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Dunhuang 100MW: Solar Thermal Molten Salt Heat Exchange Power Station Case

Release time:

2025-04-04

1. Core technology and operation principle

1.1. Concentration system

1.1.1. The power plant uses more than 12,000 heliostats, arranged in concentric circles, with a total reflection area of 1.4 million square meters, focusing sunlight to the top of the 260-meter-high heat absorption tower.

1.1.2. The heliostats automatically track the sun to ensure maximum light energy absorption efficiency.

1.2. Molten salt heat storage and heat exchange

1.2.1. The molten salt (60% NaNO₃ + 40% KNO₃) in the heat absorption tower is heated to 565°C and stored in a high-temperature storage tank.

1.2.2. The molten salt generates high-temperature steam through the heat exchanger to drive the steam turbine generator set to generate electricity. The heat storage system supports 24-hour continuous power supply, with an annual power generation of 390 million kWh.

1.3. Environmental protection and grid adaptability

1.3.1. It can reduce 350,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year and is a typical clean energy project.

1.3.2. It has the characteristics of "grid-friendly" and can output electricity stably to make up for the intermittent defects of photovoltaic power generation.

2. Project advantages and innovations

2.1. Large-scale heat storage: The molten salt energy storage system can support all-weather power generation, regardless of day or night or cloudy days.

2.2. High power generation efficiency: Concentration + heat storage technology makes the overall efficiency of the power station better than traditional photovoltaics.

2.3. Low-carbon and environmentally friendly: Compared with coal-fired power plants, carbon emissions are greatly reduced.

2.4. Domestic technology: core equipment (heat absorber, molten salt pump, heliostat) are all independently developed.

3. Reasons for site selection and geographical advantages

3.1. Rich light resources: Dunhuang has more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, strong direct light, and is suitable for concentrated power generation.

3.2. Low land cost: The Gobi Desert is vast and sparsely populated, which is convenient for large-scale mirror field layout.

3.3. Convenient grid access: Gansu is a hub of the northwest power grid and has excellent conditions for power transmission.

4. Economic and social benefits

4.1. The total investment of the power station is about 3 billion yuan, which will drive local employment and the development of the new energy industry chain.

4.2. As a demonstration project of the "Belt and Road Initiative", it will show the strength of China's solar thermal technology to the world.

5. Future Outlook

The successful operation of the Dunhuang 100MW power station has promoted the construction of subsequent solar thermal projects in China (such as the Aksai 110MW and Dunhuang 200MW expansion), indicating that China has become a world leader in renewable energy storage technology.

Steam generation system

Molten salt heat exchange system