On February 26, four coal-fired power units under China Energy Investment Corporation (CEIC) were successfully selected for the first batch of pilot projects in the new power system construction initiative organized by the National Energy Administration, undertaking the demonstration task for "new-generation coal power." This marks a significant progress for the group in advancing the clean, low-carbon, flexible, and efficient transformation of coal power, providing a practical and referential example for industry upgrades.
Accelerating the construction of a new power system is a key measure to support the goal of building a strong energy nation and achieving the "dual carbon" targets, with the upgrade to new-generation coal power being one of the core tasks. As a globally leading coal power enterprise in scale, CEIC attaches great importance to this work and has formulated a special implementation plan. It plans to coordinate and promote the transformation and upgrading of the coal power industry between 2025 and 2027, optimizing existing capacity and enhancing new capacity, to effectively fulfill its responsibilities in energy security and transition.
The four selected units cover new, under-construction, and operational types, distributed in Xinjiang, Jiangsu, Guangdong, and other regions. They adopt the model of "new builds meeting standards, under-construction projects improving efficiency, and operational units undergoing retrofits," focusing on the two main directions of "high-efficiency regulation" and "clean carbon reduction," aiming to create replicable and scalable industry benchmarks. The #4 unit at the Xinjiang Hami Dananhu Power Plant, as a new project, employs a "wide-load high-efficiency integrated" thermal system design, applies proprietary technology to enhance regulation and peak-shaving capabilities, and innovates with a multi-energy co-supply model. The #4 unit at the Jiangsu Changzhou Power Plant will apply small pulverized coal bunkers and intelligent control systems to enhance rapid response capabilities, adapting to the needs of power grids with a high proportion of new energy. The retrofit project for the #2 unit at the Jiangsu Chenjiagang Power Plant integrates technologies such as flexible operation and safety assurance, building a demonstration project for full-load peak shaving and heat-power decoupling. The #2 unit at the Guangdong Qingyuan Power Plant will conduct a biomass co-firing demonstration, targeting a heat proportion from co-firing of no less than 10% to reduce carbon emissions and explore green profitability pathways.
During this critical period of energy transition, this pilot program will better leverage the supporting and regulating role of CEIC's coal power industry within the new power system, reflecting its response to national strategies and also providing a reference for global coal power transformation. The group will systematically advance 28 key tasks, implement technical requirements for clean carbon reduction and high-efficiency regulation, build a collaborative innovation system, and promote breakthroughs and applications of key technologies.
