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15 min ago 2 min read
China has begun construction of what has been described as the world’s first industrial-scale energy project combining supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power generation with molten salt energy storage.
The Ruitan demonstration project is being developed at China Huaneng’s Bajiao power plant in Yantai, Shandong province, with commissioning expected next year, according to reports.
The first phase will comprise a 50MW sCO2 power generation unit alongside a 100MW molten salt energy storage system with a storage capacity of 400MWh.
The project will use surplus electricity from existing coal-fired generating units during periods of low demand to heat molten salt. The stored thermal energy can then be released during periods of peak electricity consumption to generate power through the supercritical sCO2 unit.
Rather than using steam to drive a turbine, the system uses CO2 maintained above its critical temperature and pressure. Under these conditions, CO2 exhibits properties of both a gas and a liquid, allowing the dense working fluid to drive a turbine in a closed-loop system.
According to state-run Xinhua, sCO2 generation units can be more compact than conventional systems and can respond rapidly to changes in electricity demand. The technology also does not require water for the power cycle.
Molten salt storage differs from battery-based energy storage by retaining surplus energy as heat rather than storing it electrochemically. That heat can subsequently be converted back into electricity or potentially used for other applications.
The Ruitan project is not China’s first deployment of supercritical sCO2 generation technology. The Chaotan One facility in Guizhou province began commercial operation late last year, using waste heat from a steel plant to generate electricity.
China National Nuclear Corporation, which developed the Chaotan One unit, is also pursuing a project combining molten salt energy storage with supercritical sCO2 generation, with the facility targeted for completion by 2028.
The development also comes as interest in sCO2 extends beyond its established industrial applications. As explored earlier this year, the technology is being considered across a widening range of sectors, with its ability to operate as a controllable, closed-loop working fluid opening up applications beyond traditional extraction processes.
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