Multi-scenario PV Turns the Traditional Power Plant into an All-round Power Generator

Beneath the photovoltaic domes, a green revolution centered on multi-scenario photovoltaic applications is breathing new life into this traditional thermal power base. As a core thermal power enterprise under China Energy Investment Group, Nanning Power Plant owns two 660MW supercritical coal-fired generating units. Breaking the limits of conventional rooftop PV systems, it has deployed distributed photovoltaics across coal sheds, building rooftops, parking lots, fences and curtain walls. Following the development path of efficient utilization of existing spaces and innovative integration of diverse scenarios, the plant has set a replicable and promotable model for the green and low-carbon transformation of traditional thermal power enterprises.

China Energy Nanning Power Generation Co., Ltd. is a key power supplier in Nanning. It has long undertaken the tasks of regional energy security and industrial heat supply, providing stable heating for more than 30 enterprises in Liujing Industrial Park. Its annual heat supply exceeds 2 million gigajoules, replacing nearly 50 scattered small boilers and supporting an annual industrial output value of about 20 billion yuan in the park. Guided by the dual carbon goals and amid the accelerated energy restructuring, the plant stays committed to its fundamental role of power supply guarantee while proactively exploring integrated development with new energy. It has shifted green transformation from end-of-pipe treatment to source substitution, and from isolated trials to all-round empowerment, evolving into a comprehensive energy ecosystem.

The newly commissioned 13.748MW distributed photovoltaic project features full-scenario coverage and three-dimensional development, overturning the long-held notion that photovoltaics can only be installed on rooftops.

Making full use of around 80,000 square meters of idle spaces on the premises, the project has built a five-in-one application system. The curved coal sheds adopt LONGi CENTER INT BIPV technology, integrating structural load-bearing, waterproofing and power generation into one solution. High-efficiency PV modules are deployed on concrete and color steel rooftops in line with local conditions. A new PV parking lot with 100 parking spaces and 6 EV charging piles has been built to form a coordinated PV-energy storage-charging system. Dedicated PV modules are also installed on factory fences and building curtain walls to convert vertical spaces into green power output, adhering to the principle of installing PV systems wherever feasible.

From an industrial perspective, the multi-scenario PV application at China Energy Nanning Power Plant delivers triple values: technological innovation, space revitalization and comprehensive benefits. Leveraging BIPV as a core solution, it achieves deep integration of photovoltaics and buildings and addresses the challenges of renovating old industrial plants. The combined model of PV, parking shelters and charging piles saves energy, brings convenience to staff and cuts carbon emissions. The adoption of PV on fences, curtain walls and other micro-scenarios further expands the boundaries of distributed photovoltaics, proving that green power can be generated almost anywhere and anytime. This lightweight layout requires no additional land occupation, no disruption to normal production and no extra water consumption, offering a low-cost, quickly implementable and high-return transformation solution for thermal power plants of similar scale.

The project operates under the mode of on-site self-consumption. Generated power is connected to the plant’s 6kV high-voltage distribution rooms to directly supply auxiliary production equipment, lighting and office facilities, effectively reducing auxiliary power costs and improving energy self-sufficiency and power supply resilience. Statistics show that the project generates approximately 13.2722 million kWh of electricity annually, with a total power output exceeding 330 million kWh over its 25-year service life. It saves nearly 4,000 tons of standard coal and cuts carbon dioxide emissions by over 10,900 tons each year, along with substantial reductions in sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, dust and other pollutants. Working in synergy with the plant’s environmental technologies such as white mud desulfurization and sludge co-combustion, it consolidates the foundation for green development.

Traditional energy and new energy are not mutually exclusive, but complementary and mutually beneficial. Taking multi-scenario photovoltaics as a starting point, China Energy Nanning Power Plant has embedded green concepts into every production link and corner of the factory, demonstrating the social responsibility of state-owned enterprises in energy transition. With stable operation of the project, the PV-powered plant will continuously deliver ecological, economic and social benefits, serving as a vivid example for the green transformation of thermal power plants and the development of the new power system in southern China.