A Nio battery swap station. Credit: Nio
- A key highlight of the plan is incorporating EVs as a regulating resource for the power system, reflecting China’s hope to unlock the storage potential of the EV market.
- China aims for new energy to account for 30% of power generation by 2030.
China has set a new medium-term target for renewable energy development, calling for new energy to account for 30% of power generation by 2030.
The National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration jointly issued the “15th Five-Year Plan for Building a New Energy System” on Thursday, a plan that maps out the energy transition roadmap for the next five years.
The plan calls for advancing the integrated development of new energy, saying China will pursue both centralized and distributed approaches, as well as both power and non-power uses, while strengthening complementary development across multiple energy types.
Onshore wind and solar power will see large-scale, steady growth. Offshore wind will move into deeper and more distant waters, while concentrated solar power and ocean energy will achieve large-scale development.
A key highlight of the plan is incorporating electric vehicles (EVs) as a regulating resource for the power system, reflecting China’s hope to unlock the storage potential of the world’s largest EV market.
The plan calls for China to make full use of EV storage resources, exploring integrated interaction among vehicles, charging piles, charging stations and the grid, while fully promoting smart and orderly charging.
China aims for the aggregated, adjustable charging capacity from vehicle-grid interaction to reach about 50 gigawatts by 2030. This means EVs could feed significant amounts of power back to the grid during peak demand periods.
China will also accelerate the large-scale development of virtual power plants. By 2030, the regulating capacity of virtual power plants will exceed 50 gigawatts.
Charging infrastructure will also expand. The plan calls for charging facilities to reach 40 million units by 2030, doubling from current levels.
On broader transition targets, the plan calls for non-fossil energy to account for 25% of energy consumption by 2030. Wind and solar will exceed 50% of installed power capacity, becoming the mainstay of installed capacity.
Non-fossil energy will account for 50% of power generation, becoming the dominant source of electricity. Coal and oil consumption, meanwhile, will peak during this period.
Energy storage is also a focus. By 2030, pumped storage hydropower capacity will reach about 160 gigawatts, while new-type energy storage capacity will reach 300 gigawatts.
Nuclear power will be developed in an active, safe and orderly manner. The plan calls for relying mainly on third-generation pressurized water reactor technology, with operating nuclear capacity reaching about 110 gigawatts by 2030.
The plan also calls for accelerating the development of the hydrogen and green fuel industries. By 2030, renewable energy-based hydrogen production will reach 2 million tons.
China has mapped out a plan to promote new-energy heavy-duty trucks, aiming for a fleet exceeding 1.6 million vehicles by 2030.
