{
  "id": 9090336,
  "title": "China breaks ground on the world’s first supercritical CO2 and molten salt energy plant",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/china-breaks-ground-on-the-worlds-first-supercritical-co2-and-molten-9090336",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-22T05:41:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
    "slug": "reuters-business-via-scmp",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3368337/china-breaks-ground-worlds-first-supercritical-co2-and-molten-salt-energy-plant"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "China has begun construction on the world's first utility-scale combined supercritical carbon dioxide power generation and molten salt energy storage project at China Huaneng's Bajiao power station in Yantai, Shandong province, eastern China. The project, expected to go online next year, aims to enhance energy efficiency, reduce waste, and improve grid stability. During low-demand periods, surplus electricity from existing coal power units will heat molten salt, while during peak demand, this stored heat will power a 50-megawatt supercritical unit that uses carbon dioxide to generate electricity. This innovative approach offers greater efficiency, lower carbon emissions, and faster load adjustment compared to traditional coal-fired power plants. The project's molten salt storage system, capable of storing 400 megawatt-hours, demonstrates a cost-effective solution for large-scale energy storage, a potential advantage over battery storage for stationary applications.",
  "summary": "China has broken ground on the world’s first utility-scale combined supercritical carbon dioxide power generation and molten salt energy storage project, which could help reduce energy waste and improve grid stability. On September 16, construction began on the Ruitan demonstration project at China Huaneng’s Bajiao power station in Yantai. The project in Shandong province, eastern China, is…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "China breaks ground on the world’s first supercritical CO2 and molten salt energy plant",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/china-breaks-ground-on-the-worlds-first-supercritical-co2-and-molten",
        "published": "2026-09-22T05:41:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}