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
National political advisers from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR) said on Wednesday that the two regions can further leverage their unique advantages to support the nation's opening-up and strengthen its links with global trade and investment networks.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the two regions, Charles M. Choy, a member of the 14th CPPCC National Committee from the Macao SAR emphasized that the dual-access nature of the two regions remains a cornerstone for international engagement.
"Both SARs combine deep access to the mainland with internationally familiar legal and financial systems. Hong Kong continues to function as a major global financial center, facilitating capital flows, RMB internationalization, and global investment into China. Macao, on the other hand, plays a very distinctive role as a bridge between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and increasingly as a platform for diversified cooperation beyond tourism and gaming internationally. China continues to signal its commitment to opening up and improving the business environment. For international businesses, this is not a moment to wait and see, it is a moment to engage strategically and thoughtfully," he said.
Clarence Chun Kit Ling, a member of the 14th CPPCC National Committee from the HK SAR, noted the specific logistical and trade frameworks that define Hong Kong's contribution to the national strategy.
"Expanding the trade network. Leveraging the unique advantages of Hong Kong as a free port, we will deepen trade exchanges and practical cooperation with countries and regions along the Belt and Road Initiative. We will vigorously foster emerging trade forms such as cross-border e-commerce and trade in services, continuously enhance the diversification and internationalization of trade development, and promote Hong Kong as an important hub for the country to connect with the global trade network," he said.
The 14th National Committee of the CPPCC, China's top political advisory body, concluded its annual session on Wednesday with a call in its work to pool wisdom and strength to ensure a strong start to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).
During the session that ran from March 4 to 11, the national political advisors discussed the government work report, the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan and other reports, and reviewed the work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, the report on how the proposals from political advisors have been handled since the previous annual session and other documents, achieving fruitful results.
CPPCC members from Hong Kong, Macao highlight SARs' role in connecting nation with global markets
CPPCC members from Hong Kong, Macao highlight SARs' role in connecting nation with global markets
