China develops 1,500 MW solar thermal storage project with molten salt technology

China is developing a 1,500 megawatt solar thermal storage project that combines solar power generation with molten salt heat storage, according to a report by Mehr News republished from Xinhua.

The project is designed to provide more stable green electricity by pairing solar generation with thermal storage using molten salt. Once fully operational, it is expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions by about 2.26 million tonnes annually, the report said.

The report did not specify the project's location, its construction timeline, or the entities carrying out the work. It also did not give details on how the stored heat would be converted into electricity or how the output would be integrated into the grid.

Molten salt storage is used in concentrated solar power plants to retain heat collected during daylight hours so that electricity can be generated after sunset or during periods of low sunlight, a function that supports grid stability compared with generation that depends directly on immediate sunlight.

The Mehr News report, republished from Xinhua, included a link to related video footage of the project. The report by Mehr News added that the footage is available through the Xinhua news platform.