Source: Jennifer Zhang, Editor in Chief ESPLAZA and CSPPlaza at LinkedIn
The Wustong CSP + PV Hybrid Project in Tokson County, Turpan City, is one of the key market-oriented renewable energy projects approved in the second batch of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in 2022.
It is also a flagship project under Turpan’s 14th Five-Year Plan for new energy development and a major demonstration project within Eastern Xinjiang’s large-scale renewable energy base.
Project Overview
The project is located in the Wustonggou area of Tokson County, Turpan City, approximately 6 km south of Provincial Highway S301 and north of the Wustonggou Reservoir, about 48 km from the county center. Situated in a Gobi region with abundant solar resources, the site offers excellent conditions for concentrated solar power (CSP) development.
The project has a total installed capacity of 1GW, comprising:
- 100MW molten salt tower CSP plant (core component)
- 900MW photovoltaic (PV) capacity
Technical Configuration
The project adopts a mature molten salt tower CSP technology:
- 14,680 heliostats, each measuring 6.3m Ă— 4.8m
- Total reflective area: 440,400 m²
- 8-hour thermal energy storage system
- One set each of high-temperature and low-temperature molten salt tanks
- Total molten salt inventory: approximately 21,000 tonnes
This configuration enables long-duration energy storage, stable power output, and efficient integration of variable renewable energy.
Construction Progress
- 2022: Included in Xinjiang’s second batch of market-oriented grid-connected renewable energy projects, marking project initiation.
- July 31, 2023: Cosin Solar Technology Co., Ltd. awarded the contract for the CSP solar field system, confirming core technology and equipment supplier.
- September 2023: Official groundbreaking; main civil construction commenced.
- January 2024:450MW of PV modules installed220kV #1 booster station commissioned for trial operationCSP civil works reached 60% completion; receiver tower construction reached 60m height
- November 2024: All 14,680 heliostats installed, completing a key milestone for the solar field
- April 2025: Final design technical briefing and construction drawing review completed; project entered full-scale construction and installation phase
- July 8, 2025: Steam turbine casing closure completed, marking a critical milestone for the conventional island
September 18, 2025: Distributed Control System (DCS) energized and restored; project entered integrated system commissioning phase
December 1, 2025: Water filling test for molten salt tanks completed; key thermal storage system acceptance milestone achieved
January 20, 2026: Insulation works for molten salt tanks completed
February 2026: Jiangsu Lianchu Energy Technology shortlisted for molten salt commissioning works; salt melting expected to be completed by
April 30, 2026
Read More: Jennifer Zhang, Editor in Chief ESPLAZA and CSPPlaza at LinkedIn
