Articles tagged with "China-energy-innovation"
Could ‘alien-looking’ giant airship over Chinese city transform wind farms?
The recently tested S2000 Stratosphere Airborne Wind Energy System (SAWES) is a giant helium-filled airship designed to harness high-altitude wind energy (HAWE) by operating tethered at altitudes between 500 and 3,000 meters, where winds are stronger and more consistent. Measuring 60 meters long and 40 meters wide, the S2000 features a unique design with a large egg-shaped fuselage inside a donut-shaped ring that houses 12 turbine blades arranged concentrically. This ducted setup compresses and directs wind flow to improve efficiency. During a recent test, the S2000 ascended to 2,000 meters and generated about 385 kWh over a few hours—enough to power six electric vehicle charges or supply an average Chinese household for a month. Its maximum claimed capacity is 3 megawatts, comparable to a medium-sized conventional wind turbine. The S2000’s visually striking, “alien spaceship” appearance has attracted
energywind-energyairborne-wind-turbinesustainable-powerhigh-altitude-wind-energyrenewable-energyChina-energy-innovationChina's auto giants join forces for solid-state EV battery project
China is accelerating its development of solid-state battery technology through a new pilot project based in Beijing, officially named the “All-Solid-State Electrolyte Pilot Production and Testing Validation Capability Construction Project.” Led by the Guolian Automotive Power Battery Research Institute, the initiative focuses on researching, testing, and validating solid-state electrolyte materials, which are crucial for the performance and safety of next-generation all-solid-state batteries. The pilot facility, located in Beijing’s Yanqi Economic Development Zone, will repurpose an existing industrial building for laboratory and pilot-scale production, aiming to produce around 25 tons of solid-state electrolyte materials annually. This project is designed as a research and validation platform to build China’s industrial expertise and supply chain for solid-state batteries, which remain several years away from full commercial deployment. The project is backed by a consortium of major Chinese automakers, battery suppliers, and state-owned enterprises, including Youyan Technology Group, FAW Group, Dongfeng Motor, BAIC Group, Changan Automobile,
energysolid-state-batteriesbattery-technologyelectric-vehiclesmaterials-scienceautomotive-power-systemsChina-energy-innovationWorld's largest liquid-air energy storage plant rises in China's Gobi Desert
China is set to begin operating the world’s largest liquid-air energy storage facility, known as the Super Air Power Bank, located in the Gobi Desert near Golmund, Qinghai province. This innovative plant uses a process that compresses and cools air to -194 degrees Celsius, turning it into liquid air. When released, the liquid air expands over 750 times in volume, driving turbines to generate electricity. The facility can deliver up to 600,000 kWh per discharge cycle for up to 10 hours, producing around 180 million kWh annually—enough to power approximately 30,000 homes. It is designed to store excess electricity generated from renewable sources like solar and wind, helping to stabilize the grid by addressing the intermittent nature of these energy types. The Super Air Power Bank was developed by China Green Development Investment Group in partnership with the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (TIPC-CAS). The plant boasts a cold storage efficiency of over
energyliquid-air-energy-storagerenewable-energyenergy-storage-technologycold-storage-efficiencyphotovoltaic-powerChina-energy-innovationChaotan One: World's 1st supercritical CO2 power unit starts in China
Chaotan One, the world’s first commercial power generator using supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) instead of steam, has commenced operations in China, marking a significant advancement in power generation technology. This innovation breaks from the century-old reliance on steam as the working medium in turbines, offering a major boost in efficiency. Unlike steam, which requires energy-intensive boiling and phase changes, sCO2 operates above its critical temperature and pressure, combining gas-like and liquid-like properties that enable more efficient turbine operation with less energy loss. Located in a steel factory in Liupanshui, Guizhou Province, Chaotan One consists of two 15-megawatt units that convert residual heat from steel production into electricity. The system is expected to increase net electricity generation by 50% and improve overall power generation efficiency to over 85%, while also featuring a simpler design with fewer components compared to traditional steam-cycle plants. This successful deployment demonstrates the feasibility of sCO2 as a working fluid and suggests
energysupercritical-CO2power-generationefficiencythermal-energyclean-energyChina-energy-innovationChina debuts world-first generator to boost steel plant heat recovery
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has successfully connected the world’s first commercial supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) power generator to the grid at a steel production plant in Guizhou province. This 15 MW system uses CO2 instead of steam to transfer heat, harnessing high-temperature waste heat (over 1,292°F) from the steel sintering process to generate electricity. The technology is reported to be at least 50% more efficient than traditional steam-based power systems, with efficiencies exceeding 50% compared to the typical 40% of steam plants. Additionally, due to the higher density of supercritical CO2, these generators are more compact and suitable for smaller spaces. The breakthrough has significant implications for clean energy, particularly in nuclear power, where the technology could replace steam turbines and be scaled to utility-level sizes. The compact nature of the system also opens possibilities for use in mobile nuclear reactors, spacecraft, and solar plants. Meanwhile, a similar 10 MW supercritical
energyclean-energysupercritical-carbon-dioxidewaste-heat-recoverypower-generatorsteel-plantChina-energy-innovationChina’s solid-state EV batteries hit factory floor, promise 2x range
China’s GAC Group has launched the country’s first pilot production line capable of manufacturing large-format (60+ Ah) all-solid-state electric vehicle (EV) battery cells. While not yet ready for mass production, this pilot line marks a significant step toward industrializing solid-state battery technology in China, joining efforts previously led by Japan’s Toyota and various US and Korean startups. The 60 Ah capacity surpasses the typical 40–50 Ah range of current EV pouch cells, enabling higher energy storage per cell, which could reduce the number of cells needed, lower pack cost and weight, and ultimately extend EV driving range. The solid-state batteries use a solid electrolyte instead of the conventional liquid electrolyte, offering advantages such as higher energy density, improved thermal safety, faster charging, and stability at elevated temperatures (claimed 300–400 °C). GAC asserts their new cells nearly double the energy density of existing batteries, potentially allowing a 311-mile EV to travel up to 621 miles on the
energysolid-state-batteryelectric-vehicleEV-batterybattery-technologyenergy-storageChina-energy-innovationChina achieves thorium fuel conversion for advanced molten-salt reactor
China has achieved a significant breakthrough in advanced nuclear energy by successfully converting thorium into uranium fuel within a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR), marking the first such accomplishment globally. This milestone, confirmed by the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, provides concrete experimental proof of the technical feasibility of using thorium in molten-salt reactor systems. The achievement is pivotal for China, enabling it to leverage its vast domestic thorium reserves and advancing the global development of next-generation nuclear energy technologies. The TMSR represents a fourth-generation nuclear reactor design that uses high-temperature molten salt as a coolant instead of water, offering inherent safety advantages, operation at atmospheric pressure, and high-temperature output. These features make molten-salt reactors particularly suitable for thorium fuel utilization. SINAP’s experimental TMSR is currently the only operational molten-salt reactor actively testing thorium fuel worldwide. Since the program’s inception in 2011, China has developed a complete
energynuclear-energymolten-salt-reactorthorium-fueladvanced-reactor-technologyclean-energyChina-energy-innovationChina tests world’s largest megawatt-level flying 'windmill' airship
China has successfully completed the maiden flight of the S1500, the world’s largest megawatt-level airborne wind turbine, in Hami, Xinjiang. The Zeppelin-like airship measures about 60 meters long, 40 meters wide, and 40 meters tall, and features 12 turbine-generator sets inside a giant duct formed by its main airfoil and annular wing. Unlike traditional wind turbines, the S1500 floats in the sky without requiring towers or deep foundations, reducing material use by 40% and electricity costs by 30%. It can be rapidly deployed and relocated, making it suitable for remote locations such as deserts, islands, and mining sites. The S1500 builds on previous prototypes (S500 and S1000) that demonstrated the feasibility of harvesting high-altitude winds, which are stronger and steadier than surface winds. These high-altitude winds, found between 500 and 10,000 meters above ground, offer exponentially greater energy potential due to the physics
energywind-powerairborne-wind-turbinerenewable-energyhigh-altitude-windsustainable-technologyChina-energy-innovationChina unveils plan to test ultra-large 35MW offshore wind turbines
China is advancing its leadership in offshore wind energy by planning a test site capable of supporting ultra-large 35 MW turbines. Huaneng, a major state-owned power developer, issued a tender for infrastructure in Yingkou, northeast China, to accommodate the massive foundations, lifting platforms, and worker facilities needed for testing such turbines. The initial turbine to be tested there will be a 26 MW semi-direct drive model paired with a 5 MW/10 MWh energy storage system, following China’s recent record-breaking deployment of a 26 MW turbine by Dongfang Electric. This surpasses previous records held by Siemens Gamesa and China’s Mingyang, illustrating rapid innovation and competition in turbine capacity scaling. Industry experts interpret Huaneng’s initiative as a strategic signal that China intends to continue pushing turbine size beyond the current 25 MW class, aiming to maintain a competitive edge in global wind power technology. While the construction of a 35 MW-capable test site does not guarantee immediate deployment of such turbines
energyoffshore-wind-turbineswind-energy-technologyrenewable-energyenergy-storage-systemturbine-testingChina-energy-innovationChina unveils 26 MW offshore wind turbine, world’s largest yet
China’s Dongfang Electric has unveiled the world’s most powerful offshore wind turbine, a 26 MW unit that surpasses the previous record held by Siemens Gamesa’s 21.5 MW turbine. The turbine features a blade diameter exceeding 310 meters and a hub height of 185 meters, designed for offshore wind speeds of eight meters per second or higher. It can generate approximately 100 gigawatt-hours annually under average wind conditions, enough to power 55,000 homes while reducing coal consumption by 30,000 tons and cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 80,000 tons. The turbine is engineered to withstand winds up to 200 kilometers per hour and is currently undergoing testing and certification. This development highlights China’s dominant position in the offshore wind sector, where it is expected to account for nearly 75% of new global offshore turbine installations in 2025. China’s advantages include integrated supply chains, state-backed financing, strong policy support, and rapid technological innovation. While Chinese manufacturers like
energyoffshore-wind-turbinerenewable-energywind-powerChina-energy-innovationclean-energyturbine-technologyWorld’s largest floating wind turbine to power 40,000 homes yearly
China has unveiled the world’s largest and most powerful direct-drive floating wind turbine, a 17-megawatt unit developed by China Huaneng Group and Dongfang Electric Corporation. Standing 498 feet tall with a rotor diameter of 859 feet, the turbine can generate 68 million kilowatt-hours annually—enough to power approximately 40,000 homes. It is engineered to withstand extreme deep-sea conditions, including waves over 78 feet high and typhoon-level winds, thanks to an integrated intelligent sensing system that ensures stability and continuous operation with over 99% availability. The turbine will undergo offshore testing near Yangjiang, Guangdong Province. A key highlight of this project is its fully domestic supply chain, featuring China’s first large-diameter main shaft bearing and other core components made entirely in China. This self-sufficiency reduces reliance on foreign suppliers and strengthens China’s clean energy industry amid growing global competition in floating offshore wind technology. The turbine’s success supports China’s broader energy strategy
energyrenewable-energywind-turbinefloating-wind-poweroffshore-windclean-energyChina-energy-innovation