context: The National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration issued a coal power decarbonisation action plan (2024-27). By the end of 2023, the PRC’s coal-fired power installed capacity constituted for 40 percent of the nation’s total installed power capacity. Coal used for power generation accounts for about 60 percent of China’s total coal consumption and contributes to 40 percent of its total carbon emissions. New energy technologies and energy security were the topics of a recent Politburo study session.
The low-carbon transformation of coal-fired power is a crucial step towards achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, asserts Zhang Lin 张琳 China Electricity Council Planning and Development Department director.
Zhang notes that China previously implemented energy-saving measures, resulting in significant reductions in national average coal consumption: 37.0 g/kWh, 17.6 g/kWh and 9.9 g/kWh during the initial three years of the last three 5-year plans. However, during the current 5-year plan, this reduction has slowed to just 1.6 g/kWh.
Zhang explains that the changing role of coal power in the energy system now requires more technical advancements. Coal power is gradually transitioning from being the primary power source to serving as a fundamental backup and system regulation power source.
Benchmarking the carbon emissions of coal-fired power to match those of natural gas generators supports the development and utilisation of new energy sources, says Zhang. Zhang emphasises that this strategy is crucial for proactively meeting the requirements of constructing a new power system and expediting the green and low-carbon transition of the energy sector.
Natural gas power generation is an internationally recognised clean energy, and a supporting power source and coal-fired power alternative power source for developed economies such as the United States and Europe in recent years, says Jiang Shihong 姜士宏 China Electric Power Planning & Engineering Institute (EPPEI) vice president, noting the proportion of natural gas power generation in
- the US is 43 percent
- the EU is 17 percent
- in the PRC is only 3.2 percent
Jiang also notes that the plan proposes to develop a method for calculating carbon emission reductions in the coal-fired power low-carbon transformation projects. In practice, the new plan will push technical development, reducing construction and operational costs and provide new lessons for coal power plants, says Jiang.
The plan proposes three technical routes for the low-carbon transformation and construction of coal-fired power
- biomass co-combustion
- taking into account the supply of biomass resources, collection radius, boiler adaptability and other factors, the focus will be on agricultural and forestry wastes, desert crops and energy crops
- the plan aims to implement coal-fired power units coupled with biomass power generation, setting the co-combustion ratio at more than 10 percent
- green ammonia co-combustion
- given the lengthy process of producing green hydrogen through the electrolysis of water using renewable energy and then synthesising green ammonia for co-combustion, the plan proposes that projects should be located where there is a reliable source of green ammonia and abundant renewable energy resources to ensure stable operation
- carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS)
- the plan encourages the adoption of various capture methods such as chemical, adsorption and membrane methods. It also proposes implementing geological storage and geological and chemical utilisation of carbon dioxide according to local conditions
The plan provides all-round support for project construction from financial support, policy support, improved scheduling and technological innovation, explains Jiang.
Affected by the intermittent and volatile nature of new energy power, coal power continues to play a role in guaranteeing energy security, says Liu Jizhen 刘吉臻 North China Electric Power University National Key Laboratory of New Energy Power System director.