Desulphurization equipment is not "independent" and restricts pollution control in thermal power industry
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According to the most recent national statistics, sulfur dioxide emissions from thermal power plants in China account for over 50% of the country’s total emissions and are the primary contributor to sulfur dioxide pollution. Although efforts to control these emissions began in 2003, the domestic desulfurization equipment industry has lagged due to late development and an underdeveloped supply chain. As a result, the low level of local production 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 been a key factor behind the stagnation or even increase in sulfur dioxide levels during China's "Tenth Five-Year Plan" period. As a major source of air pollution, sulfur dioxide often collaborates with vehicle exhaust emissions to degrade urban air quality. When released into the atmosphere in excess, sulfur dioxide can form acid deposition, which may lead to acid rain or acid fog when combined with water. In dry conditions, it settles as dry deposition on plants, soil, and surfaces. Once it comes into contact with water, it can transform into concentrated sulfuric acid, causing soil and water acidification, metal corrosion, and serious damage to ecosystems and human health.
Therefore, after dust removal, flue gas desulfurization has become an essential environmental requirement for thermal power plants. However, many companies find the costs too high to meet this threshold. One major reason is the low rate of domestic equipment production. Currently, large-scale power plants mostly rely on imported desulfurization technologies, such as the limestone-gypsum wet method, which is either directly imported or involves purchasing key components from foreign suppliers. This often results in high patent fees and significant upfront investments, making it difficult for power plants to proceed efficiently.
Ma Yongfeng, an assistant to the president of Inner Mongolia Erdos Power Company, stated, “We have been comparing and selecting desulfurization technologies. Most of the current options are imported, and the cost is extremely high.†According to national regulations, their desulfurization facilities should have been operational by March this year. However, the high price of imported systems has made compliance financially unfeasible.
Experts point out that the low domestic production rate of desulfurization equipment drives up prices. Large and medium-sized thermal power plants typically require more than 100 million yuan for desulfurization equipment. Domestic alternatives are generally half to two-thirds the price of imported ones, but they remain limited in availability and performance. Many Chinese companies rely heavily on foreign technology, with nearly 100 desulfurization firms using imported methods. For example, a 200 MW unit project usually incurs over 3 million yuan in technical fees for foreign companies. About 60% of desulfurization facilities in China are still imported, with domestic firms only handling civil engineering and installation. On average, using imported equipment increases costs by around 30%.
The lack of independent intellectual property in domestic desulfurization equipment not only limits the growth of China’s environmental protection sector but also hinders technological advancement 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 R&D to make environmental protection solutions more affordable for enterprises.