China Energy Group has demonstrated a hydrogen-coal co-firing technology that blends up to 50% green hydrogen by heat value in coal-fired boilers, and can run on 100% pure hydrogen. The system uses a self-developed low-nitrogen burner and full safety controls from hydrogen transport to combustion. At 50% hydrogen blend, coal use and carbon emissions drop by up to 50% while keeping NOx under control. This matters because China has the world's largest coal power fleet. Retrofitting existing plants with hydrogen co-firing could cut emissions at scale without building new infrastructure. The technology is still on an experimental platform, but it opens a practical path for lowering coal's carbon footprint while integrating green hydrogen production. The next step is scaling from pilot to commercial units.
