CHN Energy Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd. (CESTRI), together with Anqing Power Plant of CHN Energy Anhui Branch, has established the Group's first demonstration base for the resource utilization of coal-based solid waste under the project Research on Low-Carbon Building Materials Development and Recycling Technologies for Fly Ash-Based Solid Waste recently. Covering approximately 6,200 square meters, the base integrates raw material storage, material preparation, performance testing and engineering validation, providing full-chain technology commercialization capabilities. It serves as a demonstration platform for the on-site consumption and immediate conversion of fly ash and other coal-based solid waste.
The demonstration base for the resource utilization of coal-based solid waste
The base is centered on CESTRI's independently developed technology for producing cement-free fly ash-based geopolymer binders. The technology efficiently converts fly ash into a new type of binder that can replace cement. The proportion of fly ash, specifically Grade II raw fly ash, reaches 50 percent to 70 percent, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 80 percent compared with conventional Portland cement. Its cost is 10 percent to 30 percent lower than that of comparable cement products on the market, while its products cover all strength grades from C15 to C50. The technology offers multiple advantages, including solid waste utilization, low-carbon and environmentally friendly production, and cost-effectiveness. More than 10 invention patents related to the technology have been accepted for examination, and two group standards have been approved for development.
At the application level, the developed fly ash-based geopolymer concrete has been used in various areas, including roads, precast products and stone-like paving blocks. Third-party testing has confirmed that all product performance indicators meet relevant national standards. The products can be widely used in municipal roads, landscaping in industrial parks and plaza paving, opening up broader market opportunities for the resource utilization of fly ash.
Leveraging the demonstration base, CESTRI is continuing to deepen research into the large-scale utilization and high-value applications of coal-based solid waste in areas including stabilized soil, ecological backfilling, EGC and thermoelectric energy storage materials. It aims to develop multiple replicable pathways for the diversified utilization of coal-based solid waste in the energy sector, contributing to the development of zero-waste power plants and the green, low-carbon transformation of the industry.
