Bundling wind, solar and thermal power for external transmission? The transformation from transmitting "coal-fired power" to transmitting "green power"

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Guided by the "dual carbon" goal, my country's traditional energy industry is accelerating its transformation and upgrading. Recently, the reporter visited the world's largest thermal power plant in operation, Datang Tuoketuo Power Plant (hereinafter referred to as "Tuoketuo Power Generation Company"), to explore its transformation from traditional "coal power" to "green power". Here, the "wind, solar, thermal, and storage" multi-energy complementary model is being launched, becoming a landmark window for my country's energy transformation.

“Wind and Solar” Help Start Green Transformation

Driven by the "dual carbon" goal, Tuoketuo Power Generation Company is actively exploring the construction of new power systems. According to Guo Liangliang, deputy director of the company's planning and development department, the company is gradually completing a tens of millions of kilowatts of "wind, solar, thermal, and storage" comprehensive energy demonstration base, including 1.7 million kilowatts of wind power, 300,000 kilowatts of photovoltaic power and 6.72 million kilowatts of thermal power, as well as a heating project with a heating capacity of 53 million square meters. The second phase of the 1.5 million kilowatt photovoltaic base is also about to be developed and constructed. Guo Liangliang said: "This model will enhance the stability and flexibility of the system, help achieve carbon reduction goals, and achieve a comprehensive energy pattern of 'electricity illuminates the capital, heat warms the capital, dynamic parks, and multi-industry collaboration'."

In Hohhot City, Linghe County and Qingshuihe County, the annual average wind speed can reach 3 to 5 meters per second, providing unique conditions for large-scale wind power development. Wang Rui, director of the engineering equipment department of the new energy business department of Tokto Power Generation Company, told reporters that the local wind and solar energy resources are rich, with annual utilization hours of up to 2,100 hours and 1,500 hours respectively, providing a solid foundation for the development of new energy. At present, the 2 million kilowatt wind and solar project in Tokto, western Inner Mongolia, has been put into full production at the end of September last year. During the construction process, the staff overcame complex terrain and transportation problems and completed multiple ultra-high and ultra-heavy lifting operations, promoting the transformation of traditional thermal power to multi-energy complementarity.

Technical breakthroughs enable bundled delivery of wind, solar and thermal power

The intermittent and volatile nature of renewable energy has brought challenges to the stability of the power grid. Zhang Tianbao, deputy director of the power generation department of Tuoketuo Power Generation Company, said: "After the new energy project is connected, the company will become the first large-scale 'wind, solar, fire and heat' integrated energy demonstration base in China, but this also brings the problem of system complexity and coupling instability." To this end, the scientific research team has successfully overcome the problem of multi-factor complex coupling broadband oscillation after tens of thousands of theoretical analyses, big data analyses, experimental tests and simulations, providing solid technical support for the "wind, solar and fire" bundled transmission project.

Zhang Tianbao introduced that the first phase of the 2 million kilowatt new energy project can generate more than 4.1 billion kilowatt-hours of "green electricity" each year, saving more than 1.43 million tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 3.5 million tons. Through the 220kV transmission line, this "green electricity" is collected to the existing 500kV booster station of Tuoketuo Power Generation Company and sent to the Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan power grid using the existing line, effectively increasing the proportion of "green electricity" in the Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan power grid.

New energy wind and solar power projects. Photo provided by the interviewee

Smart empowerment improves energy management efficiency

At the central intelligent control center of Tuoketuo Power Plant, the reporter saw staff members monitoring the coordinated operation of new energy and thermal power in real time. Zhang Lei, deputy director of the company's power generation department, said: "This center is equivalent to the 'brain' of the entire production system. It can quickly coordinate the operating status of thermal power units based on real-time data from photovoltaic and wind power to ensure the stability of the power load delivered." Zhang Lei said that the establishment of the intelligent control center has enabled thermal power to transform from a traditional base load power source to a peak load power source, becoming the "ballast stone" for the stable operation of the power grid.

Central intelligent control center. Photo provided by the interviewee

In addition, the application of intelligent and smart testing centers also provides support for the digital transformation of traditional thermal power. Liu Haitao, deputy director of the company's fuel quality inspection department, said: "Through robotic arms and sensors, we have achieved fully automated operation of coal sampling, sample preparation and testing, which can accurately grasp the quality of coal in advance and optimize boiler combustion efficiency." The construction of a smart coal yard has further improved the management level of the coal yard. Zhai Linbo, director of the thermal control department of the company's maintenance department 2, introduced: "The smart coal yard has achieved 'sandbox-style coal storage and order-based coal loading' through three-dimensional modeling and intelligent scheduling, which greatly improved the accuracy and efficiency of coal yard operations."

The green transformation of Tuoketuo Power Plant is a vivid practice of the traditional energy industry under the "dual carbon" goal. In the future, this power plant will continue to play a leading role in demonstration, help build a beautiful China with practical actions, and contribute to the sustainable development of global energy.

Review expert: Nie Shuoye, an expert in power generation research