新华财经北京12月19日电（记者沈寅飞）随着我国新能源发电装机规模占比超过煤电成为常态，发电行业也产生了新现象和新变化。在新型电 力系统构建与绿色转型进程中，一些传统煤电企业开始面临生存挑战，行业转型升级似乎已迫在眉睫。 记者调研发现，国能江苏常州电厂通过掺烧污泥、回收废热等举措，蹚出生态效益与经济效益双赢新路；多地煤电企业亦加码技术创新，探索 灵活性改造与综合能源服务模式。国家层面出台专项实施方案为煤电升级指明方向，传统煤电正以技术与机制双重革新，书写"老骥伏枥"新答 卷。 "吃干榨净"城市废料 传统火电变身绿色引擎 在国能江苏常州发电厂厂区，记者发现这里鲜有传统火电厂的浓烟灰渣，却有不少全封闭运输车有序穿梭。3公里外的市政污泥处理车间内， 含水率80%的湿污泥经管道送入电厂，通过"低压蒸汽干化+高温焚烧"技术转化为能源；焚烧产生的灰渣则成为混凝土掺合料，被送往建筑企 业——"污泥—能源—建材"实现闭环循环，成为了这家运行20年老电厂绿色蜕变的注脚之一。 转自：新华财经 厂的冷却塔 沈寅飞摄 图为国家能源集团江苏常州公司发电 "过去电厂盯着烟囱要发电量，现在我们盯着城市'代谢'做服务。"该厂党委书记、董事长 ...

Core Viewpoint - The coal power sector is transitioning from being the "main force" in electricity generation to becoming a "regulator" that ensures system stability, driven by the integration of large-scale renewable energy and carbon reduction goals [3][5]. Group 1: Transition of Coal Power - The role of coal power is undergoing a profound restructuring, shifting from providing electricity to ensuring the stability of the power system [3][4]. - The installed capacity of coal power has decreased from 57.33% in 2016 to an expected 35.7% in 2024, while the absolute capacity remains over 1.2 billion kilowatts [5]. - The increasing volatility of the power system due to the explosive growth of renewable energy sources necessitates coal power's reliable output as a last line of defense against extreme weather [5][6]. Group 2: Challenges in Transition - Coal power faces multiple challenges, including market reforms that lead to fluctuating coal prices and insufficient auxiliary service revenues, resulting in some units operating at a loss [5][13]. - Stricter carbon emission constraints require the coal power industry to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and reduce carbon intensity by over 65% compared to 2005 levels [5][13]. Group 3: New Generation Coal Power - The concept of "new generation coal power" has emerged, focusing on clean carbon reduction, safety, reliability, efficient regulation, and intelligent operation [6][10]. - The industry is moving towards optimizing existing units through parameter upgrades to meet the demands of the new power system [8][10]. Group 4: Flexibility and Clean Energy - The flexibility of coal power is being enhanced through systematic upgrades, addressing challenges such as low-load stability and high-efficiency operation across a wide load range [11][12]. - The coal power sector is exploring dual pathways for clean carbon reduction, including the elimination of outdated units and the promotion of ultra-supercritical units, alongside the adoption of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies [11][12]. Group 5: Policy and Market Mechanisms - The transition of coal power requires not only technological breakthroughs but also collaborative efforts in policy mechanisms and market environments [13]. - The capacity price policy is crucial for supporting coal power, allowing recovery of fixed costs and reducing investment pressure during the upgrade period [13]. - A comprehensive market system that includes energy, auxiliary services, and capacity markets is recommended to reflect the regulatory value of coal power [13]. Group 6: Future Outlook - The coal power sector is expected to experience a development path of "increasing capacity while controlling output" leading to a plateau and gradual decline in the future [13]. - The future of coal power is not about exiting the market but rather about "rebirth" through technological upgrades and innovative models, positioning it as an indispensable stabilizer in the new power system [13].

Core Insights - Inner Mongolia Energy Group is focusing on the transformation of traditional coal power to clean, efficient, and flexible energy solutions through comprehensive upgrades of coal-fired units, significantly improving energy efficiency and overall benefits [1][3] Group 1: Technological Innovations - Xing'an Thermal Power Company has implemented a "micro-project" approach to address transformation challenges, enhancing energy conservation and carbon reduction while ensuring heating supply [1] - The company completed a 12-kilometer pipeline expansion, improving insulation by 30% and optimizing valve control logic, resulting in an average return water temperature reduction of 8°C and saving 37,433 tons of standard coal [1] - The boiler combustion system was optimized, reducing the minimum stable combustion load from 40% to 25%, supporting peak regulation for the power grid [1] Group 2: Investment and Project Development - The Ustai Thermal Power Plant has initiated a large-scale coal power coupling molten salt thermal storage project, with a total investment of approximately 110 million yuan, utilizing 40MW/120MWh molten salt storage technology [2] - The project aims to enhance the peak regulation capability of coal power units, reducing the peak generation difficulty and increasing renewable energy consumption by 40 million kWh annually [2] Group 3: Efficiency Improvements - Changcheng Power Company has invested over 20 million yuan to optimize its power generation units, achieving a 20% deep adjustment capability [3] - The company has implemented various energy-saving measures, such as repairing vacuum leaks and reducing air leakage rates, leading to a decrease in coal consumption [3] - A specialized coal blending team was established to enhance fuel utilization efficiency through intelligent management systems, minimizing losses and blending errors [3]

Core Insights - The Southern Power Grid Guangxi Electric Power Company is accelerating the transformation of coal power from being the "main source of electricity" to a "regulating power" [1] - By the end of September, 84% of coal power units in Guangxi met national flexibility adjustment requirements, with a peak load adjustment depth as low as 36% [1] - The utilization hours of coal power in Guangxi were only 1836 hours, the lowest among the five southern provinces, freeing up 28.8 billion kilowatt-hours of space for clean energy consumption [1] Group 1 - The coal power sector in Guangxi has historically relied on coal for electricity generation and heating, but is now transitioning to support a new energy system with over 55.64 million kilowatts of installed renewable energy capacity [1][2] - The Guoneng Yongfu Power Plant, a leader in coal power upgrades, has achieved a deep peak load adjustment capability of 35% after investing 180 million yuan in modifications [2] - The Datang Guiguan He Mountain Power Plant has also improved its average deep peak load adjustment capability to 33% through investments of 65 million yuan in various upgrades [2] Group 2 - The Southern Power Grid Guangxi Electric Power Company is focusing on technical upgrades and has implemented a "three modifications linkage" strategy to enhance flexibility in coal power plants [2][3] - The average deep peak load adjustment capability of coal power in Guangxi has reached 36%, a year-on-year decrease of 20%, with the minimum output during recent holidays dropping to 2.45 million kilowatts, the lowest in recent years [3] - The company is working to resolve the conflict between output variability and stable heating supply for industrial parks, enhancing overall operational efficiency through collaboration with energy regulatory bodies [3]

Core Viewpoint - The forum on "New Generation Coal Power Technology" highlighted the transition of coal power from a base-load power source to a flexible adjustment resource, emphasizing its critical role in supporting the new power system and achieving carbon neutrality goals [1][4]. Group 1: Importance of Coal Power - Coal power is increasingly recognized as a "ballast" and "regulator" in the energy system, contributing over 50% of the total power generation while accounting for less than 40% of the capacity [3][4]. - The coal power sector is essential for ensuring the stability and reliability of the power supply, especially in the context of rapid renewable energy integration [3][4]. Group 2: Technological Innovations - Significant advancements in coal power technology, such as supercritical and ultra-supercritical systems, flexible peak-shaving, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), are crucial for energy security and renewable energy absorption [6][7]. - The need for systematic and revolutionary innovations in coal power technology is emphasized, focusing on safety, flexibility, and low-carbon breakthroughs [6][7]. Group 3: Collaborative Efforts - The transition of coal power requires collaborative efforts from government, associations, enterprises, research institutions, and universities to promote green and low-carbon transformations in the coal power industry [10]. - The integration of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and big data is essential for enhancing the operational efficiency and intelligence of coal power plants [9][10].

Core Viewpoint - The coal power sector in China is undergoing a transformation with the implementation of a capacity price mechanism, which aims to stabilize revenues and support the transition to a dual-function role of providing basic energy security and system regulation [1][2]. Group 1: Capacity Price Mechanism - The capacity price mechanism will officially start in 2024, allowing coal power plants to earn a total of 95 billion yuan in capacity fees, with a capacity price of 2.07 cents per kilowatt-hour [1]. - This mechanism alleviates operational pressures on coal power companies by enabling them to recover fixed costs even when not generating electricity, thus providing a stable income source [1][2]. - The two-part pricing system includes a capacity price (fixed income) and an energy price (variable income based on output), which incentivizes coal power plants to enhance their operational flexibility [1][2]. Group 2: Impact on Coal Power Companies - The capacity price mechanism encourages coal power companies to upgrade existing units for flexibility, improving their ability to compensate for the intermittency of renewable energy sources like wind and solar [2]. - It stabilizes revenue expectations for coal power companies, reducing the impact of market fluctuations on their earnings and easing operational pressures [2]. - The implementation of the capacity price has led to improved collaboration among coal power companies and related departments, optimizing maintenance schedules to enhance peak generation capabilities [2]. Group 3: Future Optimization and Upgrades - There is potential for further optimization of the capacity price mechanism, particularly in regions with declining coal power utilization hours [3]. - The lifespan extension and upgrading of older coal power units are crucial for maximizing resource utilization and achieving economic efficiency [3][4]. - Current coal power units in China have an average operational lifespan of about 17 years, with a significant portion of units being relatively new compared to international standards [3]. Group 4: Challenges and Recommendations - Older units face challenges related to equipment, energy efficiency, and regulatory compliance, necessitating flexible upgrades to meet current energy demands [4][5]. - Recommendations include improving policies to support the lifespan extension of older units, ensuring reasonable investment recovery periods, and establishing technical standards for upgrades [5].