China sets a new record: the highest tower solar power plant on the Tibetan Plateau

At an altitude of 4,650 meters above sea level, in the heart of Tibet, Chinese engineers are completing construction of Anduo Tushuo — the world’s highest molten-salt tower-type solar power plant. This impressive project, located in Amdo County, Nagqu Prefecture, has already passed a key milestone: all 15,927 heliostats (mirrors) that will power the facility have been delivered. The plant is now being prepared for connection to the power grid.

Future technology in extreme conditions

Anduo Tushuo embodies advanced concentrated solar power (CSP) technology. Unlike traditional solar panels, this approach uses a vast field of mirrors that rotate in sync throughout the day, tracking the movement of the sun. All the sunlight is directed to a special receiver positioned at the top of a 185-meter tower. This is where the magic of converting sunlight into thermal energy takes place.

“Thousands of mirrors, like giant sunflowers, turn to follow the sun, concentrating its energy on the receiver located at the top of the tower,” BRICE SOLAR describes the plant’s operation. A mixture of molten salts circulates inside the receiver, heating up to an astonishing 565 degrees Celsius. This superheated mixture is stored in special heat-retaining tanks and, when needed, transfers its heat to water through a heat exchanger. As a result, steam is produced which, much like in conventional thermal power plants, spins a turbine connected to a generator to produce electricity.

A test of the highest precision

Building at such an altitude is a true test for any engineering project. Oxygen levels here are significantly lower than in lowland areas, while wind gusts often exceed 30 meters per second. To overcome these obstacles, the heliostat manufacturer developed a unique production line — the world’s first intelligent platform for manufacturing heliostats under extreme high-altitude conditions.

Precise mirror aiming under these conditions is a separate technical challenge. The developers note that tracking accuracy reaches 0.061 degrees. This means each mirror can accurately hit a target no larger than a coin, even from a distance of 1.5 kilometers. It is an impressive achievement that highlights the project’s high level of technological development.

The total reflective area of all the mirrors exceeds 800,000 square meters. The thermal storage system allows the plant to operate at full capacity for 8 hours, enabling electricity generation for up to 16 hours a day. This makes Anduo Tushuo an efficient energy source even at night or during cloudy weather.

A large-scale energy complex

Anduo Tushuo is only one component of a larger energy project. The 100-megawatt CSP plant is complemented by an 800-megawatt photovoltaic field, bringing total capacity to an impressive 900 megawatts. According to developers’ estimates, the complex will generate around 255 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This will reduce CO2 emissions by 165,000 tons per year, a significant contribution to the fight against climate change.

Prospects and significance of the project

Anduo Tushuo is expected to be fully launched in the autumn, after commissioning work is completed. This project not only sets a new record for the highest tower solar power plant, but also demonstrates the potential of solar thermal energy in the most challenging natural conditions. With its high level of solar radiation, the Tibetan Plateau is an ideal location for such innovations, despite the challenges associated with thin air, low temperatures, and strong winds.

The successful implementation of thermal energy storage technology in such extreme conditions opens the way for similar projects in other high-mountain regions of the world, such as the Andes or the Himalayas. It is an important step in the development of renewable energy and in China’s strategy to expand the use of solar thermal power.

China is actively developing this sector: in 2025 alone, nine new CSP plants with a combined capacity of 900 megawatts were commissioned. The country’s total solar thermal power capacity has already exceeded 1,738 megawatts, demonstrating significant growth. Projects such as Anduo Tushuo also play a key role in stabilizing local energy grids, acting as a buffer for connecting large numbers of photovoltaic installations.