The value discovery of photothermal power station from a new perspective

Solar thermal power generation has a long history, with a cumulative installed capacity of 7.05GW. Solar thermal power generation technology was born in the 1950s, the former Soviet Union built the world's first tower solar thermal power station, solar thermal has since entered the embryonic stage of technology. The United States established the world's first Solar demonstration power station - 1MW Solar one in 1984, and established the Solar Two power station equipped with heat storage system in 1996, and the solar thermal power station entered the commercial operation stage. By the end of 2022, the cumulative installed capacity of solar thermal power generation projects in operation around the world is about 7,050MW.

Europe and the United States take the lead in occupying the high ground, waiting to break through the plateau period. The United States solar thermal development in 1984, with the strength of six years to build 9 solar thermal power stations to lead the global development, Spain's solar thermal production originated in 2006, led the global market recovery in a silent state, is the most mature country in the use of solar thermal power generation technology. By the end of 2021, Spain's installed capacity in operation reached 2,364.45MW, accounting for 35.33% of the global total installed capacity, ranking first in the world. The United States solar thermal installed capacity of 1820.57MW, accounting for 27.21%, ranking second. However, after 2013, in the new energy power generation track, the cost advantage of photovoltaic over solar thermal has gradually become prominent, and the development of solar thermal in European and American countries has entered a plateau period.

Emerging markets accumulate strength, and global light and heat will welcome high growth again. The construction of long-term thermal storage solar thermal power generation projects, and the promotion of the integrated construction and operation of solar thermal power generation with wind power and photovoltaic power generation bases are the development priorities to improve the stability and reliability of new energy power generation. Emerging market countries such as the Middle East, North Africa, South Africa, Israel, India, Chile, and France are in a phase of rapid development, with new installations in 2022 surpassing those of the United States and Spain for the first time. Since 2021, the construction scale of solar thermal power stations announced overseas has reached 6.81GW.

Taking the wind of global recovery, China's solar thermal development has entered a new track

China's solar thermal industry spsprout in 2003, the launch of 20 demonstration projects in 2016 ushered in a development climax, and after the development of electricity prices in 2018, a total of 9 demonstration projects were connected to the grid and put into operation, with a total installed capacity of 550MW. Since 2020, the United States, Germany and other countries have excavated the value of solar and thermal energy storage, and China has followed suit and actively built solar and thermal power stations for distribution and storage. (1) 2003-2010: social capital successively distributed in the light and heat industry. China's solar thermal industry spsprout in 2003, there are a number of pioneer enterprises, but at that time the policy incoherence and immature technology hindered the development of the industry. (2) 2011-2016: Policy support, on track. In 2016, the National Development and Reform Commission approved the benchmark online demonstration price of solar thermal power generation of 1.15 yuan per KWH, and then the National Energy Administration released the first 20 solar thermal power demonstration projects (total installed capacity of 1.349 million kilowatts). The determination of the model price and the project means that the solar thermal power generation has officially started on a large scale in our country. (3) 2017-2020: The electricity price regression mechanism is started, and the development is slow. The projects completed and put into operation after 2018 have adopted the electricity price regression machine system (the first batch of demonstration projects will be relaxed until the end of 2020), which has increased the uncertainty of the grid-connected income of solar thermal power generation projects, and 11 solar thermal power generation demonstration projects have withdrawn, and the solar thermal industry has fallen into silence. However, thanks to the construction and operation of demonstration projects that have been landed since 2016, the cumulative installed capacity of solar heat in 2018 has increased significantly. (4) From 2021 to now: Diversified development, entering a new track. After 2021, with the significant growth of wind power and photovoltaic installed capacity, the solar thermal industry will explore new value of energy storage, that is, supporting development and joint operation with the wind and the large base project, ensuring the stability of the power grid frequency and improving power generation efficiency.