@ SUNPOWER's AGM: Why its centralized heaters are a sure-win

“Coal is not the source of pollution. The key is whether we are using clean technology when converting coal into energy.

- Executive Chairman Guo Hongxin
(NextInsight file photo)

♦ Coal energy that is cleaner than natural gas

The Group uses coal powder, which is pulverized at its centralized heating facility from crushed coal.  Pulverised coal has a combustion efficiency of 98%, comparable with the full combustion of natural gas. In contrast, the combustion efficiency of crushed coal is only 60% to 70%.

Air pollution from coal dust is reduced by fully enclosing the pulverized coal the way natural gas or oil is stored.

It adds chemical agents to the combustion process so as to remove harmful residuals such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that would otherwise cause air pollution.  

The low level of emissions surpasses the PRC national emission standard for natural gas.

“The cost of our steam power is half of natural gas, thereby helping industrial companies reduce their utility cost of natural gas and steam,” said Professor Guo.

♦ Insulation technology translates into greater reach

The Sunpower Group has 20 years of track record in heat transfer technology. By employing various technologies that include high-efficiency heat transfer and preheating of ultra-low temperature water, it harnesses heat that would have been dissipated by traditional coal-fired boilers.

The national standard for temperature decline in steam transportation is 15 degrees Celsius per km. In contrast, the Group's steam distribution pipelines with heat insulation properties has reduced this temperature loss to just 5 degrees Celsius per km.

By addressing the problem of heat loss, the Group's central heating facility is able to supply steam power to a network of factories further away. Specifically, it is able to supply steam to factories located within 30 km, a distance equivalent to that from the north of Singapore to the south.

“This service effectively eliminates the need for small-scale boilers housed by individual factories in industrial parks," said Professor Guo.