What is a Dual-Tower Solar Thermal Plant and How Could It Improve Efficiency by 24%?
China has unveiled the world’s first dual-tower solar thermal power plant, which utilises an innovative design to significantly improve energy efficiency, according to a report by state-run China Global Television Network.
Located in Gansu Province, the plant features two 200-meter tall towers, each surrounded by nearly 30,000 mirrors that form overlapping circles to focus sunlight onto the towers.
This dual-tower configuration is a key innovation that sets this plant apart from traditional solar thermal facilities.
“The mirrors in the overlapping area can be utilized by either tower,” explains plant project manager Wen Jianghong. “This configuration is expected to enhance efficiency by 24 percent under the same boundary conditions”.
The concentrated sunlight heats water inside the towers, generating steam that drives turbines to produce electricity.
Unlike conventional thermal power plants, this design incorporates molten salt storage, which acts as a thermal battery. The molten salt retains extra heat collected during the day and releases it at night, allowing the plant to generate power continuously.
The mirrors used in the plant are made of specialized materials that can achieve a remarkable 94% reflection efficiency.
Additionally, the mirrors are programmed to automatically track the sun’s movement, concentrating the rays on the eastern tower in the morning and adjusting westward in the afternoon .
This innovative dual-tower design has the potential to be scaled up even further. “The system also has the potential to involve multiple towers for even greater efficiency gains,” the project manager noted.
The Gansu plant is part of a larger clean energy complex that will integrate solar, thermal, and wind power to generate over 1.8 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually while avoiding 1.53 million tons of carbon emissions, CGTN reported .
China’s pioneering work in solar thermal technology represents a significant advancement in the global pursuit of sustainable energy solutions.
The dual-tower design’s ability to boost efficiency by 24% underscores the country’s commitment to driving innovation and accelerating the clean energy transition .
