China commissions first smart unmanned control system for a gas turbine power plant

China's first smart autonomous operation control system for a gas turbine power plant has been commissioned at the Huaneng Shanghai Gas Power Station, according to the China Huaneng Group.

The move marks China's first fully autonomous, intelligent control of gas-fired thermal power units across the entire operational process – from startup and grid connection to load regulation and shutdown – without any human intervention. It represents a shift from traditional manual monitoring to a new stage of intelligent, autonomous operation in thermal power generation technology.

Compared with the previous human-dependent model, the new control system equips the units with an "intelligent brain." It enables one-click automatic data collection, accurately assesses equipment conditions, anticipates changes in advance, and proactively adjusts control strategies, which effectively reduce errors and risks associated with manual operation.

The test-run units achieved a 100 percent compliance rate across all key operational parameters, marking a significant step forward in the digital and intelligent transformation of the traditional energy sector.