The 100-megawatt solar thermal power project in the Gobi Desert. [Photo/Tide News]

Tens of thousands of heliostats form a glittering sea of mirrors on the Gobi Desert in Jinta county, Jiuquan, Northwest China's Gansu province, concentrating sunlight onto a central tower.

This 100-megawatt solar thermal power project, a new landmark, was put into operation last year. It is driven by core technologies developed by Cosin Solar Technology Co in Qiantang district, Hangzhou.

Unlike photovoltaic power, solar thermal plants store heat and generate electricity on demand, helping solve problems associated with the intermittent nature of solar energy. Cosin Solar has built a full, proprietary technology chain for next-generation molten-salt tower systems, accelerating commercialization through multiple benchmark projects.

The Qiantang-based innovator began R&D in tower-type solar thermal power more than 15 years ago, making it one of China's earliest entrants in the field. In 2025, the company relocated its headquarters to Qiantang, citing the district's strong manufacturing ecosystem and innovation-friendly policies.

As Qiantang ramps up its new energy equipment cluster — and China targets 15 gigawatts of solar thermal capacity by 2030 — "Qiantang smart manufacturing" is emerging as a key force behind the country's scalable, dispatchable clean energy solutions.

The headquarters of Cosin Solar in Qiantang district. [Photo/Tide News]