Over twenty-two years from 1980 to 2002, even though the thermal power installed capacity had increased from 46.5 GW to 265.6 GW, or a growth of 4.7 times, the flue dust emission was basically remained on equal level, and has obviously decreased since 1998. The flue dust emission amounted to 3990 thousand tons in 1980, 3000 thousand tons in 2000 and 2700 thousand tons in 2002. In 2003, the flue dust emission amounted to about 2800 thousand tons. The demonstrative project for localization of bag type precipitator was completed and successfully put into operation. The SO2 emission in China is mainly due to coalfired thermal power. Coal consumed for power generation shares 50% of the total production. According to the report on environmental conditions in 2003, the nationwide total SO2 emission amounted to 221.587 million tons, in which 17.914 million tons came from industrial sources.

For control of SO2 emission, comprehensive measures were adopted continuously, including burning low sulfur content coal, promoting energy efficiency, SOX reduction during combustion and flue gas desulfuration. Flue gas desulfuration became gradually the main measure for control of SO2 emission. In 2003, the flue gas desulfuration techniques operating in China included limestone-gypsum scrubbing FGD process, rotary sprayed dry FGD process, circulating fluidized bed FGD process, electron beam ammonia FGD process, seawater scrubbing FGD process, and LIFAC, etc. Based on technical import, China has now basically mastered the main desulfuration technologies, and is capable of designing, constructing and operating flue gas desulfuration project independently. The demonstrative project for localization of limestone-gypsum scrubbing FGD process on 300 MW coal-fired thermal power unit has been completed and put into operation. By the end of 2003, the installed capacity with desulfuration equipment constructed and under construction amounted to 20 GW and the power capacity equipped with desulfuration under operation has reached 8000 MW (excluding CFBC units) in China. Thanks to these measures, SO2 emission per unit kW decreased incessantly, about 20% drop in 2003 as compared with that in mid 1990s. However, because of tense supply/ demand situation of coal, electricity and transportation, which worsened the coal quality for power plants, plus less flue gas desulfuration equipment in operation, the total amount of SO2 emission was higher in 2003 than in 2002.

In the aspect of conservation of resources, from 1980 to 2003, the net coal consumption rate decreased from 448 gce/kWh to 380 gce/kWh; the service power rate decreased from 6.44% to 6.07% and the line losses decreased from 8.93% to 7.71%. As compared with 1980, coal equivalent saving reached 120 million tons in 2003.

Water consumption per unit electricity generation is an important index in measuring the utilization level of water resources in power generation. In 2002, water consumption of thermal power plant reached 3.54 kg/ kWh, or the average water consumption rate of installed capacity was 0.98 m3/s GW, it was about 1/3 lower than the averaged water consumption rate of 1.42 ~ 1.56 m3/s GW in 1980s. The yearly water saving by thermal power amounted to 1.03 billion m3, and the industrial water reuse rate reached 69%.

The sedimentation tank for ash water treatment and reuse is in operation 

The dry ash separation, pulverized coal ash used in construction materials production, road paving and dam construction, and the gypsum from desulfuration used in production of construction materials such as cement and plaster slabs, all these had become the important means for power enterprises to change the waste materials into the precious ones. The comprehensive utilization rate of pulverized coal ash has been continuously kept above 60% in 2003.

In 2003, preventing and eliminating electromagnetic interference on environment in the course of power transmission and substation construction and operation were further strengthened; and the influence to ecological environment and conservation of water and soil in the course of power construction, in particular, the hydropower construction were also improved.