China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) announced on Monday that construction of a 50 MW trough-based concentrated solar power plant has started in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. The facility is being built at an altitude of 4,550 meters, making it one of the highest-altitude solar thermal installations of its kind.

Project Location and Technical Specifications

The solar thermal plant is located in Damxung County in Lhasa, the regional capital of Xizang Autonomous Region. The facility utilizes parabolic trough technology with thermal oil as the heat transfer fluid and features a mirror field covering 242,000 square meters. The plant is equipped with a 6-hour molten salt energy storage system that enables nighttime power generation.

The solar thermal facility is part of a larger solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) integrated project designed to absorb curtailed PV power and effectively compensate for the intermittency and fluctuation of PV generation. The PV section of the project has a designed power generation capacity of 400 MW, with construction beginning in September of the previous year.

Construction Challenges and Worker Safety Measures

The project site presents significant construction challenges due to its location in a cold, high-altitude zone with low oxygen levels. These environmental conditions restrict construction activities to a limited window from April to October each year. To address the harsh working conditions, the construction team has installed heating systems, oxygen supply equipment, and a hyperbaric chamber to ensure workers' health and safety throughout the construction process.

CGN New Energy (Damxung) Co., Ltd. is serving as the investor and developer for the integrated project. The company, based in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, has scheduled the project for full commissioning by 2027.

Economic and Environmental Impact

Once operational, the integrated project is expected to generate approximately 719 million kWh annually. The facility is projected to save roughly 216,900 tonnes of coal equivalent and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 652,300 tonnes per year.

The project has already demonstrated significant local economic benefits during its construction phase. It has created over 2,000 local jobs and generated more than 5.2 million yuan (approximately 753,600 U.S. dollars) in local economic income through labor services and equipment utilization.

Regional Clean Energy Development

Despite the challenges posed by high altitude and harsh environmental conditions, Xizang is positioned to develop its clean energy sector due to abundant solar, wind, and water resources. According to the region's government work report, Xizang aims to significantly expand its power generation capacity from 13 million kW in 2025 to 20 million kW in 2026.

The regional development plan includes the construction of integrated power bases that combine wind, solar, and hydropower technologies at various locations throughout Xizang. This comprehensive approach to renewable energy development reflects the region's commitment to leveraging its natural resources for clean energy production.

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