In August, focusing on high-quality development of the power industry, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration issued the “15th Five-Year Plan for New Power System Construction,” aiming to provide strong support for building a new energy system and an energy powerhouse through achievements in new power system construction during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, continuously forging longboards of power development, and providing solid power guarantees for Chinese-style modernization.
He Yang, member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the National Energy Administration, pointed out in an article published in “Guangwang” magazine that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, as the modern industrial system accelerates construction, power demand growth momentum is strong, and the electrical structure and load characteristics are changing rapidly, raising higher requirements for the safe and reliable supply and strong resilience of the power system. With the in-depth advancement of green and low-carbon energy transition, large-scale and high-proportion development of new energy poses higher requirements for the system’s regulation capacity and operational mechanisms. As the construction of a unified national power market system accelerates, deep adjustments are taking place in power resource allocation methods, price formation mechanisms, and operator structure, with market mechanisms having a continuing profound impact on the power industry.
The article proposes six “must adhere to” principles. Green and low-carbon development must be prioritized to accelerate transformation, placing high-quality new energy development in a prominent position. Security and sufficiency must be ensured to enhance system resilience, always putting the safe and reliable supply and strong resilience of electricity at the forefront. Technology empowerment must be emphasized to support innovation, strengthening digital and intelligent enablement. Systematic thinking must be upheld to promote coordinated development, integrating centralized and distributed, cross-regional allocation and local consumption. Deepening reform must be pursued to stimulate internal motivation. The people-first approach must be maintained to achieve shared development.
The article outlines goals for 2030: the new power system will be preliminarily built, with a green and low-carbon power supply structure basically formed; a new power grid will be initially established, with its resource allocation platform role and service functions fully leveraged; system regulation capacity will be significantly enhanced, with various regulation resources efficiently utilized; breakthrough progress will be made in key technology equipment supporting the new power system.
Five key priorities are specified: building a green and low-carbon power supply structure, with half of power generation from non-fossil energy sources by 2030; constructing a main-distribution-microgrid coordinated new power grid, aiming to put into operation over 15 extra-high-voltage (UHV) DC transmission channels during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, and by 2030 having the distribution network support connection and safe operation of 900 GW of distributed new energy; promoting coordinated development on the consumption side, with virtual power plant maximum regulation capacity exceeding 50 GW and electricity’s share in terminal energy consumption reaching 35% by 2030; enhancing system regulation capacity, reaching about 160 GW of national pumped storage power station installed capacity and 300 GW of new energy storage installed capacity by 2030; and consolidating the foundation for power supply security, achieving a national power supply adequacy ratio of 1.1 or above by 2030.
Source:China Energy News Network