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The first gigawatt-scale power project combining solar thermal and photovoltaic power generation was fully connected to the national power grid on Saturday in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, becoming the first such project in the region.
Located in Hami City, the Shichengzi clean energy demonstration project was launched by China Datang Corporation in 2024. The project’s core equipment and 98 percent of its facilities are domestically made.
“The project consists of a 900-megawatt photovoltaic power plant and a 100-megawatt linear Fresnel molten salt thermal energy storage solar power plant, which has China’s first 35-kilowatt electromagnetic induction molten salt heater,” said Yu Yongbo, director of security at the group’s local office.
According to Datang, the 900-megawatt photovoltaic power plant had been previously connected to the grid, and last week’s operations were mainly to connect the 100-megawatt solar thermal power plant to the grid.
The Fresnel solar thermal power project, China’s largest and Xinjiang’s first, has a collection area of 800,000 square meters, comprising 260,000 reflectors, and 46 vacuum tubes measuring 55.2 kilometers in length.
It’s estimated that upon completion, the project will produce 2.21 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, which can meet the annual needs of about 800,000 households.
First gigawatt-scale solar hybrid project reaches full grid connection in Xinjiang
A Japanese scholar on Friday called on people to remain vigilant against de facto constitutional amendments, as the government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi moves to advance constitutional amendments and ease military and security restrictions.
Japan’s Constitution, which took effect in 1947, is often referred to as the pacifist constitution because its Article 9 renounces war as a sovereign right and prohibits Japan from possessing “war potential.”
However, according to local media reports, Takaichi is pursuing constitutional revision, seeking what would be the first-ever amendment to Japan’s Constitution since it came into force.
Talking to China Media Group about the current political situation in Japan, Kenji Utsunomiya, former president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, warned that the “exclusively defense-oriented policy” under Article 9 is being undermined.
“Some have indeed voiced the opinion that Japan should go nuclear — something not allowed under Article 9 of the Constitution. Yet those making such statements don’t seem to face proper penalties. So, I believe the ‘exclusively defense-oriented policy’ under Article 9 is being gradually and substantively eroded and undermined. That’s Japan’s reality today,” said Utsunomiya.
The scholar pointed out that recent moves by the Takaichi administration are all de facto constitutional amendments that could endanger peace.
“Regarding the government’s lifting of a lethal weapons export ban, increasing the share of defense spending in GDP, and pushing for the establishment of a national intelligence committee, I believe it is necessary to conduct broader national discussions on these matters and to effectively organize opposition campaigns. However, even if we manage to block a formal constitutional amendment, it does not mean we are safe. Actually, a de facto constitutional amendment is already moving ahead. Therefore, we must remain even more vigilant about this,” said Utsunomiya.
The Japanese government officially revised its guidelines to allow the export of lethal weapons on April 21.
Also in April, Japan’s parliament approved the fiscal 2026 budget, with defense expenditures exceeding nine trillion yen (about 56.3 billion U.S. dollars) for the first time, a historic high.
Japan’s House of Representatives on April 23 passed a bill to establish a national intelligence committee. The legislation is expected to be enacted after passing the House of Councillors, where approval is highly likely. Following its enactment, the Takaichi administration aims to launch the committee by summer, according to local media.
Japanese scholar warns of de facto constitutional amendments
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