In order to solve the problem of air pollution effectively

the government vigorously promotes the clean reformation of existing energy structure

resulting in the rapid growth of installed capacities of wind generation and solar power generation. In addition

the traditional coal-based power plants are already in a state of overcapacity

which leads to difficulties in the peak load regulation of the power grid. These problems have put forward higher requirements for the flexibility and deep peak load regulation capacity of coal-based power units. In this study

the necessity of enhancing the flexibility of thermal power units is discussed from the viewpoints of the development trend of renewable energy in China and the phenomenon of wind and solar energy abandonment. Besides

the existing problems of insufficient peak load regulation

slow load response speed

and long-term deviation from design conditions in thermal power units are analyzed

and then the solution technologies and application situations are introduced. Based on this

the future research directions of enhancing the flexibility of thermal power units are predicted.