Summary of Key Points
This summer, the national electricity demand has repeatedly broken historical records during peak usage periods, yet the power supply has remained stable overall. Even if there is a widespread and prolonged heatwave in the future, the maximum national electricity demand is expected to reach 1.6 billion kilowatts (an increase of 90 million kilowatts from last year), and the supply and demand should still be able to remain balanced. This is supported by an adequate supply of primary energy sources, a significant increase in new power installations (especially supportive and renewable energy sources), strong inter-provincial power transmission capabilities, and sufficient coal reserves. The government has also taken measures such as ensuring the commissioning of power generation projects, enhancing cross-regional power distribution, optimizing the electricity market framework, and leveraging new types of energy storage to address peak demand challenges. In the future, additional efforts will be made in areas such as monitoring and early warning systems, multi-source coordination, and disaster prevention.
Three Key Reasons for the Current Stable Power Supply
Ordinary people might wonder: With the hot weather and high electricity consumption, how is there enough power? There are actually three key factors supporting this stability:
1. New Power Installations Meet Demand: In June this year, approximately 400 million kilowatts of additional power generation capacity were added compared to the same period last year (equivalent to 40 large power plants with each generating 10 million kilowatts). Of these, 110 million kilowatts came from reliable sources such as hydropower and coal-fired power, which can be dispatched promptly when needed, acting as a stabilizing factor for the supply.
2. Efficient Cross-Provincial Power Transmission: There are 46 ultra-high voltage transmission lines across the country, capable of transmitting over 340 million kilowatts of electricity from the western regions to the eastern areas in need. On July 14th, during peak demand, a record 278 million kilowatts were transmitted across provinces and regions, helping to alleviate the load on the energy-deficient areas.
3. Sufficient Coal Reserves: Power plants under national regulation have coal reserves that can last for more than 30 days, providing a reliable backup source of energy.
Renewable Energy Becomes a Critical Force in Power Supply
Renewable energy sources are now playing an increasingly important role in power supply:
- Growing Share of Total Capacity: As of the end of June, the combined capacity of wind and solar power installations reached 1.951 billion kilowatts, accounting for 48.3% of the total capacity. The installed capacity of solar power is nearly on par with that of coal-fired power.
- Significant Contribution to Electricity Generation: Renewable energy generated 1.25 trillion kilowatt-hours in the first half of the year, accounting for one-quarter of the total electricity consumption, which is more than three times the electricity used by the tertiary sector (such as services and commerce). This means that one out of every four kilowatts of electricity we use comes from wind or solar power.
Three Strategic Measures to Cope with High Temperature and Heavy Demand
In response to the early, intense, and prolonged heatwave this year, the National Energy Administration has implemented three key measures:
1. Accelerated Construction of Power Generation and Transmission Infrastructure: An additional 40 million kilowatts of supportive power capacity were added in the first half of the year, including the commissioning of an ultra-high voltage direct current project from Shaanxi to Anhui, providing a new power transmission line for the energy-deficient areas.
2. Enhanced Cross-Regional Power Sharing: By transferring excess electricity from surplus regions to deficient ones, the government is helping to balance the supply. On July 14th, 278 million kilowatts were transmitted across regions, which is more than half of Jiangsu's peak demand (Jiangsu's peak demand is approximately 50 million kilowatts).
3. More Flexible Electricity Markets: Power transactions used to be mainly conducted on weekdays, but now the medium- and long-term markets in 19 provinces are open daily throughout the year, allowing companies to adjust their electricity usage according to actual needs, reducing supply-demand imbalances.
New Types of Energy Storage as Emergency Backup
New energy storage technologies (such as lithium-ion batteries) act like portable power sources for the electric grid, discharging during peak times and charging during off-peak periods. This year, their role has been particularly prominent:
- Rapid Growth in Capacity: By the end of June, the installed capacity of new energy storage systems reached 153 million kilowatts (396 million kilowatt-hours), a 61% increase from last year.
- Improved Utilization Rates: The equivalent utilization hours of energy storage systems in the northern power grid region reached 573 hours (an increase of 9 hours), and in the southern region, it reached 626 hours (an increase of 41 hours), indicating that these systems are being used more frequently to support peak demand.
Additional Measures for Future Supply Security
To ensure a stable power supply, the government will take the following actions:
1. Close Monitoring of Risks: Strengthen monitoring of high temperatures, water flow in river basins (which affect hydropower generation), and grid safety. Each province has its own strategy to address potential issues promptly.
2. Multi-Source Coordination: Coal-fired power will serve as a backup, while gas-fired power, pumped storage facilities, new energy storage systems, and virtual power plants (which integrate small users such as charging stations and industrial loads) will also be utilized to manage demand peaks effectively.
3. Disaster Prevention: Enhanced inspections of critical transmission lines, grid facilities in flood-prone areas, and old residential districts. In the event of a power outage, efforts will be made to restore power quickly to minimize disruptions in daily life.
In summary, this year's power supply during peak summer demand is supported by solid infrastructure, innovative solutions, and comprehensive planning. Ordinary citizens need not worry too much about power outages. Of course, it’s always good to practice energy conservation!