Core Viewpoint - The Huaneng Zhengning Power Plant in Gansu is operating two 1 million kW coal-fired generating units at full capacity to ensure energy supply during winter, with a significant focus on carbon capture technology to reduce emissions [1] Group 1: Energy Supply and Capacity - The two units can generate 48 million kWh of electricity in a day, sufficient to meet the daily power needs of millions of households, with most of the electricity transmitted to Shandong via ultra-high voltage lines [1] - Coal power contributes over 50% of the electricity generation and 70% of peak capacity in China, despite having less than 40% of the installed capacity, highlighting its critical role in energy supply [1] Group 2: Carbon Capture Technology - The power plant features the world's largest coal-fired carbon capture demonstration project, which began operations in September, capturing 1.5 million tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to the emissions of approximately 600,000 cars [1] - The project utilizes a new "two-tower integrated" design for carbon capture, which combines pre-washing and CO2 absorption into a single unit, significantly improving efficiency and reducing energy consumption [2] - A new type of absorption solvent developed by Huaneng achieves over 90% CO2 capture efficiency, with a purity of over 99%, and extends the solvent's lifespan from about one year to over two years [2] Group 3: Compression and Storage - The project has developed China's first eight-stage supercritical CO2 compressor, which compresses captured CO2 to a supercritical state, reducing its volume to 1/300 of its original size, thus enhancing pipeline transport efficiency [3] - The compressor is designed to be more efficient and lighter than traditional single-shaft compressors, saving 10 kWh of electricity for every ton of CO2 compressed [3] Group 4: Carbon Storage and Monitoring - The project employs a multi-layer injection technique to store captured CO2 at depths of 2000 to 3500 meters, significantly increasing storage capacity, with a single well capable of storing 200,000 tons annually [4] - An integrated monitoring system using satellite remote sensing and ground monitoring ensures the long-term safety and effectiveness of CO2 storage [4] - The carbon capture demonstration project also supports flexible operation modes to ensure stable electricity supply while achieving large-scale carbon capture [4]
碳捕集，电厂添了新利器（新视点）