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China Energy/Power Technology, Strategic Layout of Resources: News & Discussions

China completes construction of first Hualong One nuclear project
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-25 23:50:52|Editor: MJ
I was a elated to see your post, thinking the Hualong One nuclear plant is finished. They should have something like in shipbuilding where you have the launching, installation and the trial stages before commissioning.
 
Virtual Power Plant
May 26, 2017 By China Daily Editor: Penny Huang

The first set of "Source-Grid-Load Smart Grid", built to distribute clean energy on a large scale, has been put into operation in Jiangsu province.

This virtual power plant, the largest in China, uses intelligent technology to coordinate the plants' power generation as well as the users' power consumption, in order to achieve a dynamic equilibrium.

According to experts, by using the "Internet Plus Grid" technology, the smart grid system can help connect a huge number of scattered power supply channels and equipment to the system.

And all those equipment can be controlled separately, in order to deal with emergencies such as a natural disaster, excessive demand for power, a sudden collapse of the power grid or to simply save energy.

The system will also allow the supply of power to specific areas, even a building, to be controlled in such a way that, for example, only lights can be used, not air conditioners, which is a smart way of saving energy.

The system is also environmentally friendly. About 1,370 enterprises are already using this system, which will be promoted nationwide soon.

A nationwide smart grid system could be ready by 2020 with a capacity of more than 100 million kilowatts-equal to 100 million-kilowatts-class coal-fired units-which can reduce sulfur dioxide emission by 97,000 metric tons and carbon dioxide emission by 35 million tons.
 
China to set up combustible ice bases for industrial development
Source: Xinhua| 2017-06-02 19:15:48|Editor: Xiang Bo



BEIJING, June 2 (Xinhua) -- China will set up two to four large combustible ice bases for industrial development, the Ministry of Land and Resources (MOLR) said Friday.

The government will also formulate regulation and other industrial procedures, according to Li Jinfa, deputy director of the China Geological Survey under the MOLR.

China is estimated to have 80 billion tonnes of oil equivalent combustible ice, according to Li.

Yu Haifeng, a senior official with the MOLR, suggested setting combustible ice as a new mineral species and including its development in the category of emerging strategic sectors to encourage enterprises exploit the resource.

Combustible ice usually exists in seabed or tundra areas, which have the high pressure and low temperature necessary for its stability. It is flammable like solid ethanol.

China announced its success on May 18 in collecting samples of combustible ice in the South China Sea after nearly two decades of research and exploration, a major breakthrough that may lead to a global energy revolution.
 
Kazakhstan to export up to 5 Bcm/year of natural gas to China as of 2017
Moscow (Platts)--7 Jun 2017 942 am EDT/1342 GMT

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Kazakhstan is to debut gas exports to China under a memorandum of understanding signed Wednesday between KazMunaiGaz and CNPC, with up to 5 Bcm/year set to be moved to China from Kazakhstan in 2017-2018, national gas transportation operator KazTransGaz said in a statement.

The MoU follows up on a previous plan to start supplies this year, with a 45% expansion of the Kazakhstan-China pipeline to 55 Bcm/year earmarked for completion in 2017.

"The sides discussed the possibility of natural gas supplies from Kazakhstan to China in 2017-2018, and agreed to sign the sales and purchase agreement on Kazakh gas exports in the volume of up to 5 Bcm [per year]," KazTransGaz said.​

Kazakhstan currently exports no gas of its own to China, the country's energy ministry said.
China will receive gas at Khorgos on the border between the two countries, according to the MoU, which also defines the volumes, price and quality of the product, the company said, without providing further details.

"The diversification of transit and export routes of Kazakh gas, as well as increasing export volumes of blue fuel are important strategic tasks that were set by the head of state," Kairat Shripbayev, chairman of KazTransGaz's board of directors, said in the statement.​

Gas exports are expected to further firm cooperation between the neighbors, which already cooperate in the upstream oil and gas sector, along with services and oil and gas transportation in Kazakhstan, according to the statement.

"Supplies of Kazakh gas to China will help bilateral mutually beneficial relations, as well as joint promotion of cooperation relations as part of the 'One belt, one road' initiative, aimed at creating infrastructure and firming trade and transport ties between Eurasian countries," the company said.​

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The construction of compressor stations on the third line of the pipeline intended for gas transportation to China foresees 20 Bcm/year transit volumes of Turkmen and Uzbek gas, in addition to Kazakh volumes, according to KazMunaiGaz, which controls KazTransGaz and 95% of the country's gas transportation.

Volumes from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are transported through the Central Asia-China gas pipeline network that links with CNPC's Second West-East Pipeline in western Xinjiang province at the border with Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan's gas production is expected to rise by 3.2% on the year to 48.1 Bcm this year, mainly from the Kashagan, Karachaganak and Tengiz fields, the country's energy minister Kanat Bozumbayev estimated earlier this year.

Kazakhstan's joint project with China to expand the capacity of the Beney-Bozoy-Shymket pipeline, running from the west to southeast Kazakhstan, to 10 Bcm this year "will allow to start exports of [Kazakh] gas to China," he said, adding, however, that Kazakh gas will face strong competition from Turkmen, Uzbek and Russian future gas supplies under long-term contracts with China.

Besides, Kazakhstan prioritizes domestic supplies as it expects further natural depletion at its key fields by 2025, according to the energy ministry.

Kazakhstan also needs gas for reinjection to maintain rock pressure for crude oil production.


https://www.platts.com/latest-news/...to-export-up-to-5-bcmyear-of-natural-26749259
 
China’s clean power waste continues to drop
By Chen Lidan (People's Daily Online) 16:55, June 07, 2017

FOREIGN201706071700000463496911320.jpg


The curtailment rates of both wind and solar power continue to drop this year, a result of enhanced efforts to increase the efficient use of renewable power, according to the largest utility company in China.

In recent years, China has been investing more than any other country in wind and solar power, but the mismatch between power generation and utilization has proven problematic for China. The northwest and northeast of China, home to the most wind turbines and solar farms, are the areas most prone to curtailment.

China’s wind installations reached 23,328 MW in 2016, lower than last year. This is partly because the nation’s power grid was unable to handle the volume of new wind capacity, the Global Wind Energy Council pointed out in its annual market report, released in February.

That problem has eased some this year, according to several international clean energy organizations. State Grid cites curtailment rates of wind and solar power being cut by 7.2 percent and 5.3 percent to 16.5 percent and 9.2 percent respectively in the first four months of 2017. From beginning of this year, the company has taken action to guarantee renewable power feed-in, said Zhang Zhengling, deputy director of State Grid's Development Department.

Wind- and solar-generated electricity is given a higher priority than the more dominant coal power in terms of both generation and transmission. A tentative cross-province market has also been established for the trade of unused power, Zhang elaborated.

More work is still necessary to reduce the waste of green power, including investing less in coal-fired power and more in ultra-high-voltage transmission lines and grid integration updates. If these measures are implemented, the level of curtailment will likely be 5 percent by 2020, according to State Grid.
 
China’s clean power waste continues to drop
By Chen Lidan (People's Daily Online) 16:55, June 07, 2017

FOREIGN201706071700000463496911320.jpg


The curtailment rates of both wind and solar power continue to drop this year, a result of enhanced efforts to increase the efficient use of renewable power, according to the largest utility company in China.

In recent years, China has been investing more than any other country in wind and solar power, but the mismatch between power generation and utilization has proven problematic for China. The northwest and northeast of China, home to the most wind turbines and solar farms, are the areas most prone to curtailment.

China’s wind installations reached 23,328 MW in 2016, lower than last year. This is partly because the nation’s power grid was unable to handle the volume of new wind capacity, the Global Wind Energy Council pointed out in its annual market report, released in February.

That problem has eased some this year, according to several international clean energy organizations. State Grid cites curtailment rates of wind and solar power being cut by 7.2 percent and 5.3 percent to 16.5 percent and 9.2 percent respectively in the first four months of 2017. From beginning of this year, the company has taken action to guarantee renewable power feed-in, said Zhang Zhengling, deputy director of State Grid's Development Department.

Wind- and solar-generated electricity is given a higher priority than the more dominant coal power in terms of both generation and transmission. A tentative cross-province market has also been established for the trade of unused power, Zhang elaborated.

More work is still necessary to reduce the waste of green power, including investing less in coal-fired power and more in ultra-high-voltage transmission lines and grid integration updates. If these measures are implemented, the level of curtailment will likely be 5 percent by 2020, according to State Grid.

The good news just keeps coming

我国核燃料研究获突破 铀利用率从1%提高到95%

2017-06-09

2016年底,中科院发布一项“太过先进,无法展示”的核技术,近日,这项技术取得新突破。:enjoy:

中国科学网6月8日消息,2017年6月5日至7日,全球首台25MeV质子直线加速器通过测试,标志着我国先进核裂变技术获得突破。该技术“可将铀资源利用率由不到1%提高到超过95%,有望使核裂变能从目前的百年变为近万年可持续、安全、清洁的战略能源。”

目前核电站产生的乏燃料含铀量在95%左右,使用该技术处理后,核废料量不到乏燃料的4%,放射寿命由数十万年缩短到约500年。

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2016年12月,中核集团微博发布一项“无法展示”的核技术

另据中新网报道,中国科学院8日在北京举行新闻发布会,中科院战略性A类先导科技专项“未来先进核裂变能—ADS嬗变系统”的专项负责人介绍了相关进展。

中国科学院近代物理研究所副所长徐瑚珊介绍,ADS中文名为“加速器驱动次临界系统”,即利用加速器产生的高能离子轰击散裂靶,再产生高通量、硬能谱的中子,驱动次临界堆芯运行,达到乏燃料嬗变的目的。

徐瑚珊说,2011年中科院启动了战略性先导科技专项(A类)“未来先进核裂变能-ADS(加速器驱动次临界系统)嬗变系统”,经过6年多的不懈努力和奋力攻关,该专项从零开始,突破了一些关键核心技术并部分引领国际发展。在认识到传统的ADS方案在经济性上缺乏竞争力且技术挑战巨大之后,该专项原创地提出了“加速器驱动先进核能系统”全新概念,并已通过大规模并行计算模拟研究证明了其原理上的可行性,完成了一系列实验室模拟原理验证实验并取得了突破性进展。

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中科院近代物理研究所ADS团队(中国科学网图)

ADS概念始于20世纪90年代初,目前尚未有建成的装置。欧、美、日等国的ADS系统研发正在从关键技术攻关转入系统集成建设,中国科学家在这场“竞争”中也有独创成果。

“ADS系统主要组成就是加速器、散裂靶和次临界反应堆。”徐瑚珊说,本月初,研究团队建成国际上第一台ADS超导质子直线加速器前端示范样机,通过了中科院组织的25MeV(兆电子伏特)达标测试。他们还原创性提出颗粒流散裂靶的概念并建成原理样机。此外,研制的国际首台ADS研究专用铅基临界/次临界双模式运行零功率装置通过了中科院组织的临界达标测试,进入实验运行。

中国科学家不满足于此,他们在攻关ADS的同时原创性地提出全新的核能系统概念ADANES(加速器驱动先进核能系统)。后者除了拥有比ADS更先进的燃烧系统,还新增了“加速器驱动乏燃料再生循环系统”。

“由乏燃料‘分离—嬗变’策略的‘精耕细作’,改为‘吃粗粮且吃干榨净’。”徐瑚珊解释说,ADANES一旦实现,将把铀资源利用率由当前的不到1%提高到超过95%,处理后核废料量不到乏燃料的4%。

专家说,2016年至2023年是ADANES原理验证、系统集成及规模验证阶段,力争到2030年时建成百兆瓦级工程示范项目。

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这项技术的突破,将使我国万吨乏燃料变废为宝

还发布了2项A类先导科技专项成果

另据新华社6月8日消息,除“未来先进核裂变能”外,当日的发布会上还发布另外两个A类先导专项,分别是“面向感知中国的新一代信息技术研究”和“低阶煤清洁高效梯级利用关键技术与示范”。

新一代信息技术研究方面,依托信息技术先导专项成果研制的“‘寒武纪1A’深度神经元网络处理器”和“工业4.0互联网制造解决方案”,2016年被世界互联网大会选入世界互联网15大领先科技成果。中科院信息工程研究所所长孟丹说,专项研究提出了“海—网—云协同”的创新理念,突破了专用计算芯片、深度可编程网络等一批关键技术。

低阶煤利用先导专项提出低阶煤清洁高效梯级利用的整体解决方案。该专项在我国“煤变油”技术已批量投产的基础上,致力于解决褐煤、烟煤等大量低阶煤资源难以有效利用的问题,提出低阶煤分级液化的煤制油新工艺。据中新社今年5月报道,这项技术已完成年处理褐煤1万吨的工业中试装置的试验运行,正在新疆规划和设计百万吨级的商业装置。中科院山西煤炭化学研究所所长王建国说,专项突破了10项以上关键示范技术,形成适合我国资源特征的高能效、低污染、低排放和高值化的低阶煤综合利用技术体系。

先导专项是中科院发挥建制化优势,组织优势力量共同实施的跨学科、跨领域的重大科技任务。先导专项分为A、B两类,其中,A类先导专项侧重于突破战略高技术、重大公益性关键核心科技问题,促进技术变革和新兴产业的形成发展,服务我国经济社会可持续发展。

中科院重大科技任务局局长王越超介绍,通过先导专项的实施,取得了一批在国内外有重要影响的重大原创成果,如空间科学专项成功发射暗物质卫星“悟空”、量子卫星“墨子号”,干细胞与再生医学研究专项在“体外”获得功能性精子、脊髓损伤修复等方面取得一系列重大突破,南海环境变化专项为南海可持续开发利用提供强有力的科技支撑等。

http://www.guancha.cn/Industry/2017_06_09_412410.shtml

@Bussard Ramjet
 
研制世界最先进特高压柔直核心部件 中国从落后到超越

2017-06-09 08:08:41

关键字:特高压柔性直流/换流阀/柔直换流阀/南方电网

长期以来,特高压直流输电和柔性直流输电的核心技术及其相应的试验方法,都掌握在极少数跨国公司手中,核心装备国产化水平较低。这对我国电网建设的经济性、安全性和可持续发展都产生了极大阻碍。

日前,南方电网公司成功研制出世界首个特高压柔性直流换流阀。这一特高压柔性直流换流阀的成功研制,意味着南方电网在国际上首次将柔性直流技术推广到±800千伏特高压等级,送电容量提升至500万千瓦,为柔性直流技术在±800千伏乌东德送电广东直流工程以及后续特高压直流输电工程的实施提供坚实保障。

该项目实现了开关器件、电容部件集成的功率模块单元,并以“搭积木”的方式构建成800千伏大型阀塔,高15米、长9米、宽7米,重量约70吨,相当于一架C919大型客机的重量。

换流阀是柔性直流输电的心脏,是直流电和交流电相互转换的桥梁,在柔性直流主设备中技术含量最高、挑战最大。

过去,我国在高压/特高压直流装备核心技术研发方面尚存在较大差距。换流阀方面一直没有充分掌握核心技术,未能摆脱对跨国公司的依赖。到2008年底,世界上只有ABB和西门子2家公司具有直流换流阀的全部型式试验能力,阿尔斯通公司只具有部分型式试验能力。关于换流阀试验方法及其成套试验装置的核心技术,各公司均对外严格保密。

如今,南方电网在换流阀等核心技术上不断取得的成果,将为乌东德直流工程带去72个这样的大型阀塔。乌东德直流工程是特高压多端直流示范工程,工程送电距离约1500公里,拟建设一回±800千伏、800万千瓦特高压直流输电工程,输送容量按云南送端800万千瓦、广东受端500万千瓦、广西受端300万千瓦考虑,计划2019年底部分投产、具备送电能力,2020年6月底前具备双极送电能力。

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图为±320千伏/100万千瓦厦门柔性直流输电换流阀塔,刷新多项世界柔性直流输电的历史记录。特高压换流阀作为特高压直流输电的核心装备,是交直流电能转换的核心单元。

什么是柔性直流技术,为什么要在特高压输电中采用柔性直流技术呢?

特高压直流输电具有输送距离远、输送容量大、损耗低、占地省的特点,特别是对于远距离大容量的电力输送,具有显著的技术经济优势。

2009年12月,世界首个±800 kV特高压直流输电工程云南—广东特高压直流输电工程在南方电网投产,输送容量500万kW,送电距离约1373km,充分发挥了特高压直流远距离大容量输电优势。

虽然特高压直流输电有利于提高“西电东送”输电效率,降低输电损耗,节约输电走廊资源,但也给电网安全稳定运行带来风险和难题。

2010年“8.19”事故时,南方电网经受了第一次特高压直流输电大功率闭锁的考验。因云广特高压直流线路遭受雷击,直流行波保护动作、直流测量系统受干扰出现异常等造成双极相继闭锁,损失直流功率3750 MW。

采用柔性直流技术,可以进一步增强对电网风险可控性。传统高压直流输电依赖于交流电网实现换相,稳定运行需要交流系统有足够的短路容量,近区交流系统故障会发生换相失败,故障后恢复需要电网有足够的动态无功支持,这些矛盾因素,是多直流集中馈入受端电网电压稳定问题的主要原因之一。

如果将电流比作河流,柔性直流输电技术就像在川流不息的江河上建造一个水库,既能接收上游河道的来水,又可以很从容地控制下游水的流量。

传统输电会因跳闸故障导致电力不能输出,而柔性直流输电在启动时不需本地电源支撑,遇电网故障时,具有良好的快速恢复控制能力;当全网失电时,还可以作为系统恢复电源。因此,它技术的设计容量可以从几千千瓦到几十万千瓦,可以向无源网络供电,尤其适用于偏远城镇、村庄、孤岛或海上钻井平台等地域。

未来电网中,柔性直流技术应用于远距离输电或电网背靠背联网,对于交流故障时低电压过渡能力大大增强,可以给近区电网提供动态无功支持,可降低未来复杂大电网的运行风险。南方电网已经在云南电网与南网主网异步联网项目中采用了±350 kV、1000 MW的柔性直流背靠背换流站。此外,大容量直流输电系统中采用逆变侧为柔性直流技术,还可以降低工程造价。

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柔性直流输电还是目前国际上公认的最具技术优势的风电接入方式,适用于任何形式的风电场并网。尤其是对于百兆瓦以上的远距离海上风电场来说,采用柔性直流输电方式进行风电并网,通常是唯一的技术手段。电源不稳定,向来是风电技术的瓶颈所在,柔性直流输电技术系统好比一扇闸门,不仅能将风电平缓地接入电网,系统还具备“自我感应”功能,引入电源时,“闸门”开启的幅度可随风力强弱而相应收放。

与传统输电方式相比,除了控制性能有极大的提高外,柔性直流输电一般采用地下或海底电缆,对周围环境影响甚微,占地面积仅为同等容量下传统直流电站的20%。

世界上第一条柔性直流输电工程由ABB公司于1997年投运,我国在柔性直流输电技术研究方面的起步相对较晚,我国第一条拥有完全自主知识产权的柔性直流输电线路,是2011年7月正式投入运行的上海南汇风电场柔性直流输电工程,使国家电网公司也成为继ABB、西门子之后全球第三个掌握该项技术的公司,这也是亚洲首个20 MVA/+30 kV柔性直流输电示范工程。

如今,在特高压柔直的许多关键技术上,中国已经完成了从落后到超越。

http://www.guancha.cn/kegongliliang/2017_06_09_412400.shtml

@Bussard Ramjet :lol::lol:
 
China's exploration of flammable ice going smoothly: geological bureau

2017-06-11 09:12

Xinhua Editor: Gu Liping

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Photo taken on May 16, 2017 shows the flames spouting from the trial mining site in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

China has explored about 210,000 cubic meters of the combustible ice in the South China Sea and the tests are proceeding smoothly, a local geological bureau said on Saturday.

A month has passed since the test on the extraction of combustible ice started in waters near the Pearl River estuary, said Guangzhou Marine Geological Bureau.

By Saturday afternoon, its daily production is 6,800 cubic meters, the bureau said.

"The process of gas production is smooth, and we are laying foundation for the next step," the statement said.

Combustible ice usually exists in seabed or tundra areas, which have the strong pressure and low temperature necessary for its stability. It can be ignited like solid ethanol, which is why it is called "combustible ice."

One cubic meter of "combustible ice", a kind of natural gas hydrate, is equal to 164 cubic meters of regular natural gas.

Ye Jianliang, head of the bureau, said strict measures have been taken to protect the environment.

"We are monitoring the air, sea water, seabed and the exploration equipment. We also closely follow the amount of methane and carbon dioxide," he said, adding that no pollution to the environment or geological hazards had happened so far.

http://www.ecns.cn/2017/06-11/261007.shtml
 
China achieves major milestone in mining of combustible ice
chinadaily.com.cn | 2017-06-14 08:20


The mining of combustible ice, a natural gas hydrate, is underway in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea on June 9, 2017. The yield of combustible ice reached 210,000 cubic meters as of June 10, the 31st day of the successful trial extraction of natural gas hydrate. [Photo/VCG]


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Photo taken on June 9, 2017, shows spraying of water at the trial mining site in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea. China has succeeded in collecting samples of combustible ice in the South China Sea, a major breakthrough that may lead to a global energy revolution, Minister of Land and Resources Jiang Daming said on May 18, 2017. [Photo/VCG]



Photo taken on June 9, 2017, shows combustible ice. The success marks a historic breakthrough after nearly 20 years of continuous efforts and independent innovations by China in theory, technology, engineering and equipment for natural gas hydrate exploration and exploitation. [Photo/VCG]



The mining of combustible ice, a natural gas hydrate, is underway in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea on June 9, 2017. China's reserves of combustible ice are estimated at 80 billion metric tons of oil equivalent, which suggests massive resource potential. [Photo/VCG]



Photo taken on June 9, 2017, shows workers on the trial mining site in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea. [Photo/VCG]
 
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1. Unit 4 of the Fuqing nuclear power plant in China’s Fujian province has begun fuel loading. The unit is expected to start up later this year.

CNNC’s Fuqing plant will eventually house six Chinese-designed pressurized water reactors, the first four being 1087 MWe CPR-1000 units. Units 1 to 3 entered commercial operation in November 2014, October 2015 and October 2016, respectively. Unit 4 is scheduled to start up later this year.

China’s State Council gave final approval for construction of Fuqing units 5 and 6 in mid-April. First concrete was poured for the fifth unit in May 2015, while that for unit 6 was poured in December. These will be demonstration indigenously-designed Hualong One reactors.

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2. A court in Japan has dismissed a request for an injunction against the restart of units 3 and 4 of Kyushu Electric Power Company’s Genkai nuclear power plant in Saga Prefecture. The court sided with the utility in deciding the units are safe to operate. Genkai 3 and 4 are expected to resume operation later this year, once the Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority has completed remaining safety inspections. Of Japan’s 42 operable reactors, five have so far cleared inspections confirming they meet the new regulatory safety standards and have resumed operation. These are: Kyushu’s Sendai units 1 and 2; Shikoku’s Ikata unit 3; and, Kansai’s Takahama units 3 and 4. Another 19 reactors have applied to restart.

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2017/...ourt-clear-two-more-reactors-for-restart.html
 
China leads the pack
By Zheng Xin | China Daily | Updated: 2017-06-19 06:33


A platform is used to collect combustible ice in the South China Sea recently. GUO JUNFENG/CHINA DAILY

Editor's note: In the run-up to the 19th Communist Party of China National Congress, China Daily will cover a series of key projects of national importance, showcasing the country's huge improvement and relentless efforts in manufacturing upgrade and innovation.

Though still 15 years from commercial use, so-called combustible ice and its successful mining in China is seen as a breakthrough toward a global energy revolution.

Chinese researchers have explored some 210,000 cubic meters of combustible ice trapped in frozen crystals in the South China Sea in the 30 days since a test drilling and production operation in early May. Daily production reached 6,800 cu m.

It will be another energy revolution, led by China following the US shale revolution, reshaping the global energy mix, said Li Jinfa, deputy director of China Geological Survey, which is under the Ministry of Land and Resources.

Reserves of gas hydrate, as combustible ice or flammable ice is known, in the South China Sea are estimated at 80 billion metric tons of oil equivalent, he added.

The ministry said it would formulate policies to encourage participation in the exploration of various types of combustible ice, while aspects including exploration block delineation, granting of licenses for mining, mining registration and development will be given priority to pave a path for commercialization of the frozen fuel.

According to a report on China's energy and mineral geology survey in 2016, China's gas hydrate could last the country for 100 years and could well be China's next big opportunity in energy.

China's choice of vigorous expansion of flammable ice mining at the moment is due to its urgency to replace conventional energy to optimize the energy structure and relieve problems caused by energy shortages, analysts said.

The nation now relies heavily on crude imports. Successfully mining flammable ice will substantially boost its energy security while lifting the country's clean energy production technologies to a new level, said Lu Hailong, a professor at the Institute of Ocean Research at Peking University.

Han Wenke, director of the Energy Research Institute at the National Development and Reform Commission, said environmental concerns had been pushing China to further upgrade its energy mix. Right now, China has a relatively high proportion of coal, which creates heavy pollution.

According to the International Energy Agency, China has been increasingly relying on imported oil as demand increases, and it is estimated that China's reliance on oil imports in 2020 could be even greater than the government's plan suggests.

All these are pushing China toward a cleaner fuel alternative.


A researcher shows off combustible ice in a laboratory in Zhuhai, Guangdong province. GUO JUNFENG/CHINA DAILY

Leader on global stage

China is not the first country to try mining flammable ice. Japan made headway in 2013 and again last month, while the U.S. government also been conducting research into the clean fuel for years.

However, no progress has been made mostly because of technological barriers.

The successful mining of gas hydrate has absolutely made China into a forerunner in the clean energy mining field, Han said, even though it has trailed behind international peers in the exploration of oil, gas, shale gas and coal mining. The lack of technology or experience to borrow or learn from makes China's success of even greater value, Han said.

The gas hydrate, which usually is located frozen deep in the Earth, requires advanced technologies and a comprehensive national strength, he said.

Once China comes up with a steady output of hydrate gas in the future, international cooperation would be needed, as much of the gas hydrate is frozen deep beneath international seas, he said.

According to Qiu Haijun, director of the trial mining headquarters, many countries along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road have a demand for flammable ice mining.

With advanced technology, Qiu said, the gas hydrate could help resolve the problem of energy resources and boost economic development and exchanges between countries.

Deep-sea capabilities

The test drilling and production operation conducted by China International Marine Containers Group and China National Petroleum Corp created a solid foundation for commercial use of the resource before 2030 and the test-drilling will help facilitate China's deep-sea exploration capability, said Li, of the China Geological Survey.

According to Jin Qinghuan, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering, China will complete the initial preparatory work for commercial production by 2020, including mining technologies and evaluation of seabed natural gas hydrate. By 2030, China will carry out commercial production.

Blue Whale 1, the ultra-deep-water semisubmersible drilling rig built by the nation's largest semisubmersible platform manufacturer, China Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Ltd, conducted the tests in the South China Sea.

Mai Boliang, president of CIMC, said Blue Whale 1 is the world's most advanced ocean drilling platform design and it was important practice for CIMC to further enhance China's high-end energy exploration equipment.

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One step in long journey


Han, the Energy Research Institute's director, told China Daily that the success after 20 years of research and exploration is only a small step in a very long journey.

The potential risks for the environment and technological barriers soften all the optimistic outlooks, he said.

According to Han, collection so far is more of strategic concern with vast uncertainties, and whether the frozen fuel will replace regular oil and natural gas remains to be seen.

Gas hydrate also will face competition from other cleaner alternative fuels, including photovoltaic and wind power. And just like the early days of shale exploration in the United States, successful exploration depends on advanced technologies, reduced costs and environmental risks, he said.

The next step is more of research and trial exploration. Commercial production is unlikely in the next three years, considering storage and transportation costs, potential environmental concerns, the risk of marine pollution and technological barriers.

Being a strong contender to replace regular oil and natural gas, gas hydrate-like any fossil fuel-also raises significant environmental concerns.

According to the US Geological Survey, resources of flammable ice are located at sea bottom, making the collection challenging.

Li said an accident while exploring would lead to a massive leakage of methane gas and intensify the greenhouse effect.

Ye Jianliang, who heads the gas hydrate production field, said strict measures have been taken to protect the environment.

"We are monitoring the air, seawater, seabed and the exploration equipment. We also closely follow the amount of methane and carbon dioxide," he said.

"No pollution to the environment or geological hazards had happened so far."

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-06/19/content_29791676_3.htm
 
China's largest power project in Russia put into operation
Source: Xinhua| 2017-06-21 00:31:13

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(L to R) Minister counselor of the economic and commercial office of Chinese embassy in Russia Li Jingyuan, General manager of the China Huadian Corporation Wen Shugang, acting governor of the Yaroslavl Province Dmitry Mironov and Russian Deputy Energy Minister Kirill Molodtsov attend the operating ceremony of a heat and power plant in Yaroslavl Province, Russia, on June 20, 2017. (Xinhua/Evgeny Sinitsyn)

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Guests view the sand table model of a heat and power plant in Yaroslavl Province, Russia, on June 20, 2017.(Xinhua/Evgeny Sinitsyn)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-06/21/c_136381538_2.htm
_________________________________________________________________________

China's largest power project launched in Russia
IANS | Moscow
June 21, 2017 | 10:05 AM


A 483-MW gas-steam combined heat and power (CHP) plant built by a China-Russia joint venture has been officially brought online, China's Huadian Corporation announced here.

The CHP is the tangible result of the Huadian-Teninskaya joint project, which was launched by China Huadian Hong Kong Co. Ltd. and Russia's second regional power company TGC-2 in 2011, with a total investment of $571 million, Xinhua news agency reported on 20 June.

As China's largest electricity project in Russia, the project was designed to generate 3.02 billion KWH of electric energy and 814,000 Giga of heating supply annually.

"The completion of the Huadian-Teninskaya project is of great significance to the Yaroslavl Province. It will improve the living quality of local citizens," acting governor of the Yaroslavl Province Dmitry Mironov said during the operating ceremony held on the project site.​

Listed as a priority project in 2014 by Yaroslavl authorities, the new CHP plant is expected to tackle the province's chronic problem of power shortages. According to TGC staff, the project will bring down Yaroslavl's power deficit from 40-50 per cent to 5-15 per cent and fully cover its total power demand in warmer months.

The project is widely seen as a symbol of further deepening of cooperation between China and Russia in the field of electric power.

According to General manager of the China Huadian Corporation Wen Shugang, China Huadian Corporation will devote more efforts in exploring global energy markets in the future, including Russia.

Russian Deputy Energy Minister Kirill Molodtsov said on the ceremony that the Russian government welcomes the entrance of Chinese companies including Huadian into its local markets.

http://www.thestatesman.com/busines...er-project-launched-in-russia-1498019716.html
 
China's major ultra-high voltage transmission line in smooth operation
Source: Xinhua| 2017-06-24 13:27:16|Editor: Liangyu



BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A west-to-east ultra-high voltage direct current (UHV DC) power transmission project is running smoothly in China, having transmitted over 100 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity.

The clean power has been carried from Xiluodu Hydropower Station in southwest China to east China's Zhejiang Province, the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) said Friday.

The 1,680-kilometer line started operations in 2014. During the peak summer season, it contributed up to 17 percent of Zhejiang's power, saving more than 30 million tonnes of coal and helping reduce about 85 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

China has worked hard to develop UHV DC power transmission and other clean energy technologies.

There are about 30,000 kilometers of UHV DC power transmission lines under construction and in operation, the SGCC said.

UHV is defined as voltage of 1,000 kilovolts or above in alternating current and 800 kilovolts or above in direct current. It can deliver large quantities of power over long distances with less power loss than the more commonly used 500-kilovolt lines.

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China's longest UHV power transmission line enters operation
By Wang Xueying
2017-06-24 18:23 GMT+8

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An ultra-high voltage direct current (UHVDC) power transmission line has officially entered operation in China, announced the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) on Friday. It marks the longest UHVDC power transmission line for green energy currently in operation in China.

Energy will be carried from Jiuquan City in northwestern Gansu Province to Xiangtan City in central Hunan Province, and is expected to alleviate power supply shortages in five provincial level regions, including central Hubei Province, southwestern Chongqing Municipality and northwest China's Shanxi Province, said the SGCC.

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Ultra-high-voltage (UHV) electricity transmission has been used in China since 2009. /VCG Photo‍

Construction of the 2,383 kilometer-long line was approved by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in 2015. In one of China’s west-east electricity transfer projects, China invested 2.62 billion yuan (383.3 million US dollars) in its construction.

According to the SGCC, the project is capable of transmitting 13 million kWh electricity per second. The line is expected to meet up to 25 percent of Hunan Province’s energy needs, saving more than 18 million tons of coal and reducing carbon emissions by about 29.6 million tons, as well as 88,000 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions.

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The project was designed and constructed by China. /VCG Photo

The SGCC said that the project will promote the development of the clean energy industry in China, as well as improve the air quality in western China.

In fact, the decision to use UHV transmission is based on the fact that China’s major energy resources are in the west and northwest, but huge consumption demands are in the east and south. Compared with a traditional power grid, UHV transmission, especially UHVDC transmission, could largely reduce transmission losses as well as pollution to a manageable level. As a more economical technology for long-distance power transmission, using UHVDC transmission in China is a logical step forward.

At present, there are about 30,000 kilometers of UHVDC power transmission lines under construction and in operation in China, said the SGCC.
 
China's longest UHV power transmission line enters operation
By Wang Xueying (CNTV) 14:48, June 25, 2017

An ultra-high voltage direct current (UHVDC) power transmission line has officially entered operation in China, announced the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) on Friday. It marks the longest UHVDC power transmission line for green energy currently in operation in China.

Energy will be carried from Jiuquan City in northwestern Gansu Province to Xiangtan City in central Hunan Province, and is expected to alleviate power supply shortages in five provincial level regions, including central Hubei Province, southwestern Chongqing Municipality and northwest China's Shanxi Province, said the SGCC.

Construction of the 2,383 kilometer-long line was approved by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in 2015. In one of China’s west-east electricity transfer projects, China invested 2.62 billion yuan (383.3 million US dollars) in its construction.

According to the SGCC, the project is capable of transmitting 13 million kWh electricity per second. The line is expected to meet up to 25 percent of Hunan Province’s energy needs, saving more than 18 million tons of coal and reducing carbon emissions by about 29.6 million tons, as well as 88,000 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions.

The SGCC said that the project will promote the development of the clean energy industry in China, as well as improve the air quality in western China.

In fact, the decision to use UHV transmission is based on the fact that China’s major energy resources are in the west and northwest, but huge consumption demands are in the east and south. Compared with a traditional power grid, UHV transmission, especially UHVDC transmission, could largely reduce transmission losses as well as pollution to a manageable level. As a more economical technology for long-distance power transmission, using UHVDC transmission in China is a logical step forward.

At present, there are about 30,000 kilometers of UHVDC power transmission lines under construction and in operation in China, said the SGCC.
 
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