Yanghuopan Power Station, the world's first power plant equipped with the natural direct cooling technology, connects to grid in Yulin City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, December 30, 2022. (Photo: CMG)

China achieved a breakthrough in power plant cooling technology as the world's first plant with a "natural direct cooling" (NDC) system connected to grid on Friday in Shaanxi Province.

The technology, described as "a revolution in industrial air cooling" by local newspaper Shaanxi Daily, makes use of the natural air flow in the plant to guide the heat to air condenser.

Compared to traditional air-cooling technologies, the NDC system doesn't use any fans to create air flow, saving electricity and reducing noise, according to an explainer posted by PowerChina Northwest, developer of the tech.

PowerChina Northwest said the NDC system also requires no water pumps compared to indirect cooling technologies.

"The NDC system combined the advantages of both air-cooling and indirect cooling systems," said the Shaanxi-based company.

Engineers monitor the operation of Yanghuopan Power Station. (Photo: CMG)

With the system in place, the Yanghuopan Power Station in Shaanxi's Yulin City can save 24,500 tonnes of coal and reduce 54,100 tonnes of carbon emission every year, according to a report from China Media Group (CMG).

CMG also said the plant emits almost no soot, sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide.

The power plant has a yearly capacity of 660 gigawatt-hours and will help solve the power shortage in central China.

The NDC technology has been listed as national-level key technological equipment, according to Shaanxi Daily.