,000 tons of molten salt, the key component for absorbing solar energy and converting it into electricity.

When sunlight is reflected onto the receiver tower by the heliostats, the molten salt absorbs immense heat, rapidly reaching temperatures near 600. This high-temperature molten salt is then transferred to nearby storage tanks. This massive molten salt tank acts like a giant "power bank," storing the solar energy absorbed during the day.

III. The "Large Molten Salt Power Bank": The Secret to Nighttime Power Generation

The unique feature of this technology is its ability to generate electricity at night. When darkness falls and sunlight is no longer available, the high-temperature molten salt stored in the tanks continues to release energy. This heat is used to boil water, generating high-temperature, high-pressure steam that drives steam turbines to generate electricity. This process can last for eight hours, enough to meet the annual electricity needs of over 400 average Chinese households.

This nighttime power generation capability significantly enhances the stability and reliability of CSP, overcoming the intermittency issues of traditional photovoltaic (PV) and wind power generation. It ensures a more stable and continuous power supply, no longer dependent on sunlight or wind conditions.

IV. Akse County's Unique Advantages: Abundant Resources and Strong Complementarity

Akse County's geographical location and climate conditions make it an ideal site for a tower CSP plant. The region's desert location boasts long sunshine hours and high solar intensity, offering abundant solar resources. Furthermore, the nighttime power generation capability of the tower CSP plant complements PV and wind power generation, significantly improving the stability and reliability of the power system and providing a more stable and continuous power supply to the region.

This complementary advantage is a key factor in the success of the Akse County tower CSP project. It not only effectively utilizes the region's abundant solar resources but also provides an effective solution to power supply stability issues, providing strong impetus for local economic development and improved living standards.

V. Technological Details and Future Prospects: Efficient, Stable, and Sustainable

The success of the Akse County tower CSP project relies on several key technologies. High-reflectivity heliostats, efficient receiver tower design, and a large-scale molten salt energy storage system are all crucial for ensuring efficient operation. These technological advancements and innovations not only improve the efficiency of CSP but also enhance its stability and reliability, laying a solid foundation for the future large-scale deployment of CSP technology.

The successful application of this technology provides valuable experience and lessons for similar projects in other regions. In the future, with continuous technological improvements and cost reductions, tower CSP will be more widely adopted globally, contributing significantly to global energy transition and sustainable development. This project is not only a technological breakthrough but also a successful exploration of a new model for green energy development, providing new ideas and directions for China and the world in addressing climate change and achieving sustainable development goals. Its successful operation marks significant progress in China's CSP sector and provides a new model for global renewable energy development. The Akse County tower CSP plant will become a significant milestone on the path of green energy development in China and globally. This "sunflower" garden on the Gobi Desert not only illuminates the night but also lights the way towards a brighter future for clean energy development.

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