China commissions 1 GW hybrid solar power plant in Qinghai

On October 1, 2026, PowerChina connected a 1 GW hybrid solar power plant to the grid in Gonghe county, Qinghai province. The facility pairs 900 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity with a 100 MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant. To manage the energy supply, the CSP component includes eight hours of molten-salt thermal storage and a 20 MW electric heater, which captures excess electricity generated by the PV panels. This combined system helps maintain a steady flow of power during peak demand or when solar irradiation is low.

As the first gigawatt-scale project in China to combine PV, thermal storage, and electric-to-thermal conversion, the site represents a significant technical step. The PV section consists of roughly 1.9 million solar modules, providing an AC capacity of 900 MW and a DC capacity of about 1.25 GW. Nearby, a 219-meter solar receiver tower stands at the center of the CSP facility, surrounded by 10,310 heliostats. These mirrors cover roughly 500,000 m², tracking the sun to heat molten salt within the tower. This stored heat is later used to create steam and generate electricity.

Development and investment were led by PowerChina New Energy, with engineering, procurement, and construction managed by PowerChina’s Northwest Engineering Corp. The work took place on the Talatan plateau, where engineers had to contend with harsh winter weather throughout the construction process. Designers also considered the local environment; the solar modules are mounted on structures that protect the native grassland, allowing livestock to continue grazing on the land beneath the panels.

Each year, the facility is expected to generate about 2.2 TWh of electricity. This production should offset the use of approximately 690,000 metric tons of standard coal and cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by around 2.07 million metric tons. The new tower joins an existing solar thermal cluster in Gonghe county, which already features CSP projects with capacities of 50 MW and 100 MW.

This launch fits into a wider national effort to expand CSP technology. Guidelines from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration (NEA) target roughly 15 GW of installed CSP capacity by 2030, with the goal of bringing costs in line with coal-fired power. The completion of this hybrid plant marks a shift in the regional energy landscape, using integrated technologies to address future power needs.