The 'mirror super power plant' from 12,000 giant mirrors produces electricity even at night

The solar power plant located in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu province uses concentrated solar energy through mirrors and molten salt technology to produce electricity at night.

This solar power plant is also known as "mirror super power plant" equipped with a total of 13 million photovoltaic panels on an area of ​​609km2. This power plant can produce 9 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.

When night falls, everything in the Gobi desert is asleep except for this power plant.

As the sun rises, 12,000 giant mirrors begin working in the direction of the Sun to focus energy on the top of the solar tower, which heats the 30,000 tons of molten salt in the tower to a temperature of 500 degrees Celsius. That's how scientists The science of transmitting and storing solar energy.

And at night, this storage tower comes into operation. 30000 tons of molten salt flows into a reaction heat storage tank containing water inside. The hot salt vaporizes the water, which then spins turbines to produce electricity, turning the Gobi Desert into a source of electricity.

This power plant can provide 24 hours of continuous power at full capacity.

China has mastered various methods to utilize solar energy to produce electricity that ensures electricity is transmitted to every part of the country 24 hours a day. As long as the sun is shining, the cycle will continue to ensure the stability of the power supply.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 18 February 2023