The Pingshan thermal power plant in Anhui province, China is undergoing phase two expansion to add a 1,350MW ultra super-critical coal-fired unit to the existing 1,320MW facility.

The project is being developed by Huaibei Shenergy Power Company with an estimated investment of £160m ($220m). At 1,350MW capacity, it is considered to be one of the world’s biggest single coal-fired units.

The main construction activities of the Pingshan power plant phase two were started in April 2018 following the approval by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in January 2017.

The low-position steam turbine was assembled in September 2020, marking an important milestone towards the commissioning of the power plant by the end of the year.

Location and site details

The Pingshan coal-fired power project phase two is being developed to the immediate south of the phase one coal power station which is located in Zhaoji Township, Lieshan District, approximately 17km away from Huaibei city, in the Anhui province of China.

The Pingshan thermal power station site is located within the Huaibei Economic and Technological Development Zone, which lies at the foot of the Pingshan Mountain.

The project lies close to Hexu and Lianhuo expressways, connecting the junction of four provinces Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan, and Anhui.

Pingshan power plant phase two make-up

The Pingshan power plant phase two is equipped with a single ultra-supercritical secondary reheat coal-fired generating unit of 1,350MW capacity.

The new unit comprises a dual-shaft high and low position turbine generator arrangement. It includes two medium-pressure cylinders, three low-pressure cylinders, and one set of hydrogen-cooled generator with a rated power output of 800MW.

The other key components of the phase two facility include an ultra-supercritical boiler, water walls, superheaters, reheaters, deaerator, and flue gas desulphuurisation and denitrification units.

The phase two expansion is estimated to have a coal consumption rate of 251g/kWh.

Power transmission

The Pingshan power plant phase two project includes three 540MVA single-phase three-winding transformers along with two new three-phase, three-winding high-voltage auxiliary transformers.

Contractors involved

East China Institute of Energy China was placed an order for the design and engineering of the power plant, while Anhui No. 2 Electric Power Construction Company was engaged for the turbine construction works.

GE Wuhan Boiler Company was contracted for the supply of boiler and auxiliary equipment including four major pipelines, coal mills, and other core equipment in November 2017.

Shanghai Power Civil Construction Company was contracted for boiler construction works.

Shanghai Electric Blower Works Company signed a contract for the supply of blower equipment, while KSB Group was contracted for the supply of feedwater pump unit.

Huawei Measurement and Control Technology Engineering Company was contracted for the design and development of coal bunker preparation equipment.

Anhui Zhonggong Logistics Company was contracted for equipment management and warehousing of the second phase of the Pingshan power plant in August 2018.

Pingshan power plant phase one details

The £590m ($940m) Pingshan power plant phase one involved the construction of two coal-fired power generating units of capacity 660MW each. Following the approval by the NDRC in October 2013, the construction on the power plant was started in November 2013.

While unit one was commissioned in December 2015, the second unit was put into production by March 2016.

The project was co-financed by Huaibei Shenergy Power Company (40%), Huaibei Mining Company (40%), and Anhui Energy Group (20%).

Phase one of the coal-fired power station was constructed by Anhui Power Construction Number Two Company and Shanghai Power Construction Number One Company.