China has unveiled an ambitious action plan aimed at accelerating the development of a new electricity system to foster low-carbon growth and enhance energy security. The plan, announced on Tuesday, outlines strategic initiatives to be implemented between 2024 and 2027.
Jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Energy Administration (NEA), and the National Data Administration, the plan focuses on nine key areas that will reshape the nation’s energy landscape.
One of the core objectives is to boost the transmission of clean energy through the power grid using advanced generation, regulation, and control technologies. As wind and solar power generation in China’s deserts and desertified regions continues to expand, there is an increasing demand to deliver this clean electricity to energy-consuming areas.
The NEA emphasized the importance of this initiative in a press release, highlighting plans to raise the total installed capacity of wind and solar power facilities in deserts and desertified areas to 455 million kilowatts by 2030. Currently, cross-regional transmission lines mainly transport coal and hydro power.
The plan also addresses the transformation of coal-fired power plants, aiming for a substantial reduction in carbon emissions. “Coal-fired power will remain a crucial source of reliable electricity supply in our country. To achieve the goal of peaking carbon emissions, it is necessary to accelerate the low-carbon transformation of this sector,” the NEA stated.
China’s new-energy vehicle (NEV) market has been advancing steadily, with sales up 32 percent in the first half of 2024. This surge has created significant demand for charging facilities across the country. In response, the plan pledges to expand charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs), strengthen the integration between EVs and the power grid, and establish comprehensive standards for charging infrastructure.
By the end of June, China had installed a total of 10.24 million charging piles, marking a 54 percent increase year-on-year, according to official data. The NEA is also promoting the development of charging facilities in rural areas to tap into the potential of EV sales, with one-third of the country’s provincial-level regions having built charging piles in towns and villages.
The action plan further specifies measures to ensure the stable operation of the electricity system and to enhance the development of the power distribution network. China’s electricity consumption, a key indicator of economic activity, expanded by 8.1 percent in the first half of this year, reaching nearly 4.66 trillion kilowatt-hours. As the world’s second-largest economy, China requires a reliable and efficient power supply to support its growth.
Adhering to a path of green development, China has committed to achieving its dual carbon goals of peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and attaining carbon neutrality by 2060, a timeline that is notably shorter than those of many developed countries. The unveiling of this action plan underscores China’s dedication to sustainable energy transformation and its influential role in global environmental efforts.
Reference(s):
China to overhaul electricity system for green growth, energy security
cgtn.com
