China, Xinjiang, Hami: China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG) has connected a 1 GW hybrid solar power plant in the Gobi Desert to the grid, with commercial trial operations now underway.
The project combines photovoltaic solar panels, concentrated solar power (CSP) and a molten salt thermal storage system. The storage system is designed to keep the plant generating electricity for up to eight hours after sunset.
Unlike many solar-plus-storage projects, the facility does not rely on lithium-ion batteries. Instead, it uses thermal storage linked to CSP technology, offering a longer-duration storage option for renewable power generation.
The project is relevant for the wider power infrastructure sector because large-scale hybrid plants require reliable grid connection, switching, protection and control systems to manage variable generation and stored energy output.
According to the project information, the molten salt system allows excess solar energy to be stored during the day and released later, helping to reduce the variability normally associated with solar generation.
The development reflects China’s continued expansion of large-scale renewable energy infrastructure, particularly in desert regions with strong solar resources and space for utility-scale projects.
The Hami project also highlights growing interest in long-duration energy storage as power systems integrate more renewable generation and seek more stable output beyond daylight hours.
Source: Oil Price
