Beijing rolls out rail transit development plan in 2025

Beijing on Friday unveiled its rail transit development plan for 2025 which includes the opening of two new sections and the construction of two new metro lines.

According to the Beijing Major Projects Construction Headquarters Office, a new 7.2-kilometer section of Line 17, connecting its northern and southern segments, will open in 2025, enabling north-south transit through the city.

Additionally, a 2.1-kilometer southward extension of Line 6, an east-west line traversing the city, will also be inaugurated in 2025.

Meanwhile, construction will begin in 2025 on two new lines. The first is Phase 2 of Line 19 which will span 24.2 kilometers with eight stations along the route. The second is the northern section of Phase 1 of Line R4 which will stretch 21.3 kilometers long and include five stations.

"Once Phase 2 of Line 19 is completed, it will create a rapid transit corridor connecting the northwest region of the city with the central area, and will stimulate development in both the northern part of the central urban area and the surrounding satellite towns in the plains. Additionally, the completion and opening of the northern section of Line R4 Phase 1 will further strengthen transportation links between the central urban area and the satellite towns, and enhance the quality of land-based transportation services to the Capital Airport," said Yang Liming, director of the No. 1 department of rail transit under the Beijing Major Projects Construction Headquarters Office.

By 2024, Beijing's total urban rail transit length had reached 879 kilometers, ranking first among Chinese metropolitans.

With the plan in 2025, 54.8 kilometers will be added to Beijing's transit system.

Beijing rolls out rail transit development plan in 2025

Beijing rolls out rail transit development plan in 2025

A power plant in east China's Suzhou City, Anhui Province, has installed two massive molten salt tanks, improving load following, steam supply, and grid stability at the aging facility.

Situated downtown, the two coal-fired units at Suzhou Power Plant have supplied both power and heat to the city's residents.

As Suzhou works toward carbon peaking and neutrality targets, the two units have been experiencing more frequent peak regulations, startups, and shutdowns, causing fluctuations in heat generation. This unstable steam supply has  significantly affected power generation stability.

Mainly using ternary molten salt and designed with a thermal storage capacity of 1,000 megawatthours (MWhs), the two newly built giant molten salts tanks are expected to ensure original heat generation capacity, enhance load-following capability of the coal-fired units, and boost the transformation of the old power plant.   

"Once the project is completed, the power generation units at the Suzhou Power Plant can achieve continuous heat supply for 4 hours while operating at full capacity. They can also ensure continuous heat supply for 5 hours even when operating at 30 percent of the rated load to achieve deep peak shaving. At the same time, its heat generation capacity will reach 410 tonnes per hour, which is 260 tonnes higher than the previous level," said Qiao Yancai, head of molten salt energy storage at the Suzhou Power Plant.

The project will help reduce standard coal consumption by 32,000 tonnes and cut carbon emissions by about 85,000 tonnes annually.  

Molten salt energy storage revamps aging power plant in east China's Suzhou