context: The US-Iran War and subsequent oil crisis has largely vindicated the PRC's long-term energy security strategy, which has sought to reduce import dependence on any one country, build up stockpiles and expand domestic production of both fossil fuels and renewables.
The State Council held its 19th group study session on 19 April on the theme of 'coordinating energy security and green low-carbon transformation, accelerating development of a new energy system'. Premier Li Qiang 李强 presided over the session. Tang Guangfu Chinese Academy of Engineering academician delivered a lecture.
In his remarks, Li emphasised
- studying and implementing Xi Jinping's 习近平 instructions on building the PRC into a strong energy nation
- improving energy security as a critical foundation for building a strong energy nation
- fully tapping the potential of renewable energy supply
- adopting coordinated national planning and accelerating the development of clean energy bases such as
- wind and solar power in northwest China
- hydropower in the southwest
- offshore wind in the east
- promoting the integrated development of distributed solar and decentralised wind, biomass, geothermal and marine energy
- continuously improving clean and efficient use of fossil fuels
- accelerating energy saving and carbon reduction upgrades of existing coal-fired plant
- promoting transformation of coal power toward basic support and system regulation roles
- adopting coordinated national planning and accelerating the development of clean energy bases such as
- fully tapping the potential of renewable energy supply
- accelerating construction of a new type of power grid
- increasing investment in transmission channels, backbone networks, new distribution systems, energy storage and charging infrastructure
- applying AI to drive digital and intelligent transformation of the grid
- coordinating energy security and transformation as a systematic project
- improving standards/certification systems, expanding application scenarios to enable producers and users of green energy to realise its value through market mechanisms
- advancing development of a unified national power market, with access, regulatory and pricing mechanisms aligned with the new energy system