This paper is the result of geological survey engineering.

Objective Coal−fired power plants are a major source of CO₂ emissions in China. To achieve carbon reduction targets, retrofitting these facilities with Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technology and using saline aquifers for CO₂ storage is a viable solution. Currently, there is a lack of detailed and systematic research on the source-sink matching of CO₂ emissions from coal-fired power plants and the storage of saline aquifers in sedimentary basins across the country.

Methods This study focuses on the first-order structure of the basin level and an optimization model is developed for matching CO₂ sources with potential storage sites. The model considers the entire process and is based on the emission profiles of coal-fired power plants across China.

Results The results show that 99% of these power plants can be matched with a unique storage site. Onshore basins are the preferred option for most power stations, while distinct advantages for offshore basins are shown by coastal match. Over a 10–40 year transformation timeline, the maximal transit distance from power plants to storage sites is projected to be 539.28 km for the decade of 2021–2030, extending to 660.58 km for the subsequent intervals ending in 2040, 2050, and 2060, respectively.

Conclusions Establishing expansive CO₂ transportation networks for sequestration appears more feasible in the regions of North, East, Central, and Northwest China compared to the Northeast and South, when considering annual CO₂ capture volumes and transportation distances. The economic implications of CCUS technology retrofitting and the associated transportation distances have significant impacts on the source-to-sink matching outcomes. Technological advancements have led to a reduction in the average retrofitting costs from 500 CNY per ton CO₂ to below 300 CNY per ton CO₂. The findings of this investigation provide a basis for policy formulation regarding the retrofitting of coal−fired power plants with CCUS technology.