China Huaneng’s coal-fired carbon capture project has completed a successful 72-hour trial run and is now officially operational. Located at the Huaneng Gansu Zhengning power plant, the project is designed to capture 1.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.

Reporting on the company’s announcement, China Daily said the carbon dioxide captured from the desulfurised flue gas of the No 1 generating unit at the plant is over 99 percent pure. The capture rate exceeds 90 percent.

The company believes the project marks a new stage in the industrial-scale demonstration and application of carbon dioxide capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology in China and will facilitate large-scale, industrial, and deep emission reductions in coal-fired power generation, contributing to China’s “dual carbon” goals.

The captured carbon dioxide will be used for geological storage, enhanced oil recovery, green fuel synthesis, and mineralised building materials.