The total installed capacity of new energy power generation has exceeded 100 million. What is the shape of the renewable energy power generation system?

The installed capacity of new energy exceeded the 1 billion kilowatt-hour mark and the basic construction of the "Clean Corridor" was completed

Installed capacity of new energy Most of them are located in the western region. Relying on the unique advantages of natural resources, clean corridors were born. In recent years, wind and photovoltaics have entered the fast lane of development, hydropower generation is gaining momentum, renewable resource power generation continues to grow, and utilization rates continue to improve. Among them, the "Clean Corridor" Three Gorges has achieved remarkable results. At present, six large-scale cascade power stations have been built on the main stream of the Yangtze River, including Wudongde, Baihetan, Xiluodu, Xiangjiaba, Three Gorges and Gezhouba, with a designed installed capacity of 110 units and a total installed capacity of 71.695 million kilowatts. As of October this year, the cumulative power generation of the six major cascade power stations is approximately 2,891.6 billion kilowatt-hours, which is equivalent to saving approximately 883.3838 million tons of standard coal and reducing emissions of 2,327 million tons of carbon dioxide, 1.1232 million tons of sulfur dioxide, and 1.0374 million tons of nitrogen oxides, which can support approximately 1.0374 million tons of nitrogen oxides in our country. GDP of 39 trillion yuan.

Major projects such as clean corridors and wind power and photovoltaics focus on ensuring energy and people's livelihood, strengthening regional clean energy supply, giving full play to the role of large total electricity volume and strong peak-shaving capabilities, alleviating the problems in Central China, East China, Sichuan, and The electricity consumption situation in Yunnan, Guangdong and other provinces is tense. Renewable energy plays an important role in the stable operation of the power grid and the safe transmission of electricity, and is a strong support for the "West-to-East Power Transmission" strategy.

Generally speaking, the current installed capacity and utilization rate of renewable energy are showing an overall steady increase.

Coal is still the “number one” in power generation, and it is difficult to change the energy power generation structure

However, it must also be noted that although it can Renewable energy power generation has a large installed capacity, but it is not the main force of the energy power generation system. Coal power is still the fulcrum of the power generation system. According to data from the Energy Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s power system has maintained high speed in recent years.Growth, the national power generation capacity was approximately 1 trillion kilowatt hours in 2000, rising to 7.5 trillion kilowatt hours in 2020. Among them, thermal power accounts for the highest proportion, with coal power consumption accounting for 84% of all types of power generation consumption in 2020.

Although the renewable energy system is under construction, the market still shows a situation where coal power is the main force driving the construction of renewable energy power, that is, coal power is the main force and renewable resources generate electricity. As a supplement. This has resulted in a situation where fossil energy and renewable energy are co-expanding in the market. The direct consequence is that the utilization rate of coal power remains high, and renewable energy has large installed capacity but insufficient power.

So with the development of renewable energy today, why does coal power still rank first in the power generation list? There are three reasons.

First, compared with the cost of power generation from other renewable energy sources, the cost of coal power is lower. Take the Three Gorges Hydropower Station as an example. Hydropower stations have a long construction period and high maintenance costs. Second, coal power generation in my country started early, has a long history, is used frequently, and the technology is relatively mature. In addition, thermal power stations have strong stability and have become the main energy source for peak shaving in various regions. They are also needed to make up for and provide emergency support when the supply of electricity and heat is tight. Third, coal has been called "industrial food". Compared with other fossil energy sources such as oil and gas, my country's coal resources have abundant energy storage, large mining volume, large adjustment space, and strong adjustment ability. The advantages of coal energy and technology have formed a system structure that uses coal power generation to drive renewable resource power generation.

In this structure, clean energy is attached to the development of thermal power, making it difficult to truly change the new situation. The main body remains unchanged, and the power generation system with the clean energy system as the fulcrum still needs to be built.

What is the difficulty of changing the energy generation system? In fact, the safe transformation of the energy and power system structure still needs more support. First of all, short-term energy security needs to be guaranteed, and people's livelihood energy consumption such as electricity, oil and gas, and long-term electricity are given top priority. Secondly, electricity prices and fuel costs need to be balanced to overcome short-term fluctuations and strengthen the motivation for long-term goals. In addition, the transformation of energy generation structure will inevitably lead to a variety of new business forms, and the government needs to pay attention to the rationality and scale of control.

It seems that the renewable energy power generation system is not perfect, the preparation is acceptable, but the implementation is difficult. The key to the new system is to break the dominance of coal power, so the renewable energy power generation landscape needs further implementation planning to truly achieve "substitution" rather than "co-expansion."

Editor’s note: It is good to see an increase in new energy installed capacity, but we still have to see the fundamental purpose of increasing the construction of a clean energy system—to change the structure of traditional fossil energy power generation.structure and transform into a new cycle system in which renewable energy is the main source of power generation. It should also be noted that reshaping the energy power generation pattern means not only ensuring people's livelihood electricity consumption, but also meeting energy consumption targets, and reaching green targets for renewable energy. The task is arduous but full of infinite possibilities.

　(Original title: The total installed capacity of new energy power generation has exceeded 100 million. What is the shape of the renewable energy power generation system?)