China's solar thermal power industry has made significant strides in 2024, with steady growth in installed capacity and broader technological applications, according to the recently released China Solar Thermal Power Industry Blue Book 2024 (hereinafter referred to as the Blue Book).
Source: Science and Technology Daily
China's solar thermal power industry has made significant strides in 2024, with steady growth in installed capacity and broader technological applications, according to the recently released China Solar Thermal Power Industry Blue Book 2024 (hereinafter referred to as the Blue Book). By the end of 2024, China’s cumulative installed capacity for solar thermal power generation had reached 838.2 megawatts (MW), increasing its share of the global total to 10.6%. The country currently has 34 solar thermal power projects under construction, totaling 3,300 MW in capacity, and an additional 37 projects in the planning stage, with a combined capacity of approximately 4,800 MW.
The Blue Book was jointly compiled by the National Solar Thermal Energy Industry Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance (hereinafter referred to as the "National Solar Thermal Alliance"), the Solar Thermal Power Generation Committee of the Chinese Renewable Energy Society, and the Zhongguancun New Source Solar Thermal Utilization Technology Service Center. The report was reviewed and published by the Expert Committee of the National Solar Thermal Alliance.
According to the Blue Book, China’s cumulative installed solar thermal power capacity is composed of approximately 57.38% molten salt tower technology, 22.67% heat transfer oil trough technology, 19.92% molten salt linear Fresnel technology, and 0.02% supercritical carbon dioxide technology. By comparison, the global solar thermal power market consists of 21.63% tower technology, 73.76% trough technology, and 4.61% linear Fresnel technology.
The report also highlights key technological breakthroughs. In 2024, China successfully developed and commissioned the world’s first supercritical carbon dioxide solar thermal power unit, a milestone that places the country at the forefront of fourth-generation solar thermal power technology. Additionally, China has made significant progress in molten salt heat storage, high-efficiency solar concentrators, and heat absorption systems. The country also completed its first experimental loop for large-aperture molten salt trough collectors, while domestically produced key materials and equipment continued to emerge across the entire supply chain.
Advancements in power plant operations and maintenance further contributed to improved performance. The total electricity generation from China’s first batch of eight solar thermal demonstration plants hit a record high in 2024, marking a 6.71% year-on-year increase. These developments have laid a solid foundation for reducing costs and improving efficiency across the industry.
Academician Tao Wenquan of the Chinese Academy of Sciences emphasized that solar thermal power is an important technology for ensuring energy security. With rapid technological advancements and declining costs, the sector is well-positioned to become a major contributor to China’s future energy mix.