CHN Energy advancing clean coal technologies

China Energy Investment Corp (CHN Energy), the country's largest coal-fired power generator by capacity, has committed to further stepping up efforts in the clean utilization of coal, aiming to strike a crucial balance between ensuring a stable energy supply and progressing toward decarbonization goals.

In an era where coal remains China's primary energy source, the State-owned behemoth is championing green mining, advanced coal power with carbon capture, and sophisticated coal-to-oil and chemical conversion technologies, company deputy spokesperson Chen Jing said during a news conference held recently in Beijing.

The company will accelerate efforts to push forward pilot projects in cleaner coal technology, including carbon capture and alternative fuel co-firing, she said.

The State-owned energy giant reported that its self-produced coal has consistently maintained a peak level of 50 million metric tons for 48 consecutive months so far, with both commercial coal sales and electricity generation reaching new record highs for a single month.

At the same time, the company has been pushing forward with the optimization and upgrading of its existing, newly built and next-generation coal power units to enhance efficiency and reduce emissions.

In addition to green mining, CHN Energy has also been leading the charge in clean and efficient coal-fired power generation. Its comprehensive decarbonization efforts — from source reduction to carbon capture — have achieved "near-zero emissions" for pollutants, with 100 percent of its conventional coal-fired units meeting ultra-low emission standards, said Chen.

Crucially, coal-to-oil and coal-to-chemical processes are central to this clean utilization strategy. These technologies enable the conversion of coal into a wide array of high-value products, from fuels to advanced materials, effectively adding value and reducing the environmental intensity compared to direct burning, she said.

Analysts believe the clean utilization of coal is a critical component of China's pragmatic approach to energy transition.

For an economy of China's scale, a rapid and complete phase-out of coal without jeopardizing energy security is currently infeasible, said Lin Boqiang, head of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University.

Clean coal technologies act as a vital bridge, allowing continued reliance on a readily available and established energy source while significant investments are made in scaling up renewable capacity and modernizing grid infrastructure, he said.

Huang Qing, spokesperson of the company, said CHN Energy currently boasts an annual oil and chemical product capacity of 27 million tons.

The company's coal-to-oil production alone accounts for 65 percent of China's total coal-based oil output, with coal-to-olefins and coal-to-methanol contributing 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively, to national capacities, he said.

The company has pledged to continue its focus on green mining, clean power and advanced coal-based products, driving technological breakthroughs and forging partnerships to overcome "bottleneck" challenges and cement coal's role in a cleaner energy future.