Hainan holds global forum on energy sector

The 5th New Power System International Forum and the 20th China Southern Power Grid International Science and Technology Forum kicked off on Monday in Boao, Hainan province.

Themed "Building the new power system faster to serve new quality productive force development", the event has attracted energy and power regulatory authorities, businesses, industry associations, and academic experts from both domestic and international sectors. Participants convened to delve into the developmental trajectory of new power systems, chart blueprints for constructing innovative energy systems, and foster collaboration on the future landscape of global energy and power cooperation.

Li Licheng, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the honorary chairman of the CSG Expert Committee, underscored the pivotal role of the new grid system as the linchpin of a contemporary power system and an inventive energy framework. At the heart of this transformative energy shift lies the advancement of renewable sources, with their integration and utilization contingent upon the progress in new grid infrastructure.

In China, about 95 percent of non-fossil energy sources are converted into electricity for practical use. Statistics from the China Southern Power Grid show that non-fossil energy constitutes 63 percent of installed capacity and 55 percent of electricity generation in the southern region. Looking ahead to 2030, the company aims to facilitate the installation of over 400 million kilowatts of new energy in the five southern provinces.

A significant upcoming endeavor, the Xizang-Guangdong High-Voltage Direct Current Transmission Project, carries substantial implications for the advancement of hydropower in Xizang and the transmission of clean energy. Once initiated, this ±800 kilovolt ultra-high-voltage DC transmission project will enable the sustained transmission of clean energy from western regions to key load centers like the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Hainan Free Trade Port, said CSG Chairman Meng Zhenping.

Zheng Waisheng, general manager of the strategic planning department at CSG and board chairman of CSG Electric Power Research Institute, unveiled plans to establish 35 demonstration zones tailored for new power systems across seven major scenarios, with a keen focus on the large-scale integration of new energy sources. By year-end, these zones will undergo comprehensive evaluation and the selection of 15 cutting-edge technologies and business models for further promotion. "The company is committed to accelerating the development of experimental fields to trial new technologies, equipment, and models for new power systems, with the goal of transforming Yunnan and Hainan into provincial demonstration areas for new power systems by 2035," he added.

Drawing from the example of Boao's Dongyu Island, permanent venue of the Boao Forum for Asia, the island has made significant strides in achieving green energy supply and full electrification of energy consumption. Carbon emissions have dwindled by 97 percent compared to 2019, edging closer to zero carbon emissions, according to Hainan Power Grid Co. By 2035, Hainan province is expected to emerge as a fully-fledged province showcasing new power systems, boasting clean energy generation capacity and electricity share surpassing 90 percent.