Towards a 'zero-waste enterprise': pollution control and carbon reduction at China's southernmost coal-fired power plant

By Zhang Yuehe

(ECNS) -- Located in the southwestern part of Hainan Island, the Ledong Power Plant under CHN Energy Hainan Company (hereinafter referred to as CHN Energy Ledong Power Plant) is China’s southernmost coal-fired power plant. On February 18, an electronic display at the plant's entrance showed real-time environmental indicators for its two coal-fired units. The emissions of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) were below 1 mg/Nm³, 10 mg/Nm³, and 10 mg/Nm³, respectively—significantly lower than the emission limits in Europe and the U.S., which are 30 mg/Nm³ for particulate matter, 200 mg/Nm³ for SO₂, and 200 mg/Nm³ for NOₓ.

Upon entering the plant, lush greenery and spotless roads greet the eyes. No white smoke rises from the towering chimneys, and the sea breeze carries no trace of burning coal. How has CHN Energy Ledong Power Plant pursued its goal of becoming a "zero-waste enterprise" to set a national and even global benchmark for environmental protection? Here is the answer.

Established in May 2012, CHN Energy Ledong Power Plant was a key project under Hainan Province's 12th Five-Year Plan. The facility includes two 350 MW supercritical coal-fired power units, followed by distributed photovoltaic projects totaling 37.5 MW and centralized ones totaling 147.1 MW. With a total investment of 3.68 billion yuan (about $510 million), the plant set a national record by completing the No. 1 coal-fired unit in just 372 days from groundbreaking to grid connection. Both 350 MW units were commissioned for commercial operation in 2015.

The company revealed that in 2024 it generated 3.55 billion kWh of coal-fired electricity, with unit utilization reaching 5,075 hours. Meanwhile, its cumulative photovoltaic power generation reached 228 million kWh, marking a 60% year-on-year increase and setting a new record.

Since the implementation of the environmental protection collaborative upgrade in 2018, the plant has invested over 230 million yuan in cutting-edge pollution control technologies, achieving ultra-super-low emissions. "We have exceeded national standards by implementing near-zero emission measures for coal-fired units, effectively making ours one of the world’s cleanest power plants," said Yang Haoyuan, director of its Production Technology Department.

Transitioning from ultra-low to ultra-super-low emissions posed significant technical challenges. The plant has invited domestic experts to address key hurdles. For example, by installing advanced dust removal and desulfurization devices inside the flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system and integrating wet electrostatic precipitators (WESPs), it has drastically reduced particulate and SO₂ emissions. Additionally, it has adopted flue gas condensation and reheating techniques to eliminate visible white plumes, achieving visually "zero pollution".

"Beyond meeting the emission goals for smoke, SO₂, and NOₓ, we have also achieved zero wastewater discharge and implemented efficient urban sludge treatment, placing all our environmental performance indicators at world-leading levels," Yang added.

In 2023, the plant was invited to the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), where it shared China's approach to pollution control and carbon reduction. "We have also introduced unmanned spiral ship unloaders and tubular belt conveyors for coal transportation, effectively eliminating dust emissions and achieving a 'coal-handling without visible coal' standard," said Jiang Xuehong, chairman of the plant.

Building a national ecological civilization pilot zone is a key goal for the Hainan Free Trade Port. Leveraging this opportunity, the plant has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Hainan provincial government to advance the "thermal power plus" development model. This includes integrating renewable energy sources such as solar power, optimizing dock utilization for energy services, and utilizing new energy storage technologies to enhance grid stability. The plant is also intensifying its development of smart docks and green power facilities.

"Integrating thermal power with renewable energy and energy storage systems is a crucial direction for future energy development," said Cao Xin, Deputy Director of the Operation and Management Department. The "thermal power+" model offers multiple advantages, including enhanced energy efficiency, reduced environmental impact, improved grid stability, lower generation costs, strengthened energy security, and accelerated renewable energy adoption.

Under the "thermal power plus" strategy, the plant is committed to building a comprehensive energy supply system and expanding its market reach. The facility captures and repurposes waste heat generated during coal combustion to improve overall energy efficiency. Currently, one industrial customer utilizes the recovered heat for deep processing of aquatic products. By the end of 2024, the plant had supplied over 40,000 tons of heat, significantly boosting revenue and operational efficiency.

Additionally, the plant is enhancing dock utilization. Its existing dock, with a 70,000-ton coal berth and an annual handling capacity of 1.8 million tons, is set for expansion. "We are planning an upgrade that will increase annual throughput to 3.5 million tons, aligning with the free trade port’s long-term development goals," said Wang Debao, Deputy Director of the Planning and Construction Department.

Wang stated that the plant will continue developing new energy projects such as photovoltaic and wind power to promote the green transformation of the enterprise, actively promote the renovation and expansion projects or overall utilization of the dock, tap into the potential of the dock to improve its throughput capacity, and meanwhile explore the integrated development of hydrogen energy and new energy based on the offshore wind power and photovoltaic project layout in southwestern Hainan, aiming to cultivate new technologies, scenarios, and models for hydrogen energy development, and build a whole industrial chain for green hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and consumption. Ultimately, it is to develop into a "zero-waste enterprise.”