China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) has rolled out a new initiative to upgrade coal-fired power generation, aiming to accelerate the sector’s transition toward cleaner, lower-carbon, safer, more flexible, and smarter operations.
Source: China Development Network
China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) has rolled out a new initiative to upgrade coal-fired power generation, aiming to accelerate the sector’s transition toward cleaner, lower-carbon, safer, more flexible, and smarter operations.
At a recent policy briefing, Du Zhongming, Director-General of the NEA’s Department of Electric Power, outlined the plan’s key measures. For existing power plants, the initiative builds on the current "three-pronged retrofit" framework and promotes further upgrades. On the environmental front, low-carbon retrofits are strongly encouraged. To enhance reliability, power units must meet a minimum availability rate of 98% during guaranteed supply periods, with no more than 0.3 unplanned outages per unit per year.
To improve operational flexibility, the plan introduces differentiated peak-shaving requirements based on coal type. It also sets a cap on the increase in coal consumption during low-load operation at 25%, while encouraging upgrades that improve primary frequency control and enable start-stop regulation. The initiative also calls for advances in smart operations, including intelligent control systems, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decision-making.
For newly built power units, the NEA encourages developers to adopt the performance standards laid out in the initiative. New plants should be designed with the capacity for future low-carbon upgrades, and low-carbon construction is actively promoted. The same reliability targets apply—98% capacity availability and no more than 0.3 unplanned outages per year.
In terms of flexibility, new pulverized coal-fired units using bituminous coal must be able to operate at a minimum of 25% of rated output. Their increase in coal consumption under low-load conditions must stay within 20%. These units are also expected to improve frequency response and start-stop capabilities. In the area of smart operations, new facilities should meet the benchmarks set by China’s next-generation coal power pilot and demonstration projects.
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