In 2017, commercial CSP plants in China started construction. During this year, several demonstration projects entered substantive construction stage and progressed smoothly. As 2018 dawns, the media summarized China’s Top 10 pieces of CSP news of 2017.
1. The Market for CSP Demonstration Projects Launched; CSP-related Suppliers will be benefited
In 2017, commercial CSP plants in China started construction. However, due to the progress has failed to meet the expectation, the large-scale purchase of key equipment didn’t appear, especially for reflector, receiver tube. etc. At the same time, EPC, engineering design, as well as steam turbine, electric/steam generator with long supply period has seen purchasing boom.
For example, SEPCOIII won the EPC bid of Haixi 50MW molten salt project; SUPCON won the bid of solar thermal system and installation of Qinghai Gonghe 50MW CSP plant; Dongfang Boiler Group Co., Ltd. won the bid of solar field of CPECC Hami 50MW project.
It’s expected that there will be a bigger supply chain market. More CSP-related suppliers will benefit from CSP projects.
2. Construction will go on in winter
In order to operate as far as possible, those projects under construction will continue to work, especially the installation of collector and indoor operation. But in such circumstances, human cost would increase and ant freezing measures is necessary.
For example, CGN Delingha 50MW parabolic trough CSP project, SUPCON Delingha 50MW tower CSP project, Shouhang Dunhuang 100MW tower CSP project, Jinfan Energy Aksai 50MW parabolic trough CSP project, etc.
3. The Schedule of CSP Demonstration Projects Failed to Meet Expectation; National Energy Administration will Work Out measures
Since the release of the first batch CSP demonstration projects list in 2016, the overall rate of progress failed to meet expectation. Most projects have been brought to a standstill. By the end of 2018(deadline), only a few of projects are able to be put into operation. By report, less than 10 projects entered substantive construction stage, and more than half haven’t started due to various reasons.
Since February 2017, National Energy Administration has been keeping eyes on the progress of demonstration projects. In December, it’s announced that owners of those long-delayed projects need to show their attitudes. If continue, effective measures are needed. In the near future, related issues, such as the progress, quit and abolishment of some projects will be discussed.
4. Multi-channel to Solve Financing Problem
In 2017, Beijing Shouhang IHW Resources Saving Technology Co., Ltd. and Suzhou THVOW Technology Holdings Ltd. have solved financing problem through private placement. That is the exemplary case of private enterprises solving financing problem. Also, other owners have solved the problems through different channels.
5. 9.31GW ! 8 Local Governments Release the Planning of CSP Projects
Under the goal of 5GW of Chinese CSP 13th Five-Year Plan, several local government released regional CSP 13th Five-Year plan. According to figures, the total installation capacity of 8 provinces, such as Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang, has reached 9.31GW.
6. Enterprises Starts Preliminary Work of the Second Batch CSP Demonstration Projects; Application Work in Preparation
With the development of the fist batch projects, the preliminary work of second batch has started. Based on the previous lessons, the standards of second batch will be raised. So good preparation is necessary.
Until now, many projects have started feasibility study, such as CUEC Yumen Huahai 100MW tower project, Jinfan Geermu 2*100 molten salt parabolic trough project and Jinfan Delingha 2*50 molten salt parabolic trough project.
7. Chinese Enterprises Enters Global CSP Market; Shanghai Power Win the Bid of Dubai 700MW CSP Project
In September 2017, Acwa Power, in consortium with China’s Shanghai Power, was selected by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) to build the fourth phase-700 MW project extension to the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Complex in Dubai, after submitting one of the lowest tariffs for a CSP project at 7.3 US cents per kilowatt-hour. The project is valued at Dh14.2 billion.
In June, the first phase—capacity of 200MW tower thermal power generation project launched bid opening. The Consortium of Saudi Water and Hydropower Company ACWA Power, Shanghai Electric Group Co., Ltd., BrightSource and other units offered the lowest price which is 9.45 cents / KWh (0.64 yuan / KWh).
In addition, a number of Chinese companies participated in the bidding of this project. Some bidders are as follows:
The consortium of Harbin Electric Group, the United Arab Emirates Masdar, France EDF and other units;
The consortium of Shandong Electric Power Construction Third Engineering Company, France Engie, Solar Reserve and other units;
The consortium of Saudi Arabia Alfanar and Beijing Shouhang IHW Resources Saving Technology Co., Ltd..
8. CGN Delingha 50MW Parabolic Trough CSP Project Basically Completed
CGN Delingha 50MW Parabolic Trough CSP Project is the first large-scale commercialized CSP project in China. In terms of overall progress, the project is far ahead of other demonstration projects and will be the first solar thermal demonstration power station put into operation in China.
Until now, solar island, heat transfer and Storage Island, and Power Island have been completed about 90%.
9. Huaqiang Zhaoyang Zhangjiakou No.1 15MW CSP Plant Basically Completed
At the end of 2017, Huaqiang Zhaoyang Zhangjiakou No.1 15MW CSP plant was basically completed. It adopts TeraSolar double glass cold curved mirror structure, inclined Fresnel high-power condenser system design, low-cost large-scale formula concrete heat storage system, technology of integrated land use, automatic rainwater collection system, mirror high-frequency automatic cleaning technology and other pragmatic and original technology. The general contractor for the construction of this project is Beijing TeraSolar Photothermal Technologies Co., Ltd.
At present, Joint debugging for the three main systems-solar island, heat storage island and power island, and pilot run have been started. The condenser circuits are into the continuous operation one by one; the heat storage island has been steadily warming up to 150 ℃ and will warm up to about 450 ℃. It is estimated that the construction of this project will be completed by the end of January 2018, and it can enter a stable operation phase by May 2018, so as to realize long-term continuous power generation 24 hours a day.
10. IEECAS's 1 MW Parabolic Trough CSP Project Put into Operation
On May 25, 2017, the IEECAS's 1MW parabolic trough CSP pilot project, which was part of 12th Five-year National 863 Project had a successful test run in the solar thermal power generation test park of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yanqing Badaling.
The project started construction on July 27, 2014 and was completed on April 30, 2017. On June 1, it passed the acceptance organized by the High-tech Research and Development Center of the Ministry of Science and Technology. The project comprises a total of three 600-meter trough circuits, a joint conduction conducted by CGN Solar, Rayspower Energy and Himin Solar. As the first MW-class parabolic trough CSP project in China, this project is of great significance to the industrialization of domestic parabolic trough CSP technology.
