Huadian Group and PowerChina have brought online a landmark 1 GW solar power project on salt-alkali tidal flats in China’s Shandong province, integrating 200 MW/400 MWh of battery storage in what is described as the country’s largest such installation.
Spanning 72 square kilometers in Laizhou, the facility is designed under a “salt-solar hybrid” model, where nearly 2 million photovoltaic panels are installed above brine pools. The project’s dual-purpose design leverages the reflective properties of water to enhance the efficiency of double-sided solar modules by approximately 3%. Additionally, the panels’ heat is said to increase brine pool temperatures by 2°C, accelerating evaporation and improving salt production.
The solar array was developed in two phases, with the initial 300 MW segment becoming operational in June 2024, following the commissioning of a 100 MW/200 MWh energy storage system in mid-2023. The vast site, which extends 12 km from north to south and 7 km from east to west, relies on intelligent drone inspections to ensure efficient maintenance. Equipped with infrared thermal imaging, the drones can detect faults and anomalies in half a day, significantly reducing manual intervention in the salt production area.
China has increasingly turned to coastal solar-storage developments to maximize the potential of underutilized tidal flats, which receive abundant sunlight. The Laizhou project benefits from an average of 2,600 sunlight hours annually—more than seven hours per day—ensuring a stable energy output.
Huadian Group has framed the initiative as a scalable model for deploying renewable energy in similar coastal environments. The project’s successful grid connection underscores China’s commitment to integrating clean energy solutions into its national power strategy while optimizing land use in industrial areas.
Comments