China Connects 100-MW Molten Salt Solar Power Plant in Xinjiang

China connects a 100-MW molten salt solar power plant in Xinjiang, featuring 15,697 mirrors, eight-hour thermal storage and 900-MW solar power.

By News National Editorial Team

China has officially connected a 100-megawatt molten salt tower solar thermal power project to the electricity grid in Fukang City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, marking another development in the country's renewable energy expansion.

The Luneng Fukang solar thermal energy storage project began grid-connected operation on October 30, 2026, according to reports published by China's state media on October 31 and November 1.

The facility uses thousands of intelligent mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a central receiver tower, where molten salt is heated and stored for electricity generation.

The project is equipped with 15,697 heliostats and operates alongside a 900-megawatt photovoltaic power facility, creating a combined renewable energy installation with a total planned installed capacity of 1,000 megawatts (1 gigawatt).

How does the solar thermal power plant work?

Unlike conventional solar photovoltaic panels, which directly convert sunlight into electricity, concentrated solar power (CSP) technology uses mirrors to collect and concentrate solar radiation.

At the Fukang facility, 15,697 heliostats are arranged around a central receiver tower.

These mirrors automatically adjust their positions throughout the day to follow the Sun and direct reflected sunlight towards a receiver installed at the top of the tower.

The receiver is approximately 236 metres high.

The concentrated solar energy generates extremely high temperatures, heating molten salt to approximately 565°C.

The hot molten salt stores thermal energy, which can subsequently be used to generate steam at approximately 540°C.

This steam drives a turbine connected to an electricity generator, allowing the facility to produce power for the grid.

Eight-hour thermal energy storage

One of the project's important technological features is its eight-hour molten salt thermal energy storage system.

Solar power generation normally depends on sunlight availability, creating challenges during nighttime and periods of reduced sunlight.

Thermal storage helps address this limitation.

During periods of strong sunlight or lower electricity demand, the plant can collect solar energy and store heat in molten salt.

When electricity demand increases, the stored thermal energy can be released to generate steam and drive the turbine.

This allows the plant to shift part of its electricity generation to periods when sunlight is weaker or unavailable.

The technology can therefore support grid flexibility and complement conventional photovoltaic generation.

Combined with a 900-MW solar photovoltaic facility

The 100-MW solar thermal plant is part of a larger renewable energy project that includes a 900-MW photovoltaic power facility.

The two technologies are designed to work together:

• 900 MW photovoltaic: Generates electricity directly from sunlight using solar panels.

• 100 MW solar thermal: Concentrates sunlight and stores thermal energy using molten salt.

• Combined capacity: 1,000 MW, equivalent to 1 GW.

The combined system is designed to improve renewable electricity utilisation by combining direct solar generation with stored thermal energy.

How much electricity will it generate?

According to the reported project design figures, the 100-MW solar thermal section is expected to generate approximately 120 million kilowatt-hours (120 million kWh) annually.

Its projected environmental benefits include:

These figures relate to the 100-MW concentrated solar power component, not the entire combined 1-GW installation.

The larger integrated project has a separate planned annual electricity generation figure of approximately 1.675 billion kWh.

Why is this project important for China's renewable energy ambitions?

China has invested heavily in solar photovoltaic, wind and other renewable energy technologies.

However, large-scale renewable electricity generation also presents challenges because solar and wind output can fluctuate depending on weather conditions and the time of day.

Thermal energy storage offers one way to improve the flexibility of solar power systems.

By storing heat instead of relying exclusively on batteries, molten salt technology allows electricity generation to be scheduled according to demand and grid requirements.

The Fukang project is also significant because it is reported to be the sixth molten salt tower concentrated solar power station connected to the grid and put into operation in Xinjiang.

What does this mean for the future of solar power?

The project demonstrates how different renewable energy technologies can be integrated into a single power-generation system.

Traditional solar panels remain important for producing electricity during daylight hours, while concentrated solar thermal technology can provide additional flexibility through stored heat.

However, the overall performance of such installations depends on factors including construction costs, operating efficiency, maintenance requirements, storage losses and local weather conditions.

The Fukang facility will provide another operational example of how large-scale solar thermal storage can complement photovoltaic power generation.

China's latest project highlights the growing role of energy storage in the transition towards more flexible and lower-carbon electricity systems.

Source Transparency: Xinhua News Agency, November 1, 2026; China Central Television (CCTV) reporting published October 31, 2026; project technology information from Cosin Solar.