Coordinated operating mechanism for renewable energy

Since 2003, China has endeavoured to increase its production of renewable energy, resulting in the construction of a substantial number of wind and photovoltaic power plants. As a continuation of this policy, China plans to a build a number of ‘power bases’ in the north and western parts of the country.

As the primary load centres are in the south and east of China, while the coal, solar and wind resources are largely in the north and west, the increased production of renewable energy has led to high levels of curtailment within the northern regions. Therefore, a more effective utilisation of renewable resources is a stated goal of the Chinese government.

The Hami Power Base is planned to consist of 8 GW of wind, 6.6 GW of coal and 1.25 GW of solar capacity, and will send electricity from Hami in the Xinjiang province to Zhengzhou in the Henan province via a 2,300 km HVDC transmission line.

To assist with a smooth transition towards an increase in renewable energy within the Chinese energy system, the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute (CREEI) designed a ‘coordinated operating mechanism’ for the Hami power base with assistance from Ea Energy Analyses and Energinet.dk

The project investigated the economic and technical aspects associated with the coordination of energy production within the Hami power base. The research was based on experiences from other energy systems with a high degree of wind power, such as the Danish Energy System, and investigated ways to incorporate and apply these experiences within the Chinese Energy System.