How is China Tackling the Problems of Coal Production?

It’s official. China is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gases in the world. Part of the problem, of course, are the carbon emissions from their massive (and massively outdated) coal plants. With coal already being environmentally unfriendly, it’s important to make efforts to minimise the emissions where possible. China, at last, are doing so. How? Read on to find out about their plans for high-efficiency coal.

Cleaning up

They’re not known for their oil and gas. So China’s coal industry dominates their energy production. Shutting some of their coal plants, they have recently begun efforts to boost the amount of renewable energy they produce. In 2010 it was around 13% and they are looking to increase it to 20% by 2010.

However, coal still makes up two thirds of China’s energy use. Additionally, there are over 200 new coal-burning plants set to be built. It’s clear that there is still a need to make changes to the way coal-energy is produced. Shanghai’s Waigaoqiao No. 3 plant is an example of China’s coal capacity. One of the biggest power plants in the country, Waigaoqiao produces around 8% of Shainghai’s massive power requirement.

Peak efficiency

Enter Professor Feng Weizhong. He has designed specific features and practices for each part of the plant, to make it more efficient and environmentally friendly. With his changes, it reached a peak of 46.5% efficiency and saved over a million tonnes of coal in five years (2008-2013).

He wants to extend these innovative changes to make other efficiency improvements across China. His next project is a design that will set a ‘national benchmark’ for efficiency. One of the key features in this is a steam transfer system, that will reduce the need for steel piping. It’s thought that carbon emissions would be cut by 7% if these kind of changes were consistent across the country.

Broader change

While there are improvements to be made in coal powered plants, a lot of innovative solutions are being created for alternative energy. One example is a power plant which turns pig manure into power. With a 1,000-acre site nearby, home to 10 farms and around a million pigs a year, there is an abundance of supply. The manure is turned into energy, and even the methane emissions are harnessed for energy. Read more about this extraordinary fuel source in ‘Blue Mountain Biogas Plant Turns Manure into Power’.