She said some large international companies hesitated to get involved in LP Amina because they were wary of the technology; but she very quickly understood the massive potential.

"Coal is still widely used in China and around the world," she said, and HAO Capital will continue to support LP Amina in its work.

Ellen Carberry, co-founder and managing director of The China Greentech Initiative - a company focusing on accelerating the commercial success of enterprises in the clean technology sector - said LP Amina has exceptional potential.

She added that she considers it lucky, too, in that most venture capital and private equity companies prefer opportunities with companies that can earn them money quickly, normally within five to seven years.

Latta pointed out that according to the International Energy Agency, one-third of the world's electricity is still be derived from coal, and that its use is expected to continue rising for the next 20 years.

With over 50,000 coal-fired power stations worldwide, the demand for engineering expertise in emission reduction and operational optimization looks likely to remain extremely high for many years to come - and not just in China.

Contact the writer at caixiao@chinadaily.com.cn