China has announced a comprehensive action plan aimed at overhauling its electricity system to foster green growth and enhance energy security. Unveiled on Tuesday, the plan is a collaborative effort between the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Energy Administration (NEA), and the National Data Administration.
The strategy outlines initiatives across nine key areas from 2024 to 2027, focusing on increasing the transmission of clean electricity through advanced power generation, regulation, and control technologies. With wind and solar power generation in China’s deserts on the rise, there is a growing need to efficiently transport this clean energy to regions with high electricity demand.
By 2030, China aims to boost the total installed capacity of wind and solar power in desert and desertified areas to 455 million kilowatts. Currently, transmission lines primarily carry coal and hydro power, but this shift marks a significant move towards renewable energy sources.
The plan also includes upgrading coal-fired power plants to achieve a substantial reduction in carbon emissions. Despite the emphasis on renewables, the NEA emphasized that coal-fired power will remain a crucial source of reliable electricity. “To achieve the goal of peaking carbon emissions, it is necessary to accelerate the low-carbon transformation of this sector,” the NEA stated.
In addition to renewable energy, China is expanding its electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. Sales of new-energy vehicles surged by 32 percent in the first half of 2024, driving demand for more charging facilities. The plan promises to expand EV charging infrastructure, enhance the integration between EVs and the power grid, and establish comprehensive standards for charging facilities. As of June, China had over 10.24 million charging piles, a 54 percent increase year-on-year.
Efforts are also underway to build charging facilities in rural areas, tapping into the potential of EV sales outside urban centers. One-third of China's provincial regions have already implemented charging solutions in towns and villages.
Ensuring the stable operation of the electricity system and boosting the power distribution network are also key components of the plan. China's electricity consumption, a vital indicator of economic activity, grew by 8.1 percent in the first half of the year, reaching nearly 4.66 trillion kilowatt-hours.
Committed to green development, China aims to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, setting ambitious targets for sustainable growth.
Reference(s):
China to overhaul electricity system for green growth, energy security
cgtn.com
