China Zuidelijke elektriciteitsnet-energieopslagkast

Does China's electric grid lack generation capacity?

“China’s electric grid doesn’t lack generation capacity. The grid lacks adequate flexibility and responsiveness,” said Xie. “In order to scale up renewable energy in time to make it to net zero [by] 2060, China needs to resolve these dire inefficiencies in its grid infrastructure and grid management.”

Why is China's power grid creaking?

China ’s creaking grid represents a major constraint to progress on its green energy transition. During the first four months of this year alone, China invested Rmb122.9bn ($17bn) in its power grid projects, a 24.9 per cent year-on-year increase.

What challenges will China's grid face?

Ken Liu, head of China renewables, utilities and energy research at UBS, said a critical challenge was the improvement of the dispatch system, or software that controls electricity flows to residential, commercial and industrial users. Liu expects as much as 15 per cent of China’s total grid capital spending to be allocated to this software.

Is inflexibility a problem in China's electric grid?

“Inflexibility in China’s electric grid is a big problem now, and will be an even bigger problem later if it’s not addressed soon,” said Xie, adding that dependency on coal will make the nation’s energy transition more difficult.