What coal is used in thermal power plants: a comprehensive analysis of fuel selection and industry trends
As an important pillar of energy supply, thermal power plants’ fuel selection directly affects power generation efficiency and environmental performance. This article will combine hot topics and industry data from the entire network in the past 10 days to provide a detailed analysis of the types of coal commonly used in thermal power plants and their characteristics, as well as a structured data comparison.
1. Commonly used coal types in thermal power plants
| Coal type | Calorific value (kcal/kg) | Sulfur content (%) | Ash content (%) | Applicable scenarios |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| anthracite | 6000-7000 | 0.5-1.5 | 8-15 | High load unit |
| bituminous coal | 5000-6500 | 1.0-3.0 | 15-25 | Mainstream thermoelectric equipment |
| lignite | 3000-4500 | 0.5-2.5 | 20-40 | low cost regional power plant |
| Coal washing | 4500-6000 | 0.3-1.2 | 10-20 | Areas with strict environmental protection requirements |
2. Recent industry hot spots and trends
1.Accelerating low-carbon transformation:Many geothermal power plants have begun piloting biomass blending technology, and coal usage in some units has dropped by 20%-30%.
2.The proportion of imported coal increases:Data from January to October 2023 show that Indonesia’s low-sulfur coal imports increased by 15% year-on-year, mainly used in thermal power plants on the southeast coast.
3.Ultra-low emission retrofit:The country has completed the ultra-low emission transformation of 87% of coal-fired units, prompting more power plants to choose high-quality coal with high washing rates.
3. Comparison of key indicators for coal selection
| Evaluation dimension | Best coal type | Suboptimal coal type | Economical choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal efficiency | anthracite | bituminous coal | lignite |
| Environmental protection | Coal washing | anthracite | bituminous coal |
| cost control | lignite | local bituminous coal | Imported bituminous coal |
| Device compatibility | Design coal type | Same type of coal | Need technical transformation |
4. New fuel technology trends
1.Coal gangue power generation technology:A power plant in Shanxi has achieved a 30% blending ratio and can digest 500,000 tons of coal gangue every year.
2.Coal water slurry application:The calorific value is increased by 10% while dust emissions are reduced. Three power plants in Guangdong have completed the transformation.
3.Carbon capture package:Huaneng Group piloted a CCUS project in Shandong, reducing carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants by 65%.
5. Future Outlook
As new energy installed capacity continues to grow, coal use in thermal power plants is expected to drop by 8%-12% by 2025. However, coal will still be the main fuel in the short term, and the industry will show the following development trends:
1.Popularization of precise coal blending technology:The AI algorithm is used to optimize the mixing of multiple coal types, improving combustion efficiency by 3%-5%.
2.Regional differences are obvious:The northern region mainly uses coal with high calorific value, while the south mainly uses low-sulfur imported coal.
3.Clean utilization acceleration:The newly revised "Air Pollutant Emission Standards for Coal-fired Power Plants" in 2024 will promote the proportion of washed coal to more than 75%.
From the above analysis, it can be seen that the selection of coal for thermal power plants is a decision-making process that comprehensively considers multiple factors such as calorific value, environmental protection, cost, etc., and needs to be flexibly adjusted according to specific unit characteristics and local policies.
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