Xinjiang’s Turpan Wustong 1GW CSP + PV expected completion in 2026

<p class="ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph" id="ember53"><a href="https://www.solarpaces.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Turpan-Wustong-Tower-CSP-1.png"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-30394" height="422" src="https://www.solarpaces.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Turpan-Wustong-Tower-CSP-1.png" width="750" /></a></p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/progress-update-turpan-wustong-1gw-csp-pv-hybrid-project-zhang-iiove/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Jennifer Zhang, Editor in Chief ESPLAZA and CSPPlaza at LinkedIn</a></p>
<p>The Wustong CSP + PV Hybrid Project in Tokson County, Turpan City, is one of the key market-oriented renewable energy projects approved in the second batch of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in 2022.</p>
<p>It is also a flagship project under Turpan’s 14th Five-Year Plan for new energy development and a major demonstration project within Eastern Xinjiang’s large-scale renewable energy base.</p>
<h2 class="ember-view reader-text-block__heading-3" id="ember54">Project Overview</h2>
<p class="ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph">The project is located in the Wustonggou area of Tokson County, Turpan City, approximately 6 km south of Provincial Highway S301 and north of the Wustonggou Reservoir, about 48 km from the county center. Situated in a Gobi region with abundant solar resources, the site offers excellent conditions for concentrated solar power (CSP) development.</p>
<p class="ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph" id="ember56">The project has a total installed capacity of <strong>1GW</strong>, comprising:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>100MW molten salt tower CSP plant</strong> (core component)</li>
<li><strong>900MW photovoltaic (PV) capacity</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.solarpaces.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/1774320110860.png"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-30390" height="755" src="https://www.solarpaces.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/1774320110860.png" width="651" /></a></p>
<h2 class="ember-view reader-text-block__heading-3" id="ember60">Technical Configuration</h2>
<p class="ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph" id="ember61">The project adopts a <strong>mature molten salt tower CSP technology</strong>:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>14,680 heliostats</strong>, each measuring 6.3m × 4.8m</li>
<li>Total reflective area: <strong>440,400 m²</strong></li>
<li><strong>8-hour thermal energy storage system</strong></li>
<li>One set each of high-temperature and low-temperature molten salt tanks</li>
<li>Total molten salt inventory: approximately <strong>21,000 tonnes</strong></li>
</ul>
<p class="ember-view reader-text-block__paragraph" id="ember63">This configuration enables long-duration energy storage, stable power output, and efficient integration of variable renewable energy.</p>
<h2 class="ember-view reader-text-block__heading-3">Construction Progress</h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>2022</strong>: Included in Xinjiang’s second batch of market-oriented grid-connected renewable energy projects, marking project initiation.</li>
<li><strong>July 31, 2023</strong>: <strong>Cosin Solar Technology Co., Ltd.</strong> awarded the contract for the CSP solar field system, confirming core technology and equipment supplier.</li>
<li><strong>September 2023</strong>: Official groundbreaking; main civil construction commenced.</li>
<li><strong>January 2024</strong>:450MW of PV modules installed220kV #1 booster station commissioned for trial operationCSP civil works reached 60% completion; receiver tower construction reached 60m height</li>
<li><strong>November 2024</strong>: All <strong>14,680 heliostats installed</strong>, completing a key milestone for the solar field</li>
<li><strong>April 2025</strong>: Final design technical briefing and construction drawing review completed; project entered full-scale construction and installation phase</li>
<li><strong>July 8, 2025</strong>: Steam turbine casing closure completed, marking a critical milestone for the conventional island<br />
<strong>September 18, 2025</strong>: Distributed Control System (DCS) energized and restored; project entered integrated system commissioning phase<br />
<strong>December 1, 2025</strong>: Water filling test for molten salt tanks completed; key thermal storage system acceptance milestone achieved<br />
<strong>January 20, 2026</strong>: Insulation works for molten salt tanks completed<br />
<strong>February 2026</strong>: Jiangsu Lianchu Energy Technology shortlisted for molten salt commissioning works; salt melting expected to be completed by<br />
<strong>April 30, 2026</strong></p>
<h3 class="ember-view reader-text-block__heading-3" id="ember67"></h3>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Read More: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/progress-update-turpan-wustong-1gw-csp-pv-hybrid-project-zhang-iiove/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Jennifer Zhang, Editor in Chief ESPLAZA and CSPPlaza at LinkedIn</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.solarpaces.org/xinjiangs-turpan-wustong-1gw-csp-pv-expected-completion-in-2026/">Xinjiang&#8217;s Turpan Wustong 1GW CSP + PV expected completion in 2026</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.solarpaces.org">SolarPACES</a>.</p>