World's Largest Hybrid Solar Plant in China's Gobi Desert Uses Molten Salt for Nighttime Power
CTG's 1 GW Hami project in Xinjiang combines PV and CSP with molten-salt storage, supplying electricity for eight hours after sunset without batteries.
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China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG) has commenced commercial trial operation of a 1 GW hybrid solar facility in the Gobi Desert near Hami, Xinjiang, according to multiple sources. The project, named the CTGR Hami 1 million kW “CSP + PV” project, integrates 900 MW of photovoltaic (PV) panels with a 100 MW concentrated solar power (CSP) unit that uses molten salt to store thermal energy, enabling up to eight hours of power generation after dark without lithium batteries.
The facility entered commercial trial operation on July 1, 2026, as announced by CTG. Grid connection first occurred on September 18, 2025, and the plant has since supplied 6.54 million kWh to the regional grid. Spanning 1,817 hectares at the southern foot of the Tianshan mountains, the project required a total investment of CNY 3.53 billion, approximately $480 million.
The CSP unit employs a linear Fresnel design with 260,000 tracking mirrors covering a total solar collection area of 800,000 square meters. These mirrors concentrate sunlight to heat molten salt to 550°C, which is stored in an 8-hour thermal storage system. At night or during overcast conditions, the stored heat generates steam to drive a turbine. CTG reports that the enhanced Fresnel design improves heat-conversion efficiency by up to 10% compared to conventional systems. A centralized controller coordinates output between the PV and CSP sides, achieving frequency-regulation accuracy of about 0.02 Hz with sub-second response.
“CSP thermal storage stands apart with its large capacity, long discharge cycles and zero operational emissions,” said Niu Jianle, project manager of the CTGR Hami project, as quoted by several sources. He described the grid connection as “a landmark leap, bringing the technology out of laboratory research and into large-scale commercial rollout.”
At full capacity, the complex is projected to generate 2.07 TWh of electricity annually, enough to power approximately 830,000 households, and to cut CO2 emissions by about 1.63 million metric tons per year. The plant surpasses the 950 MW Noor Energy 1 facility in Dubai as the world's largest CSP-PV hybrid.
Separately, China Energy Engineering Corp has started construction on a nearby 1.5 GW hybrid project, comprising 1.3 GW of PV and 150 MW of CSP.
Analysts note that while CSP with thermal storage provides long-duration dispatchable power, it faces economic competition from declining lithium battery prices. The long-term viability of the Hami project will depend on its operational performance and cost-effectiveness over years of service.