China unveiled an action plan on Tuesday to speed up the building of a \"new electricity system\" as part of the country's efforts to pursue low-carbon development and ensure energy security. 🌍✨
The plan, jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Energy Administration (NEA), and the National Data Administration, outlines steps to be taken in nine areas between 2024 and 2027.
Chinese authorities will work to increase the transmission of clean electricity through the grid using advanced power generation, regulation, and control technologies. With wind and solar power generation in China's deserts and desertified areas on the rise, there is a growing need to transmit this clean energy to electricity-consuming regions, according to the NEA.
By 2030, China aims to raise the total installed capacity of wind and solar power generation facilities in deserts and desertified areas to 455 million kilowatts. Currently, cross-regional transmission lines mainly transport coal and hydro power.
In addition to boosting renewables, China plans to upgrade its coal-fired power plants to achieve 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 market has been steadily advancing, with sales up 32% in the first half of 2024, creating enormous demand for charging facilities. 🚗⚡️
The plan pledges to expand charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs), strengthen the integration between EVs and the power grid, and establish standards for charging infrastructure. By the end of June, the total number of charging piles in China reached 10.24 million units, an increase of 54% year on year.
Last week, an NEA spokesperson mentioned efforts to build 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.
Tuesday's document also outlines measures to ensure the stable operation of China's electricity system and boost the development of the power distribution network.
Electricity consumption in China, a key indicator of economic activity, recorded a robust expansion in the first half of this year, climbing 8.1% to nearly 4.66 trillion kilowatt-hours. To power the world's second-largest economy, a reliable supply of electricity is essential.
Adhering to the path of green development, China has committed to the dual carbon goals of peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, aiming to reach these targets in a much shorter time span compared to developed countries. 🌿💡
