China Achieves Milestone Breakthrough in High-Ratio Ammonia Co-Firing Demonstration for Coal-Fired Power Units

HEFEI, September 17^th — The National Key R&D Program "Key Technologies for Clean and Efficient Combustion of Coal Blended with Hydrogen/Ammonia" successfully reached a major technological milestone by completing an engineering demonstration of ammonia co-firing on a 320 MW coal-fired unit at Wenergy Tongling Power Generation Co., Ltd(“Tongling Power Generation”). Verified by an expert evaluation team, all operational metrics met expectations, resolving key technical constrains in high-ratio ammonia co-firing for large-scale coal-fired utility boilers.

Led by the Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center and Anbang Technology Co., Ltd as well as multiple universities and research institutes, the project focused on overcoming core technical challenges, including stable combustion control and nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emission reduction during co-firing. Operating under a unit load condition of approximately 200 MW, the demonstration achieved continuous and stable operation for 168 hours with an ammonia blending ratio of 20%, maintaining flue gas pollutant emissions strictly within national standards throughout the trial.

This engineering trial validates the safety and operational feasibility of applying high-ratio ammonia co-firing technology to large-scale operational coal-fired units, clearing a critical barrier to commercial-scale implementation. As a zero-carbon clean fuel, ammonia serves as an essential decarbonization pathway for thermal power generation. Deploying this technology provides a practical technological pathway for the low-carbon transition of traditional coal-fired power plants.

The project team will continuously optimize system designs, conduct research and trials into higher blending ratios, iterate technological capabilities, and accelerate the commercial deployment of clean coal-ammonia combustion technologies to support dual-carbon goals across the power sector.

Source: Anhui Province Energy Group Co., Ltd.