Coal capacity to reach 933 GW by 2015

China Coal Power Optimization emphasizes hydropower priority, nuclear growth, clean-coal and CHP projects, targeting 933 GW by 2015 with lower coal consumption, regional mega-plants, and efficiency gains in the national energy mix.

At a forum held during the China Taiyuan International Energy Industry Expo, Ouyang Changyu, the vice secretary general of the China Electricity Council, discussed China's plans for the power industry during the 12th Five-Year Plan 2011-15.

Based on a study regarding the country's optimal future energy structure, the guidelines for the development of power sources in China give top priority to hydropower development and outline ways to optimize the development of coal power. Alternative energy sources and nuclear power expansion will also be actively developed.

During the 12th Five-Year Plan, China's plans for the coal-fired sector include, in line with 2015 energy plans goals, beginning construction of 300 gigawatts GW of coal-fired power units and putting 290 GW of coal-fired units into operation. The installed capacity of coal-fired units in China is expected to reach 933 GW by 2015, accounting for 67.2 of China's total power generation.

By the end of 2015, the average capacity of individual coal-fired power units will reach 145 megawatts MW, about 40 MW higher than the figure in 2010. Average coal consumption is expected to be 330 grams per kilowatt-hour, reflecting efforts to reduce coal consumption rate across the electricity industry, about 2.4 lower than the value in 2010.

To achieve this target, China will optimize its coal-fired power development, aligning with power sector reforms underway, in three ways:

• Large-scale coal-fired power plant construction will be accelerated in regions with rich coal resources, reflecting a booming power sector across China, such as Shanxi, North Shaanxi, Ningdong, Junggar, Ordos, Xilin Gol, Huolinhuo, Baoqing, Hami, Zhundong, Yili, Huainan, Longdong and Guizhou.

• The development of combined heat and power projects will be encouraged.

• Clean-coal technology will be developed and promoted.

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