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
In his new year's call to world leaders, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged world leaders to get "priorities straight" and invest in development, not destruction.
"As we enter the new year, the world stands at a crossroads. Chaos and uncertainty surround us. Division. Violence. Climate breakdown. And systemic violations of international law. A retreat from the very principles that bind us together as a human family. People everywhere are asking: Are leaders even listening? Are they ready to act?" Guterres said in his New Year message for 2026.
The scale of global suffering remains severe. More than one-quarter of humanity lives in conflict-affected areas, over 200 million people require humanitarian assistance, and nearly 120 million have been forcibly displaced by war, crises, disasters or persecution, according to UN statistics.
"As we turn the page on a turbulent year, one fact speaks louder than words: Global military spending has soared to 2.7 trillion dollars, growing by almost 10 percent. That is thirteen times more than all development aid, equivalent to the entire Gross Domestic Product of Africa. All, while conflict rages at levels unseen since World War II. On this new year, let's resolve to get our priorities straight. A safer world begins by investing more in fighting poverty and less in fighting wars," said the UN chief.
A UN report released in September 2025 showed that rising military spending comes at a high opportunity cost, noting that less than 4 percent of current global military expenditure could end world hunger by 2030, just over 10 percent could vaccinate every child worldwide, and reallocating 15 percent would be sufficient to cover annual climate adaptation costs in developing countries.
"Peace must prevail. It's clear the world has the resources to lift lives, heal the planet, and secure a future of peace and justice. In 2026, I call on leaders everywhere: Get serious. Choose people and planet over pain. And I urge everyone who hears this message: Play your part. Our future depends on our collective courage to act. This new year, let‘’s rise together: For justice. For humanity. For peace," he said.
UN chief issues New Year's call to world leaders for peace, development
