China’s first large-scale low-pressure adsorption carbon capture system at Zhejiang Ninghai Power Plant has successfully completed a 72-hour third-party performance test.
Original By NLS
China’s first large-scale low-pressure adsorption carbon capture system at Zhejiang Ninghai Power Plant has successfully completed a 72-hour third-party performance test. The system achieved a CO₂ capture rate of over 80% and a product gas purity exceeding 95%, with an average energy consumption of 331 kWh per ton of CO₂. The results highlight the potential of adsorption carbon capture technology as a lower-energy alternative to conventional methods.
The project, led by Zhejiang Ninghai Power Plant, is part of China Energy Investment Corporation’s 2021 key innovation initiatives. It uses domestically developed high-efficiency CO₂ adsorbents and a low-energy capture process, making it the first of its kind in a coal-fired power plant in China.
Test results show that the system operates without consuming steam, from flue gas pretreatment to the production of high-purity CO₂. During the 72-hour test, total electricity consumption averaged 331 kWh per ton of CO₂. When compared to conventional solvent-based carbon capture, this equates to approximately 1.94 GJ of thermal energy and 96 kWh of electricity per ton of CO₂.
Unlike solvent-based methods, adsorption carbon capture uses stable solid adsorbents that generate no secondary pollution. It also offers advantages such as lower energy consumption, faster response times, and simpler operation. The Ninghai plant is now working on optimizing process parameters and developing more efficient adsorbent materials to further reduce energy consumption and costs, paving the way for broader industrial applications.