China builds first utility-scale plant combining molten salt storage and CO2 power generation

China has initiated construction on the Ruitan project, a pioneering utility-scale power plant designed to integrate supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) generation with large-scale molten salt energy storage. Situated at the Bajiao power station in Yantai, Shandong province, this facility is intended to demonstrate how these emerging technologies can work together to minimize energy loss and bolster the stability of the electrical grid.

The project will capture surplus energy from the existing coal plant during periods of low demand and store it as thermal energy within a molten salt system. During peak demand hours, this stored heat will power a supercritical CO2 unit, which uses the CO2 to spin a turbine and generate electricity, a departure from traditional steam-based power plants. The CO2 operates in a closed-loop system under specific temperature and pressure conditions where its molecules exhibit properties of both a liquid and a gas.

Supercritical CO2 systems offer advantages such as smaller plant size, no water requirement, higher power generation efficiency, and reduced carbon emissions, according to the South China Morning Post. They are also noted for their adjustability and agility compared to conventional power plants.

This initiative is part of China's broader push into advanced clean energy technologies. The country has become a dominant force in clean energy, significantly increasing its patent filings and research output. Between 2019 and 2025, China's investment in energy significantly outpaced the rest of the world, establishing its influence in global clean energy markets. The Ruitan project is expected to be operational by next year, with its first phase featuring a 50-megawatt supercritical unit and a 100-megawatt molten salt storage system.