China commissions high-capacity solar thermal power plant

China has commissioned its first solar thermal power plant with high-capacity energy storage in the country's northwestern Qinghai province.
The 10 megawatt Power Plantwhich is the third such power plant in the world has been commissioned, state-run People's Daily reported.
The other two are located in the US and Spain.
The core technology is based on independent research and development, the report said.
The plant boasts advanced systems for solar collection, heat absorption, energy storage and electricity generation.
Molten salt is used as the heat-exchange fluid. Molten salt has a wide temperature range in its liquid state.

Thus, using the substance as the heat-exchange fluid means that the system's generating efficiency will be improved, the heat-exchange process will be simplified and energy loss will be minimised, the report said.

In this way, high-capacity thermal storage and large-scale generation are both made possible, it said.
Solar thermal power generates stable, continuous and high-quality power that can be produced on a schedule.
It is widely considered to be a clean energy most likely to replace coal.
The International Energy Agency predicts that solar thermal power is capable of meeting 11.3 per cent of global electricity demand in 2050.