China has broken ground on the world’s first utility‑scale project that combines supercritical carbon dioxide power generation with molten‑salt energy storage, a move that could cut waste and bolster grid stability.
Construction started on September 16 at the Ruitan demonstration site within China Huaneng’s Bajiao power station in Yantai, Shandong. The facility is slated to enter service next year.
When demand is low, excess electricity from the plant’s existing coal units will be used to heat the molten salt, as reported by Xinhua on September 16.
During peak periods, the stored heat will drive a supercritical unit that uses carbon dioxide instead of steam to generate electricity.
The initial phase will include a 50‑megawatt supercritical turbine paired with a 100‑megawatt (400‑megawatt‑hour) molten‑salt storage system.
