China Energy Engineering Corp. has officially begun construction of the photovoltaic component of a 1.5 GW solar demonstration project in Xinjiang, marking a significant step toward completing what is set to become the world's largest single-phase PV-CSP facility upon completion.

A Project of Record Scale

The full project, formally designated the CEEC Hami 1,500 MW Multi-Energy Complementary Integrated Green Power Demonstration Project, is located in Santanghu Town, Barkol Kazakh Autonomous County, in the Hami region of Xinjiang.

The hybrid plant combines 1.35 GW of photovoltaic capacity with 150 MW of molten-salt tower concentrated solar power, occupying a site area of approximately 33 square kilometers.

CEEC describes the project as the world's largest single-phase solar-thermal-storage project currently under construction, as well as the largest molten-salt tower CSP project being built in Xinjiang.

Upon completion, it will surpass the currently largest operating hybrid plant, the China Three Gorges Hami PV-CSP plant, also located in China, which has a total capacity of around 1,000 MW comprising approximately 900 MW of PV and 100 MW of CSP.

The second-largest operating hybrid facility is Noor Energy 1 in the United Arab Emirates, which has a combined capacity of approximately 950 MW, blending 700 MW of CSP with 250 MW of PV.

Investment and Expected Output

The total investment for the Hami project is approximately USD 951.9 million. Once operational, the plant is expected to generate about 2.9 TWh of electricity annually. Of that total, approximately 2.7 TWh will come from the PV component, while the CSP unit is projected to contribute around 200 GWh per year.

Construction Timeline and Progress

Construction on the CSP unit began in late 2024 and is now described by CEEC as approaching completion. With the photovoltaic component's construction now officially underway, the company has set a target of June 2026 for the project to reach grid-connection conditions. Full-capacity commissioning is planned for October 2026.

The PV unit will use large-sized n-type modules designed for desert conditions characterized by strong ultraviolet radiation, wind, and sand exposure. CEEC did not disclose the name of the module provider.

Technology Design and Grid Services

The two solar technologies are designed to function as what CEEC called a round-the-clock generation loop. Photovoltaic panels will supply daytime electricity output, while the CSP system, supported by molten-salt thermal storage, will provide nighttime balancing and firm power.

Together, the plants are intended to deliver continuous, dispatchable generation rather than the intermittent output associated with standalone solar installations.

Beyond baseload supply, the facility is also intended to provide grid services, including primary frequency regulation, reactive power support, and peak shaving. These capabilities position the project as a grid-stabilizing asset as well as a generation source.

Engineering for Extreme Desert Conditions

CEEC said the project was specifically engineered to withstand extreme desert conditions, including high winds, cold weather, and saline soils common to the Xinjiang region.

Among the engineering solutions applied to the CSP component, protective structures have reportedly been added to the heliostats, the mirrors used to concentrate sunlight onto the tower receiver, with CEEC claiming this reduces mirror breakage by 90 percent compared to standard designs.

The plant's central receiver tower stands 219 meters tall, which CEEC describes as a benchmark design for large-capacity tower CSP projects in China.

The tower's height is a key factor in the efficiency of the CSP system, as greater elevation allows the heliostats to concentrate solar energy more precisely onto the receiver.

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