China Three Gorges Group has officially connected the world’s largest hybrid solar facility to the grid in Hami, Xinjiang, featuring an impressive combined output of 1 GW. This innovative plant integrates a 100 MW linear Fresnel concentrated solar power (CSP) system alongside a 900 MW photovoltaic (PV) array, ensuring continuous power delivery and demonstrating effective large-scale energy storage capabilities. This advancement surpasses the previous record held by the Noor Energy 1 project in the UAE.
Occupying an expansive 1,817 hectares in the Tianshan mountains, the Hami facility boasts a CSP plant equipped with eight hours of molten salt storage, enhancing its capacity to harness energy. Exceptional regional sunlight conditions, with an average of over 3,000 hours annually, create a favorable environment for solar energy generation. Construction of this project commenced in 2023, with the PV component successfully linked to the grid by late 2024, and the thermal section achieving full operation by September 2025, a full 42 days ahead of schedule.
Financially, the project represents a significant investment of CNY 3.53 billion (approximately $480 million), supported primarily by China Energy Engineering’s Northwest Institute and various domestic suppliers. The thermal power section utilizes 260,000 precision-engineered curved reflectors that concentrate sunlight onto extensive absorber tubes, which heat molten salt to a temperature of 550°C. This design enhances heat conversion efficiency by up to 10% compared to traditional Fresnel systems. Its modular configuration allows for ongoing operations during maintenance periods, and its innovative salt circulation system ensures reliable performance even under winter conditions down to minus 20°C.
The facility functions effectively by generating electricity from the PV field during daylight, simultaneously charging the thermal storage system. When illumination is low, the stored heat powers steam turbines, ensuring stable electricity generation. A centralized control system efficiently manages the distribution of power from PV and thermal sources, maintaining frequency regulation to a precision of around 0.02 Hz and achieving response times below one second. At its peak output, the Hami facility is anticipated to generate an annual yield of 2.07 TWh, which could energize approximately 830,000 homes while significantly lowering carbon dioxide emissions by 1.63 million tons each year.
Additionally, the project promises regional benefits, including the creation of approximately 500 jobs and the development of related solar equipment and engineering industries. Ecological initiatives are also part of the plan, with drought-resistant plants being introduced to combat desertification on the site. Acknowledging the potential of hybrid energy projects melding PV with thermal storage, the Chinese government has identified such advancements as critical for the balance of renewable energy sources. The Hami plant is positioned to set new standards in the deployment of Fresnel technology and molten salt efficiency, earning a place on China’s list of key low-carbon demonstration projects.
Looking ahead, the China Three Gorges Group has plans to expand the Hami site to a colossal 3 GW in a subsequent phase and aims to replicate this model across other resource-rich provinces like Inner Mongolia and Gansu. Analysts recognize these integrated systems as essential for China’s long-term energy strategy, paving the way for solar energy development in desert regions and enhancing grid stability.