China's first domestically manufactured 600-megawatt super-critical power generator commenced operations on Tuesday in Huaneng Qinbei Power Plant in central China's Henan Province.

Super-critical power generators burn coal under higher pressure at higher temperatures than conventional units and are more efficient. Given China's coal shortage, the central government is promoting the use of super-critical units to save energy.

The Qinbei unit uses less than 300 grams of coal to produce every kilowatt-hour of electricity, 20 percent less than the average of 380 grams per kilowatt-hour.

About 70 percent of the unit's components were manufactured domestically by companies that include the Sichuan-based Dongfang Boiler Group and the Harbin Steam Turbine Plant in Heilongjiang Province.

The unit is one of two to be used in the first phase of the Qinbei power plant. The second unit is expected to go online by the end of this year.

The Qinbei Power Plant will eventually have a total capacity of 3,600 megawatts.

Huaneng International has a 55 percent stake in the plant, while local companies hold the remainder. Investment in the first phase of the plant will reach 4.7 billion yuan (US$568.3 million).

Officials from the National Development and Reform Commission said the project is a breakthrough for China's power-generating equipment manufacturers and the nation's power industry.

China has imported super-critical generators with a total capacity of 11,200 megawatts over the past 10 years. Domestic suppliers already have received orders to build more than 50 such units.

The Qinbei plant will increase power supplies and improve the grid structure in northern China.

(China Daily November 24, 2004)