tech

Significant increases in the proportion of clean energy, the construction of virtual power plants, and the upgrade of new-generation coal power... Under a series of combined efforts, will residents' electricity bills decrease? And how should one face the situation when landlords charge higher electricity fees?

01

Implementation of the top-level design of electricity, how to coordinate computing power and electricity

Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Energy Administration, and the National Data Bureau jointly issued the "Action Plan for Accelerating the Construction of a New Type of Power System (2024-2027)", which clearly focuses on nine special actions to promote the construction of a new type of power system to achieve practical results. The "Action Plan" proposes to explore and implement a batch of projects that coordinate computing power and electricity, to increase the proportion of green electricity in data centers; fully leverage the regulatory capacity of new types of energy storage, and accelerate the large-scale application of new types of energy storage.

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To enhance the friendly performance of the new energy system and innovate the complementary development model of wind and photovoltaic storage and the coordinated development model of source-network-load-storage, the "Action Plan" proposes to focus on building a batch of system-friendly new energy power stations, increasing the credible output of new energy to more than 10%; explore and implement a batch of projects that coordinate computing power and electricity, to increase the proportion of green electricity in data centers; build a batch of smart microgrid projects according to local conditions, and increase the proportion of self-generation and self-use of new energy power generation.

Yu Shiyang, Director of the Big Data Development Department of the National Information Center, said that the development of large model technology and the application of artificial intelligence scenarios have brought a strong demand for computing power. The energy consumption issue of data centers has attracted attention from all parties. Promoting the coordinated innovation of computing power and electricity is of great significance for implementing national strategies, achieving key technology autonomy and controllable, cultivating new quality productivity, and promoting the high-quality development of the digital economy.

"With the 'large' and 'small' source-network-load-storage as the traction, establish a two-way integration and docking mechanism for computing power and electricity. The 'large' source-network-load-storage is an important part of the new type of power system. By optimizing and integrating the resource elements on the power side, the grid side, and the load side, and using advanced technologies such as energy storage, it realizes the innovation of the power production and consumption system, providing basic support for achieving the 'dual carbon' goals of the power industry. The 'small' source-network-load-storage is a source-network-load-storage integration system based on computing power nodes, which plans the overall operation chain of the source, network, load, and storage of the computing power node, ensuring the safety and low-cost electricity use of the computing power center." said Yu Shiyang.

02Where is the "new" in the new power system?

With the transformation of the global energy structure and the advancement of China's "dual carbon" goals, the construction of a new power system has become particularly important.

From a definitional perspective, the new power system is based on ensuring the security of energy and electricity as a fundamental premise, meeting the power needs of economic and social development as the primary goal, maximizing the consumption of new energy as the main task, relying on a strong and intelligent power grid as the hub platform, and supported by the interaction of sources, networks, loads, and storage, as well as multi-energy complementarity. It is a power system with the basic characteristics of being clean and low-carbon, safe and controllable, flexible and efficient, intelligent and friendly, and open and interactive.

The characteristics of the new power system mainly include the following aspects:

- Clean and low-carbon: This is the core goal of the new power system, aiming to gradually shift the main body of installed capacity and electricity volume to non-fossil energy generation, achieving the low-carbonization of energy consumption and the marketization of green electricity.

- Safe and efficient: As a fundamental premise, ensuring the safe, stable, and efficient operation of the power system.

- Flexible and adaptable: The new power system needs to have the capacity to handle a high proportion of renewable energy and a high proportion of power electronic equipment to address the challenges brought by random and time-varying dynamic characteristics.

- Intelligent integration: Relying on digital technology, it coordinates resources of sources, networks, loads, and storage, improves dispatch and operation mechanisms, and enhances the system's flexible adjustment capability, safety guarantee level, and overall operational efficiency.

In terms of specific implementation and construction, since the new power system utilizes advanced information and communication technology, Internet of Things technology, big data analysis, and artificial intelligence algorithms to achieve intelligent dispatching, intelligent operation and maintenance, and intelligent services of the power system, it will build a number of shared energy storage power stations and virtual power plants.The construction of shared energy storage power stations aims to enhance the system's regulatory capacity and flexibility by aggregating dispersed energy storage resources. For instance, the shared energy storage power station project in Delingha City, Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai, has a total construction scale of 270,000 kilowatts, with an accompanying capacity of 1,080,000 kilowatt-hours. It is equipped with 8 energy storage areas and 56 energy storage units, expected to provide approximately 300 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually. Such large-scale energy storage facilities not only improve the capacity for new energy integration and consumption but also ensure the stability and reliability of power supply.

In the meantime, as an intelligent grid technology, virtual power plants aggregate various adjustable resources from users to participate in the operation and scheduling of the power grid, thereby enhancing the comprehensive regulatory capabilities of the power system. Currently, several regions in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, and Jiangsu, have launched pilot projects for virtual power plants and have achieved significant results. For example, the virtual power plant pilot project in Nanjing, Jiangsu, has increased user energy efficiency by an average of 20%, while the pilot project in Wuxi has improved the overall comprehensive energy utilization rate of the park.

Furthermore, virtual power plants have a variety of application scenarios, including alleviating the contradiction between electricity supply and demand during extreme weather conditions, optimizing load management, and increasing the utilization rate of renewable energy. The State Grid has also published research reports on the technical architecture, functional applications, and business models of virtual power plants, providing the industry with a wealth of reference materials.

However, it should be noted that data from the National Energy Administration shows that, as of the end of 2023, China's coal power installed capacity is about 1.17 billion kilowatts, accounting for 40% of the total national power installed capacity. Coal used for power generation accounts for about 60% of the total national coal consumption, and carbon emissions account for about 40% of the total national carbon emissions.

This implies that for the foreseeable future, coal power remains an essential support for the reliable supply of electricity in China, and the upgrade of the new generation of coal power has become a key to the "new" in the new type of power system.

Specifically, the upgrade of the new generation of coal power will adopt low-carbon technologies such as co-firing with zero-carbon or low-carbon fuels, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) to significantly reduce the carbon emission levels of coal power. In addition, the breakthroughs in the new generation of coal power technology not only focus on the improvement of traditional peak regulation capabilities but also need to ensure that the characteristics of coal power units such as frequency modulation, rotational inertia, ramping, and backup do not deteriorate, and even should be strengthened.Residential electricity usage is expected to adopt a "one place, one policy" approach.

New types of power systems and smart grids are important development directions in China's energy sector at present. For users, smart grids can monitor and analyze their electricity usage, optimize power distribution, and thus help users save energy and reduce electricity bills. For instance, through smart meters and smart home systems, users can view their electricity consumption and costs in real-time and remotely control home appliances via mobile apps.

Most importantly, residents can adjust their electricity usage behavior based on changes in the electricity market prices, such as reducing usage during peak pricing times and increasing usage during off-peak times, effectively reducing electricity bill expenditures.

Currently, different provinces across the country implement various standards for residential electricity pricing, involving concepts like "tiered electricity pricing" and "time-of-use pricing." Tiered electricity pricing refers to setting electricity usage into several tiers, with segmented or graded pricing for calculating costs; time-of-use pricing divides the 24 hours of the day into different periods, with different electricity price levels set for each period to encourage users to arrange their electricity usage reasonably and improve the efficiency of power resource utilization.

In simple terms, tiered electricity pricing focuses on the total amount of electricity used; time-of-use pricing focuses on the timing of electricity usage, with higher prices during peak periods to encourage users to use electricity during off-peak times.

Hubei Province only implements tiered electricity pricing for residents, with the three-tier electricity rates being 0.558 yuan/kWh, 0.608 yuan/kWh, and 0.858 yuan/kWh, respectively. In places like Shanghai, residential electricity pricing is based on tiered pricing with an additional time-of-use pricing component.

Last year, Chongqing introduced a time-of-use electricity pricing mechanism for residents, where "one household, one meter" urban and rural residents and users of residential charging facilities can voluntarily choose whether to implement it. The time-of-use electricity pricing for residents is divided into peak, flat, and valley periods.As summer approaches, residents in some areas are also experiencing changes in their electricity prices, but these are routine seasonal adjustments that occur annually.

In Guangdong, the monthly electricity consumption of urban and rural residents is divided into three tiers with increasing prices, and is categorized into summer and non-summer standards. The summer standard is implemented from May to October each year, while the non-summer standard is applied for the remaining months.

Overall, smart grids have greatly facilitated residents in making flexible electricity usage plans. Tiered electricity pricing can more effectively reflect the cost of electricity, encouraging users to conserve power. Smart grids provide the necessary technical support for implementing this pricing system, such as the application of smart meters. These measures collectively promote the sustainable development of the electricity industry.

04

How to deal with landlords who illegally charge extra for electricity?

In the article "The July air conditioning electricity bill has been released, and the energy consumption level is no longer questioned by anyone," many netizens have reported encountering issues with landlords charging extra for electricity.

Recently, the Guangzhou Municipal Market Supervision Bureau responded to the public's concerns about electricity costs and called on landlords and tenants of rental properties across the city to fulfill their legal responsibilities and obligations, jointly creating a good business environment for electricity usage.

The issue of charging extra for utilities is closely related to the immediate interests of the public. To further regulate the electricity charging behavior in the housing rental process in Guangzhou, the Market Supervision Bureau reminds all landlords of rental properties that Article 33, Paragraph 1 of the "Guangzhou Electricity Supply and Use Regulations" states, "No unit or individual may violate national electricity pricing policies by charging extra or indirectly charging extra for electricity." Charging entities such as landlords and second-hand landlords should earnestly fulfill their main responsibilities for charging, conduct self-inspection and self-correction of their electricity charging behavior in accordance with laws, regulations, and relevant policy requirements, and strictly charge electricity fees based on the catalog sales prices published by the competent authorities. They must not arbitrarily increase price standards or add other fees to the electricity charges.During the rental process, both parties involved in the housing lease should negotiate the rights and obligations of the lease on an equal basis, and independently use the "Guangzhou Housing Lease Contract Model Text" [This model text can be downloaded from the "Guangzhou Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau website" or the "Guangzhou Municipal Market Supervision Administration (Intellectual Property Bureau) website"]. It is important to clarify the service charge standards related to the housing lease, fulfill their respective rights and obligations, and protect the legal rights and interests of both parties to the lease. Special attention should be paid to the management of charge receipts and vouchers; tenants should actively request and keep relevant charge documents or vouchers, and the lessor should provide them in a timely manner to minimize related disputes.

At the same time, both parties should actively engage in negotiations and mediation to resolve disputes over electricity charges. By clarifying fair and transparent billing methods, installing independent metering equipment, promoting awareness of energy conservation, and utilizing third-party mediation institutions, effective solutions to electricity fee disputes can be found, establishing a harmonious and orderly rental relationship. If, after negotiation, the parties still have different opinions on electricity charges or find instances of illegal surcharging for electricity, they may report to the local market supervision administration with relevant evidence or call the 12345 hotline for complaints and reports. Once verified, strict enforcement will be carried out in accordance with laws and regulations.

With the gradual implementation of new types of power systems, it is believed that future residential electricity use will become more affordable, and "electricity fee assassins" will have no way to operate.