On January 30, the two air-cooling towers of the CHN Energy Ningxia Liupanshan Power Plant project completed overall lifting operations, marking the topping-out of their structures. The project adopts China’s first domestically developed million-kilowatt-class hyperbolic single-layer lattice steel air-cooling tower design with a dual-tower configuration.
Each tower stands 190 meters tall and uses a steel structure in place of traditional concrete. During the lifting of Tower No. 2, the total hoisted weight reached approximately 3,210 tons, with a lifting height of 54.2 meters. Construction faced challenges including frequent strong winds, risks associated with high-altitude welding, and complex winter conditions. To address these issues, the project team conducted real-time meteorological monitoring, organized welding operations during low-wind windows, and adopted ground-based modular assembly along with enclosed welding protection sheds. These measures reduced the number of high-altitude welds and mitigated safety risks at the source.
CHN Energy Ningxia Liupanshan Power Plant is planned to install two 1,000-MW ultra-supercritical indirect air-cooled coal-fired generating units and is a key project for ensuring energy supply in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Located in Guyuan City, the project includes coordinated development of the Nanwan mining area and the simultaneous construction of a dedicated railway line, aiming to build a new-generation smart power plant, with both units scheduled to enter operation in 2026.
The topping-out of the dual-tower structures marks the completion of a critical milestone for the project. The steel-structure tower construction techniques developed during this process provide valuable practical experience for similar projects in the future.
