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Energy Transitions Require Innovation in Power System Planning
The relationship between electricity supply and demand changes in low carbon systems The past year has seen a rising number of countries pledging to reach net zero emissions in the coming decades. Even many countries without net zero pledges are pursuing increasingly ambitious decarbonisation plans. Meeting these targets will reshape the power sector in the coming decades.In 2021, the IEA released its landmark global roadmap, Net Zero by 2050, which detailed two parallel transformations for the power sector as it decarbonises. The first is that variable renewables will increasingly be the foundation of low carbon power generation. The second…
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Status of Power System Transformation 2018: Summary for Policy Makers
…system flexibility encompasses all relevant characteristics of a power system that facilitates the reliable and cost-effective management of variability and uncertainty in both supply and demand. A lack of system flexibility can reduce the resilience of power systems, or lead to the loss of substantial amounts of clean electricity through curtailment of variable renewable energy sources. Power plants play a critical role in enhancing system flexibility. Based on a wealth of real-life case studies and data, this report provides a comprehensive overview of how power plants can contribute to making power systems more flexible, while enhancing electricity security…
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Status of Power System Transformation 2018
…system flexibility encompasses all relevant characteristics of a power system that facilitates the reliable and cost-effective management of variability and uncertainty in both supply and demand.
A lack of system flexibility can reduce the resilience of power systems, or lead to the loss of substantial amounts of clean electricity through curtailment of variable renewable energy sources. Power plants play a critical role in enhancing system flexibility. Based on a wealth of real-life case studies and data, this report provides a comprehensive overview of how power plants can contribute to making power systems more flexible, while enhancing electricity security…
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China Power System Transformation
…WEO SDS, activating the demand side – especially electric vehicles – and targeted use of electricity storage are found to be crucial for an accelerated transformation of the Chinese power system. Highlights The rise of low-cost wind and solar power, deployment of distributed energy resources (DER) and increasing digitalisation are accelerating change in power systems around the world, including the People’s Republic of China (“China”). With the right framework conditions in place, these trends can combine, leading to a much stronger integration between the demand and supply sides while allowing a more rapid uptake of variable generation resources, notably wind…
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Meeting Power System Flexibility Needs in China by 2030
A market-based policy toolkit for the 15th Five-Year Plan The People’s Republic of China is deploying record levels of wind and solar PV, challenging the flexibility of its power system. At the same time, China has been making big steps towards implementing markets, and the goals announced in 2020 of carbon dioxide emissions peaking before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060 have added momentum to expand their footprint.This report investigates the evolving flexibility requirements of China’s power system as it transitions towards a cleaner energy mix. The analysis aims to present a market-based policy…
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Building a Unified National Power Market System in China
Pathways for spot power markets Power markets are an instrument used globally to ensure electricity security while maintaining affordability and incentivising decarbonisation. The People’s Republic of China (hereafter, “China”) has been making big steps towards implementing markets, and the goals announced in 2020 of carbon dioxide emissions peaking before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060 have added momentum to expand their footprint. Provinces have taken a leading role in designing and implementing markets. To improve sharing of resources, the guidance to implement a unified national market system pushes for more co-ordination between provinces.The main audience of this…
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China's Power Sector Reforms: Where to next?
…In 2005, China added the equivalent of all the power plants in Norway and Sweden to its electricity generating capacity - and its remarkable demand growth shows no sign of abating. But how can the government best assure affordable and environmentally sustainable electricity supply in the future? Assessing the current state of electricity regulation in China, this report draws on experience elsewhere to explore how better to develop and communicate strategy, how to moderate growth in demand through increased efficiency, how to integrate environmental goals into planning and operation, how to ensure sufficient supply when and where it is needed, and…
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Integrating Distributed Energy Resources in China
Lessons from international experience Like no other country in the world, the People’s Republic of China (hereafter, “China”) is witnessing rapid growth in distributed energy resources (DERs), including rooftop solar photovoltaics, battery storage and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. As China advances towards its carbon peaking and neutrality goals, these resources offer a unique opportunity to support a more flexible, efficient and resilient power system, provided their integration is well-managed.This report analyses recent trends in DER deployment across China and highlights the emerging challenges their growth poses for power system planning and operation, calling for renewed attention to…
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Climate Impacts on South and Southeast Asian Hydropower
Hydropower accounts for 14.5% of total electricity generation in South and Southeast Asia, with a total hydropower installed capacity of 117 GW. The installed hydropower capacity is expected to grow further in order to meet the region’s growing electricity demand and electricity export opportunities, and to maximise the merits of a cost-effective and flexible low-carbon power source. However, climate change poses an increasing challenge to South and Southeast Asian hydropower with rising temperatures, extreme rainfall patterns, melting glaciers, and increasing occurrence of extreme weather events.This report aims to support South and Southeast Asian hydropower in…
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Renewables 2020
…the electricity heat and transport sectors. Executive summary Renewables’ resilience is driven by the electricity sector In sharp contrast to all other fuels, renewables used for generating electricity will grow by almost 7% in 2020. Global energy demand is set to decline 5% – but long-term contracts, priority access to the grid and continuous installation of new plants are all underpinning strong growth in renewable electricity. This more than compensates for declines in bioenergy for industry and biofuels for transport – mostly the result of lower economic activity. The net result is an overall increase of 1% in renewable energy demand…
