Deep in the Gobi Desert of Delingha, Qinghai, morning light pierces through the thin air, casting its glow upon a silver array of mirrors. Here lies CGN New Energy's parabolic trough solar technology research and development base. Through five years of perseverance through wind and rain, the once barren Gobi has quietly nurtured one technological miracle after another.
In 2023, a breakthrough in a critical component filled the R&D team with pride—the "Localization Development of Spherical Joints" project was successfully completed. A component once monopolized by foreign technology for years now not only reduces costs by 50%, but also features an innovative maintenance-free design throughout its service life, significantly lowering construction and operation & maintenance costs. Currently, 656 domestically produced spherical joints at CGN Delingha 50MW CSP plant are operating in excellent condition. This equipment has reached international leading standards and is ready for batch promotion and application.
In the same year, China's first full-condition simulator platform for parabolic trough CSP plants was successfully developed. It can accurately reproduce all operating scenarios of the plant, even complex shutdown conditions can be "precisely replayed." A total of 68 operators have undergone "real combat" training here, transforming from novices to skilled professionals, with training periods shortened by 30%. Operators remarked: "We used to rely on experience; now we rely on data. We have greater confidence and assurance in solving problems."
In 2024, China's first CSP project macro-site selection software platform was successfully developed—this is a "thinking" site selection platform that integrates cloud computing and GIS geographic information system technology, acting like a "navigation compass" to provide optimal solutions for CSP plant siting. From solar radiation to transportation conditions, from site slope to land expansion potential, multi-dimensional data analysis is available at the click of a button, improving efficiency by 10 times. The platform has currently been applied to actual project preliminary work, providing important scientific support for government agencies, enterprises, and planning departments in resource planning and project layout.
In 2025, a major breakthrough shocked the industry—China's first standard large-aperture molten salt parabolic trough collector loop successfully commenced operation in Delingha, stably achieving high-temperature operation at 550°C. Molten salt flexible connections, local control systems, online mirror surface shape detection equipment for supports...all core components and equipment are domestically produced, filling the domestic technological gap.
Over five years, 667 patents have built a technological moat, 146 standards have guided industry development direction, and 105 science and technology awards have demonstrated strength. CGN New Energy continues to write innovative chapters in building an energy-strong nation across the vast land.
Innovation never ceases, green energy drives the future. This is not only a technological leap but also a solemn commitment by CGN New Energy toward the future.
