Closing the development gap through grid interconnection
- By Zhai Yongping
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, May 5, 2016
Q: What is the biggest challenge in global energy cooperation and grid interconnection, and how can we deal with the challenge?
A: The biggest obstacle is the imbalance in national and regional power industry development, especially in the field of electric infrastructure development. Some countries' electric infrastructure has been outdated for a long time, the power industry planning lacks foresight, the grid has a low intelligence level and relevant technologies are extremely backwards. These cannot meet the requirements of low-carbon development and hinder the interconnection of grid between different countries. So every country should strengthen the construction of its grid to form a reliable and intelligent grid system. The backward countries should upgrade their grids, and more countries should embrace intelligent grids.
The old transmission and distribution grid cannot extend into remote places like the new intelligent micro-grid. The intelligent grid can effectively lower operating cost, and the energy storage system and intelligent electric meters can have demand-side response. Furthermore, an intelligent grid can enhance the stability of a grid and lead to efficient monitoring.
The bank's new investment project in India is to help the country build a green energy corridor, which will help India build a more stable and intelligent grid and increase electric energy production in wind power and solar power projects.
China's State Grid Corporation President Liu Zhenya proposed to build up a global energy internet in three progressive steps: interconnection in a country, then on a continent and then between continents. For countries and regions with underdeveloped power infrastructures, the construction of large-scale grid should also follow a progressive order.
For example, the integration of grid between Thailand and Cambodia started with one-way small-volume power trade between Thailand to Cambodian villages on the border. And Laos' power exports to Thailand are through a special point-to-point transmission line, which is the primary stage of electric interconnection and power trade in larger scales. For these countries, the interconnection of electricity starts with small-volume border power trade, then goes to point-to-point connection and then to grid-to-grid interconnection and system-to-system interconnection, so as to optimize the whole electric system and distribute resources over a larger space.
Q: The development gap is a challenge. Does it also mean a space for the future electric development of these countries?
A: Yes, it does. The interconnection of electricity can stimulate the electric industry's development in these countries, optimize their electric planning and make a thorough use of renewable energy, particularly the water power's potential. These countries have a considerably large space for infrastructure transformation and construction. In the new round of grid development, decision makers should consider the introduction of renewable energy and energy storage system, so as to actively promote the construction of intelligent grid and avoid the building of new thermal power plants.
Q: Apart from funding and technology, what does the regional electric cooperation need most?
A: In Asia, we need coordination among policymakers in different countries. There is also a need for an open electricity trade market, as well as a market supervision organization to maintain the regulations. These three factors constitute the foundation for the integration of grid in Europe, but they are still absent in Asia.
The article was first published in Chinese and translated by Jason Lee.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)