Desulphurization equipment is not "independent" and restricts pollution control in thermal power industry
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According to the latest national statistics, sulfur dioxide emissions from thermal power plants in China account for over 50% of the country's total emissions, making them the primary source of this type of pollution. Although efforts to control these emissions began as early as 2003, the domestic desulfurization equipment industry has struggled with delayed development and a lack of standardized production. As a result, the low level of local manufacturing has significantly hindered the progress of desulfurization projects across the country.
During the process of thermal power generation, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide are the main pollutants. In recent years, the rapid expansion of fuel oil and coal-fired power plants has contributed to the stagnation or even increase in sulfur dioxide levels during China’s "Tenth Five-Year Plan" period. As a major contributor to air pollution, sulfur dioxide often works in tandem with vehicle emissions, worsening urban air quality. When released into the atmosphere, sulfur dioxide is acidic and can lead to "acid deposition." When it reacts with water, it forms acid rain or fog, while in dry conditions, it accumulates on plants and soil as "dry deposition." Once mixed with water, it can create concentrated sulfuric acid, leading to soil and river acidification, metal corrosion, damage to ecosystems, and harm to both plant and animal life.
Therefore, after dust removal, flue gas desulfurization has become a mandatory environmental requirement for thermal power plants. However, many companies find the initial investment too high, considering the current challenges. One key reason is the low rate of domestic production of environmental protection equipment.
Currently, the most widely used limestone-gypsum wet desulfurization technology in large power plants is either imported directly from abroad or relies on foreign key components. Each project requires paying substantial patent fees, which increases costs and complicates the selection of suitable technologies. This makes it difficult for power plants to move forward efficiently.
Ma Yongfeng, an assistant to the president of Inner Mongolia Erdos Power Company, stated, “We have been comparing and selecting desulfurization systems. Most of the current technology is imported, and the cost is extremely high.†According to regulations, their desulfurization facilities should have been operational by March this year. However, the high price of imported equipment made it unaffordable.
Experts suggest that the low domestic production of desulfurization equipment drives up prices. Large and medium-sized thermal power plants typically need over 100 million yuan for such equipment. Domestic alternatives are generally half to two-thirds the price of imported ones, but they are limited in variety and not yet stable enough in operation.
China remains highly dependent on foreign desulfurization technology, with many domestic companies adopting foreign technologies. Nearly 100 desulfurization companies operate in the country, but most large-scale units rely on foreign methods. For example, a 200 MW unit usually incurs over 3 million yuan in technical fees for foreign companies. Currently, about 60% of desulfurization systems in China are imported, with domestic firms mainly handling civil engineering and installation. On average, using imported equipment costs 30% more than domestic options.
The lack of independent intellectual property rights in domestic desulfurization equipment limits the growth of China’s environmental sector and hinders technological progress and industrial upgrading in the electromechanical field. Meng Menglin, director of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Economic Commission, emphasizes that the government must invest more in developing domestic desulfurization technology to make environmental protection more affordable for enterprises.