The first solar thermal power station in Northeast China — the China General Nuclear Power Corporation's 100-megawatt Jixi solar thermal project — officially began generating electricity in Da'an, Jilin province, on Monday.

It is the highest-latitude solar thermal power station in China and marks a significant breakthrough in the application of solar thermal power generation technology in high-latitude and extremely cold regions. It provides a replicable model for developing similar projects in other cold areas.

Located at 45.36 degrees north latitude, the station — a heliostat field — has an installed capacity of 100 megawatts and a heat storage duration of up to eight hours, which enables safe, stable and continuous operation for 24 hours.

The field consists of 19,667 high-precision heliostats, covering a total area of about 590,000 square meters.

"Facing harsh natural conditions, with the lowest temperature reaching -37.3 C and maximum wind speeds reaching level 9, as well as multiple engineering challenges, such as saline-alkali geology, high groundwater levels and heavy soil, the project team achieved technological breakthroughs," said Zhao Xiong, who is in charge of the project.

"The team has successfully mastered a complete set of key technologies, including molten salt anti-freezing, heliostat wind and snow resistance, low-temperature pile foundation construction and large storage tank composite waterproofing."

They developed a standardized solution that can be replicated and promoted in cold regions above 45 degrees north latitude, he added, meaning that that China now clearly has the ability to build large solar thermal power plants in cold environments.

Jiang Tonghai, Chairman of CGN (Jilin) New Energy Investment Co, noted that solar thermal power generation is a green, low-carbon, grid-friendly power source with the dual functions of peak regulation and energy storage.

"It is an effective means of replacing traditional energy with new energy safely and reliably," Jiang said.

After the project is commissioned, it is expected to generate 180 million kilowatt-hours annually, save approximately 54,000 metric tons of standard coal consumption, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 139,000 tons.

"The project has provided more than 2,000 jobs or local residents, driving the coordinated development of the upstream and downstream industrial chains and achieving an organic unity of economic, social and ecological benefits," he added.