China’s Dunhuang Solar Plant: Pioneering 24/7 Clean Energy Through Concentrated Solar Technology

The Dunhuang 100-megawatt concentrated solar power (CSP) facility, a flagship project developed by Shouhang China, represents a significant milestone in the quest for round-the-clock renewable energy. By utilizing a vast array of approximately 12,000 heliostats, the plant focuses intense solar radiation onto a central heat-absorbing tower that stands 263 meters tall. This sophisticated system relies on molten salt thermal storage technology, which captures and retains massive amounts of heat to generate steam for turbines at temperatures exceeding 500°C, ensuring a steady flow of electricity regardless of the time of day.

One of the most transformative features of the Dunhuang installation is its ability to maintain power generation for up to 15 hours in the absence of direct sunlight. This capability effectively addresses the intermittency issues that often plague traditional solar energy sources. Unlike standard photovoltaic systems that require expensive external battery storage to achieve similar reliability, this CSP plant offers a built-in solution for grid stability. Since its integration into the power grid in December 2018, the facility has served as a primary example of how sustainable energy can meet national policy goals for balancing power supply and demand.

China’s CSP sector is currently experiencing a period of rapid expansion that far outpaces international trends. Between 2020 and 2024, the nation’s installed CSP capacity grew at an impressive average annual rate of 11.7%, significantly higher than the global average of 4.24% during the same timeframe. As of late September, China’s total operational CSP capacity reached 1.57 million kilowatts across 21 active stations, securing the country’s position as the third-largest producer in the world. Furthermore, with 30 additional projects totaling 3.10 million kW currently under construction, China remains the leading global contributor to new CSP infrastructure.

The technological prowess of the Dunhuang site is further evidenced by its use of molten salt as a heat transfer medium, which reaches temperatures as high as 565°C. This allows for "dispatchable power," a critical asset for meeting peak energy demands during evening hours when solar radiation is unavailable. Spanning an area of 7.8 square kilometers, the plant produces roughly 390 million kWh of electricity annually, which translates to a reduction of 350,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Moreover, the rapid evolution of this technology and the benefits of economies of scale have driven down construction costs, with over 95 percent of the equipment and technology now being sourced domestically within China.

Looking ahead, Chinese government directives are pushing for the development of large-scale CSP installations in regions rich in solar resources, highlighting their dual utility in providing both electricity and industrial process heat. Under the framework of the 15th Five-Year Plan, spanning from 2026 to 2030, the country aims to expand its total installed CSP capacity to approximately 15 gigawatts. A primary objective of this ambitious roadmap is to bring the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for concentrated solar power down to levels that are competitive with traditional coal-fired power plants, further solidifying the role of CSP in the global energy transition.