Seeking the optimal solution for energy transformation

　　The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China elaborated in depth on how to promote green and low-carbon development and harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Accelerating the planning and construction of a new energy system is an important guide for the transformation and upgrading of China's energy industry in the new era, and it outlines a new blueprint for the development of China's energy system.

　　Under the new situation and requirements, China's energy system still needs to accelerate its transformation in the context of the "dual carbon" target. What characteristics should be possessed in building a new energy system nowadays? What kind of support will the new power system provide for the new energy system? How to handle the relationship between traditional energy and the development of new energy? In this regard, our reporter interviewed Lin Weibin, Director of the Energy Policy Research Office of the China Energy Research Association.

　　Zhongneng Media: What are the new characteristics of China's energy security in the new development stage? What special attention should be paid to building a new energy system?

　　Lin Weibin: Previously, when we talked about China's energy security, we focused on the issue of oil and gas security, because over 70% of China's crude oil and over 40% of its natural gas rely on imports. In recent years, with the large-scale development and utilization of new energy sources such as wind power and solar power, the issue of power supply security has increasingly become a key energy security concern. Due to the intermittent and unstable characteristics of wind and solar power generation, they are deeply influenced by meteorological conditions such as wind speed and light.

　　For example, during the peak electricity consumption period in the summer of 2021, the total output of 35 million kilowatts of wind power installed in Northeast China's power grid was only 34000 kilowatts. In the summer of 2022, the wind power output during the morning peak period of the maximum load of Fujian power grid was only 13000 kilowatts, which is less than 1% of the installed capacity. In addition, conventional power sources such as hydropower are also greatly affected by meteorological conditions, especially in extreme weather conditions such as high temperatures, droughts, and cold waves, where output cannot be guaranteed. The power shortage in Sichuan in the summer of 2022 has sounded the alarm for ensuring the safety of power supply.

　　With the increasing proportion of unstable power sources in the power system and the worsening global climate change, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, and the issue of power supply security will become increasingly prominent.