Asia's First International Carbon Capture Technology Test Platform Goes into Operation

Guangdong carbon capture test platform, Asia's first international carbon capture technology test facility, goes into service on May 15. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

The Guangdong carbon capture test platform went into service on May 15, marking a new stage for study of the technology in Guangdong province and impacting China's research in lowering carbon dioxide emissions and dealing with climate change.

The platform was generally developed by the Guangdong Institute of China Energy Engineering Group Planning and Engineering Co., Ltd. (CPE), which is affiliated to China Energy Engineering Group Co., Ltd. (Energy China Group).

The project was developed on the base of No 1 generating unit, a 1,050-megawatt ultra-supercritical coal-fired power generating unit of the Huarun Haifeng Power Plant.

It contains a smoke pretreatment system, a carbon capture system with amine absorption and a membrane separation process, a compression and purification system and supporting systems.

The platform can capture about 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually for use in food processing and industrial production after purification.

The project is currently the world's first carbon capturing platform based on the coal-fired power plant's ultra-supercritical power generating units and is regarded as one of the world's top three carbon capture technology pilot bases together with the National Carbon Capture Center in the US and the Norway Mustad Technology Center.

Carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) is a new technology that has great potential for lowering carbon dioxide emissions. It is also the only way to realize low-carbon emission from fossil fuel processing.

The technology relieves global warming and is regarded as a practical way to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

The CPE Guangdong institute, devoted to developing CCUS technology, established a China-UK CCUS Center to promote development of China's low-carbon industry.

Before the construction of the platform, the institute had made a large number of investigations and learned the most advanced capture technologies of the time.

In addition, many innovative designs in terms of site reservation, technological processes, pipe layouts and materials emerged from the construction.

(Executive editor: Li Shuling)