As China's primary energy source, coal has underpinned national economic development for decades. The industry is now advancing toward clean energy transformation," stated Ling Wen, Vice Governor of Shandong Province, at the 2019 National Summer Coal Trade Fair on July 23.
The definition of clean energy should be based solely on emissions, not origin. To ensure national energy security and stable supply, we must fully leverage coal's strengths—abundant reserves, cost-effectiveness, clean utilization potential, and high supply reliability—while developing new and renewable energies. This requires comprehensive advancement of clean, efficient, low-carbon, and intensive coal utilization.
It is an indisputable fact that coal's resource reliability, cost competitiveness, and clean utilization potential will sustain its irreplaceable role as China's primary energy source for the foreseeable future."
Coal clean and efficient utilization has been advocated in China for years, receiving strong policy support and being listed as a "National Major Project toward 2030". To achieve energy revolution, we must both increase the proportion of clean energy and advance coal clean and efficient utilization.
At the 2019 National Summer Coal Trade Fair on July 23, Zhao Chenxi, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and Director of the Economic Operations Regulation Bureau, stated:
"Five years ago, President Xi Jinping accurately grasped global energy trends and creatively proposed the new energy security strategy of 'Four Revolutions and One Cooperation'—emphasizing energy consumption revolution, supply revolution, technology revolution, institutional revolution, and international cooperation. This provides fundamental guidance for China's energy transition. China's resource endowment dictates coal as our primary energy, and it will remain so for a considerable period."
The coal industry must prioritize meeting the people's aspirations for a better life as its fundamental mission. We will thoroughly implement the new development philosophy and adhere to the overarching requirements of building a safe, efficient, clean, and low-carbon energy system for the new era. This demands forging an innovative path of higher quality, greater efficiency, and more sustainability; a safety-first path where human life always comes first; an eco-conscious path featuring clean development, production, transport and utilization; and an energy-saving path dedicated to emissions reduction and conservation," concluded Zhao Chenxi.
In 2015, the State Council vigorously promoted ultra-low emissions in coal-fired power plants. Regarding coal's clean and efficient utilization, China has completed ultra-low emission retrofits for over 810 million kilowatts of coal power units, accounting for more than 80% of the total coal power capacity. The flue gas pollutant emissions are lower than those of gas-fired units, while the cost of achieving ultra-low emissions in coal power is significantly lower than that of gas power generation," stated Zhang Hong, Party Committee Member, Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, and Deputy Secretary-General of the China National Coal Association."China's ultra-low emission coal power units have grown from scratch, achieving pollutant control even with high-ash coal, high-sulfur coal, and under large coal quality fluctuations. This represents a critical breakthrough in China's clean coal utilization strategy.
Multiple Chinese academicians assert: Coal achieving clean and efficient utilization qualifies as clean energy! Clean coal technologies enable the extraction of sulfur, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants prior to combustion. When processed coal is burned in advanced clean furnaces, harmful emissions can be drastically reduced."The metamorphosis of 'black coal' into a 'white swan' has commenced — unleashing the full potential of this 'black gold'.
