The international and domestic coal power industries are working hard to achieve low-carbon coal power transformation. As the carbon dioxide emissions generated by coal-fired power generation account for>40% of the total emissions of the country, the low-carbon transformation of coal power will be the largest contributor to carbon reduction in the future. With the carbon peak and carbon neutral goal and the building of new power systems based on new energy sources, the low-carbon transformation of coal-fired power generation is the trend of the times.

Research on the low-carbon transformation of coal power is underway, and many policies on the low-carbon transformation of coal power have been issued at home and abroad. This paper provides a summary of the relevant research results for the low-carbon transformation technology path of coal power and an analysis of seven promising low-carbon transformation technological paths for coal power. The key tasks proposed by the main policy measures to promote the low-carbon transformation of coal power are highlighted. Based on a summary of the technical path and key tasks of policy measures for the low-carbon transformation of coal power, seven key standard requirements are proposed: relevant standards for controlling the energy efficiency level of new coal power projects, standards for energy conservation and consumption reduction of existing units, standards for flexible modification of coal power units, standards for the heating transformation of coal power units, standards for carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) of coal power, standards for biomass fuel and coal combined combustion power generation, and comprehensive energy service standards. The current situation of standardization work supporting the low-carbon transformation of coal power is summarized, and the applicability of relevant national, industrial, local, and international standards is evaluated and analyzed. From the analysis results, it is found that, in terms of national standards, there have been some standard achievements in such aspects as goal orientation, energy measurement, energy management, performance evaluation, and greenhouse gas emission accounting. In addition to the national standards, industrial standards, such as energy efficiency evaluation of coal-fired power plants, energy saving calculation, energy saving diagnosis, coal management, and greenhouse gas emission statistical indicators, provide complementary standards for the low-carbon transformation of coal power. The local standards for energy consumption quotas formulated by Shanghai, Chongqing, Shandong, and Hebei are also useful attempts to guide the low-carbon transformation and upgrade of coal power through standardization. Based on the evaluation results of the formulation and implementation of typical mandatory energy consumption quota standards and other typical coal power low-carbon transformation standards, this paper provides suggestions for improving the coal power low-carbon transformation standard system.

To better support the implementation of coal power low-carbon transformation policy and provide comprehensive and advanced standard system support, we should strengthen the overall planning of the standard system, deepen the research basis of the standards, and promote the coordinated interaction between coal power low-carbon technology innovation and standard upgrades. Moreover, we should encourage local governments to formulate advanced energy conservation and carbon reduction standards, and support the implementation of innovative low-carbon technologies and market-based mechanisms. In light of the advanced international standard, we should strive to achieve the international level of the low-carbon transformation standard for coal power. Further, we should effectively support the low-carbon development, transformation, and upgrade of coal power with a high-level and full-coverage standard system.