Group 1 - In 2024, China utilized 1,883 million tons of seawater for cooling, marking a 1.6% increase from the previous year, effectively meeting the cooling water needs of coastal industries such as power, petrochemicals, and steel [1] - The seawater cooling and desalination efforts provided a stable water source for high water-consuming industries, including steel, petrochemicals, and nuclear power [1] - The Zhoushan Green Petrochemical Base's desalination project produced 140 million tons of water in 2024, supporting an industrial output value of 272.64 billion yuan for the petrochemical industry, significantly contributing to regional economic development [1]

Core Insights - The 2024 National Sea Water Utilization Report indicates a significant increase in seawater desalination projects and capacity across China, with a total of 158 projects and a capacity of 2.856 million tons per day, an increase of 333,000 tons per day from 2023 [1] Group 1: Desalination Projects - In 2024, there are 61 large-scale seawater desalination projects with a capacity of 2.63 million tons per day, 48 medium-scale projects with a capacity of 200,000 tons per day, and 49 small-scale projects with a capacity of 14,000 tons per day [1] - Major coastal provinces such as Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, and Zhejiang have significant desalination capacities, with Tianjin at 450,000 tons per day and Shandong at 860,000 tons per day [1] Group 2: Industrial Water Use - Seawater desalination primarily serves industrial water needs, especially in high-water-consumption industries like power generation, petrochemicals, and steel, with some use for domestic water in coastal cities and islands [2] - Large-scale projects like the Tianjin South Port Industrial Zone and the Yantai Longkou Yulong Island desalination project are set to provide crucial water resources for industrial development [2] Group 3: Cooling Water and Chemical Resource Utilization - In 2024, seawater cooling water usage is projected to reach 188.336 billion tons, an increase of 2.957 billion tons from 2023, with significant usage in coastal thermal and nuclear power plants [3] - The report highlights ongoing research and development in seawater resource utilization, including bromine and potassium extraction technologies, particularly in provinces like Tianjin and Shandong [3]