On August 30, the 1,000 MWh coal power + molten salt energy storage project at CHN Energy’s Suzhou Power Plant in Anhui province completed a 168-hour trial run and officially entered operation. It is currently the largest molten salt energy storage project in China and one of the nation’s first green and low-carbon advanced technology demonstration projects.
The project was independently developed by CHN Energy New Energy Technology Research Institute. It adopts a three-way steam extraction scheme (main steam, reheated steam and fourth-extraction steam) and utilizes molten salt to circulate heat between a 390°C high-temperature tank and a 190°C low-temperature tank. This enables time-shifted storage and release of 1,000 MWh of thermal energy. The team also developed an innovative coal-power-coupled steam-heated molten salt thermal storage simulation platform, establishing coordinated grid-source control technology based on molten salt storage.
With the molten salt system in operation, the plant’s load regulation capability has been significantly enhanced. During peak demand, the system can provide continuous heating for four hours. Even when power generation load is reduced to 30%, it can still deliver maximum heating output for five consecutive hours. Projections show that the project will enable the grid to absorb about 128 million kWh of renewable power annually, cut carbon emissions by 85,000 tons, and boost heating capacity by 2.2 million tons, an increase of 73% over the plant’s previous maximum capacity.
The successful commissioning of this project opens a new pathway for coal power units to enhance peak-shaving and heating capabilities. It marks a key step in transforming coal-fired units into supportive and flexible power sources, providing vital technical support for building a new type of power system.
