During the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress, a focus on stabilizing the electricity ancillary services market was emphasized to support the government’s initiatives in building a new type of power system. The government aims to gradually increase the proportion of clean energy, reinforcing the role of renewable energy in the national energy mix.
Li Yuhua, a deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress representing Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, stressed the need to accelerate the development of the electricity spot market to complement the shift toward a new power system. To ensure the stability of existing power supply capabilities, Li proposed a continued focus on key areas such as energy storage, virtual power plants, and interruptible loads, particularly essential for peak services.
The defining feature of the new power system is its reliance on renewable energy sources. In regions like Ningxia, which is rich in coal but lacks in hydro power and natural gas, the emphasis on renewable energy becomes paramount. Ningxia serves as a national comprehensive demonstration area for new energy, presenting a model for other provinces nationwide.
Li highlighted the importance of large-scale development of new energy in Ningxia as a replicable model for advancing the construction of the new power system. Projections indicate that by 2024, Ningxia’s new energy installed capacity will surpass 46 million kilowatts, constituting 60% of the total capacity, with a power generation share exceeding 27%.
Given the limited diversity of grid regulation resources, Li emphasized the critical role of regulation resources like energy storage and intensive peak regulation of thermal power in ensuring power supply reliability and facilitating the seamless integration of new energy sources.