At the confluence of the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake in northern Jiangxi, operators in the centralized control room of China Shenhua Jiujiang Power Plant tap a curved screen, where real-time parameters of generating units pulse across a three-dimensional model. This scene has replaced rows of densely packed gauges and has become the plant’s new normal.
The transformation began with the comprehensive application of next-generation information technologies. Cloud computing, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and 5G communications have been integrated across the entire power generation process, building an intelligent system that spans sensing, data, decision-making and operations. With the launch of plant-level monitoring and intelligent control systems, processes such as boiler combustion and turbine operation now adjust adaptively, while intelligent alarm systems provide early risk warnings.
Each key piece of equipment is paired with a dedicated digital twin model that mirrors its operating status in real time. Intelligent robots conduct inspections in high-temperature and high-pressure areas, drones patrol elevated facilities, and technologies such as vibration monitoring and infrared thermal imaging, combined with big data analytics, enable predictive maintenance. Mobile inspection terminals have replaced paper records, significantly improving inspection efficiency.
An environmental protection platform monitors emissions in real time, ensuring precise operation of desulfurization and denitrification facilities, with pollutant indicators exceeding ultra-low emission standards. Wastewater is treated to achieve zero discharge, and solid wastes such as fly ash are recycled at a 100 percent rate. The plant has been recognized as an Outstanding Case of Jiangxi’s Beautiful Cells.
Smart technologies have also reshaped management. An integrated platform breaks down data silos across production, operations and fuel management. Big data optimizes fuel procurement and blending schemes, reducing standard coal costs. Inventory scheduling and cost accounting have become more precise, while plant security, logistics and other services are all incorporated into intelligent management.
At present, key indicators such as coal consumption for power supply continue to improve, and the number of unplanned equipment outages has been reduced to zero. The company is now exploring a thermal-power-plus model, paving the way for integrating photovoltaics, energy storage, and supplying heat and steam to surrounding areas.
