China on Wednesday has put into operation the world's first 660-megawatt ultra-supercritical double-arch coal-fired generating unit,marking a significant breakthrough in high-efficiency,clean coal power technology,China Media Group(CMG)reported.

A representative of the project's operator said that once fully operational,the project will generate about 6 billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually,with an output value of roughly 2 billion yuan($275 million).It is expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions by more than 300,000 tons per year,equivalent to planting 2 million trees,according to the CMG.

The project is a clean energy initiative integrating wind,solar,coal and storage.It adopts a"coal plus renewable energy"approach to achieve complementary advantages.

The unit is an advanced power generator designed to burn coal more efficiently and with less pollution.Specifically developed for anthracite,which is difficult to ignite and sustain,the dual-arch design ensures more efficient,uniform and complete combustion,CMG said.

It is expected to save more than 72 million yuan annually in coal costs,injecting strong momentum into energy structure upgrades in Southwest China,according to the report.

The unit has overcome key technical hurdles in achieving efficient and clean combustion of anthracite.It uses coalbed methane for start-up and combustion support,which reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 53 percent compared with traditional fuel-oil ignition,while cutting nitrogen oxides,sulfur compounds and other pollutants by over 90 percent,CMG said.