National Energy Administration: Five Major Scenario Models Defined for the Integrated Development of Coal Power and New Energy; Integrated Projects Aim to Reduce Annual Carbon Emissions by More Than 10%

Title context: National Energy Administration: Five Major Scenario Models Defined for the Integrated Development of Coal Power and New Energy; Integrated Projects Aim to Reduce Annual Carbon Emissions by More Than 10% Text: Recently, the National Energy Administration issued implementation opinions on promoting the integrated development of coal power and new energy. It states that the integration of coal power and new energy should be implemented without reducing the supporting and regulating capacity of coal power for the power system. The scale of new energy in integrated projects should match the regulating capacity enhanced by the upgrading and transformation of coal power units. Strengthen coal power carbon reduction and effectively improve the quality and efficiency of coal power carbon reduction. Promote new energy consumption, reduce wind and solar curtailment, and effectively enhance the level of new energy consumption. Encourage diversified innovation and support the exploration of pilot applications of integration technologies. Adhere to adapting to local conditions and scientifically select suitable integration scenario models. By the end of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the integration scenario models of coal power and new energy will be maturely applied, and the annual carbon emission level of integrated projects will be significantly lower than before transformation and construction. The original text is as follows: Implementation Opinions of the National Energy Administration on Promoting the Integrated Development of Coal Power and New Energy Guoneng Fa Dianli [2026] No. 69 To the energy bureaus of all provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government), the development and reform commissions of relevant provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Management, all dispatched agencies, State Grid Corporation of China, China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd., China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd., China Datang Corporation Ltd., China Huadian Corporation Ltd., State Power Investment Corporation Limited, China Three Gorges Corporation, China Energy Investment Corporation, State Development & Investment Corp., Ltd., China Resources (Holdings) Co., Ltd., China International Engineering Consulting Corporation, China National Coal Group Corp., China Electricity Council, Electric Power Planning and Engineering Institute, and China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute: The integration of coal power and new energy is an important lever for advancing energy conservation and carbon reduction in the coal power industry and an effective means of promoting new energy consumption. In order to implement the Opinions of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council on Doing a Better Job in Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction at a Higher Level and with Higher Quality, implement the "15th Five-Year Plan" for the Construction of a New-Type Power System, and promote the integrated development of coal power and new energy, the following implementation opinions are hereby proposed. I. Overall Requirements The integration of coal power and new energy should be implemented without reducing the supporting and regulating capacity of coal power for the power system. The scale of new energy in integrated projects should match the regulating capacity enhanced by the upgrading and transformation of coal power units. Strengthen coal power carbon reduction and effectively improve the quality and efficiency of coal power carbon reduction. Promote new energy consumption, reduce wind and solar curtailment, and effectively enhance the level of new energy consumption. Encourage diversified innovation and support the exploration of pilot applications of integration technologies. Adhere to adapting to local conditions and scientifically select suitable integration scenario models. By the end of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the integration scenario models of coal power and new energy will be maturely applied, and the annual carbon emission level of integrated projects will be significantly lower than before transformation and construction. II. Scenario Models (1) New energy directly connected to nearby public coal power units to achieve coordinated transmission and consumption Support coal power units in further reducing the minimum technical output through deep peak-shaving transformation, freeing up generation space for nearby new energy access and achieving new energy substitution for coal power generation. Encourage the supporting transformation and construction of energy storage and heat storage systems to achieve "low-storage, high-discharge" after nearby new energy access, and use coal power transmission lines to achieve coordinated transmission. Encourage integrated projects to reduce annual carbon emission levels by more than 5% compared with before integration, and strive to reduce them by more than 10%. (2) New energy directly connected to nearby public combined heat and power coal power units to achieve clean heating Support the coordinated operation of new energy and heating systems of public coal power units, improve grid-related performance such as peak-shaving and peak-load support capabilities of coal power units, and reduce the proportion of heating obstruction. In northern livelihood heating areas, encourage qualified coal power units to achieve new energy substitution for coal power heating through the transformation and construction of electric heating, heat storage, and other electric-thermal coordinated systems, consolidating the results of clean heating. (3) Offshore wind power directly connected to coastal public coal power units to achieve coordinated transmission and consumption Support coastal areas with tight offshore wind power transmission routes in coordinating offshore wind power planning, landing point site selection, collection station layout, etc., deeply tapping the potential of coastal transmission systems to load centers and corridor resources, carrying out deep peak-shaving transformation and construction of coal power units and capacity expansion transformation of transmission systems, and achieving coordinated operation and transmission of offshore wind power after landing relying on coastal coal power units and their transmission systems. Encourage integrated projects to reduce annual carbon emission levels by more than 5% compared with before integration, and strive to reduce them by more than 10%. (4) Nearby new energy connected to captive coal power units to achieve bundled utilization Support captive coal power units in reducing the minimum technical output through deep peak-shaving transformation. While playing a supporting and regulating role, they should integrate as much as possible to free up generation space for bundled utilization of nearby new energy. Nearby new energy can be connected through the public grid or directly to captive coal power units to achieve substitution of power generation and heat supply of captive coal power units and meet the green energy use requirements of key industries. Encourage integrated projects to reduce annual carbon emission levels by more than 5% compared with before integration, and strive to reduce them by more than 10%. (5) In-plant or nearby new energy directly connected to coal power plant energy use systems to achieve green substitution of coal power's own energy use Support distributed new energy within the plant area or nearby new energy to be directly connected to the energy use systems of coal power plants, enabling new energy to directly participate in auxiliary power and other coal power plant energy use links and improving the level of green energy substitution. The construction of distributed new energy within the plant area should make full use of spatial conditions such as coal yards, main power buildings, front plant areas, and ancillary facilities. III. Technical Requirements (6) Increase the implementation of energy conservation and carbon reduction transformation of coal power. Existing coal power units should free up space for new energy consumption and utilization through regulating capacity transformation, adding energy storage and heat storage systems, capacity expansion of transmission systems, and construction of in-plant or nearby new energy. (7) Clarify the grid connection method of new energy in integrated projects. Integrated projects should form clear physical and responsibility interfaces with the public grid and fairly bear relevant costs. New energy in integrated projects may choose to be directly connected to energy storage and heat storage facilities within the coal power plant area, or may choose to be connected to in-plant distribution equipment or the first access point of the transmission system, forming a unified whole and then sharing lines for transmission. In principle, the straight-line distance from the edge of the new energy site of an integrated project to the coal power plant site shall not exceed 100 kilometers. (8) Optimize the new energy access line scheme of integrated projects. Systematically review the access conditions of coal power plants and the corridor resources for new energy access lines, optimize path schemes, and minimize crossings with existing grid lines. Where strengthening of transmission lines is involved, implement in accordance with current national and industry policies and standards. (9) Clarify the metering method for coal power and new energy integrated projects. Integrated projects should have independent electricity metering conditions for coal power and new energy, reasonably set gateway metering meters, and ensure clear metering interfaces and accurate results. (10) Ensure the grid-related performance of coal power and new energy integrated projects. New energy in integrated projects should achieve "observable, measurable, adjustable, and controllable." New energy and energy storage in integrated projects should meet relevant technical standards and safety requirements. If connected to the coal power plant energy use system, they should not affect the grid-related performance of the coal power plant. After grid-connected operation, the transient (static) stability, short-circuit current level, and power quality of integrated projects should meet the relevant standards and requirements for power system security and stability. (11) Encourage technology research, development, and application. Strengthen technology research and development in energy storage and heat storage, wide-temperature-range molten salt and other heat storage media, ultra-high (super-high) temperature heat pumps, electric heating equipment, coordinated operation platforms, etc., support full-chain collaborative innovation among industry, academia, research, and application, and promote the technologies to mature and be applied as soon as possible. (12) Accelerate the construction of the standards system. Establish and improve the standards system for planning and design, commissioning acceptance, and production operation of coal power and new energy integration, improve standards and specifications for coordinated operation of coal power and new energy and participation in electricity, green certificate, carbon trading, and other markets, and form a carbon emission accounting method for coal power and new energy integrated projects. IV. Improve Policy Mechanisms (13) Innovate the development and implementation models of integrated projects, encourage coordinated development and implementation by the same entity, or implementation and operation through the establishment of consortia. Support integrated projects in participating in electricity and carbon market trading. (14) Integrated projects shall operate according to the current power dispatch mechanism and achieve coordinated operation through participation in the electricity market. Encourage all regions to explore and innovate operating methods according to local conditions and reasonably reflect the environmental value of integrated projects. Curtailed power generated by new energy in integrated projects shall not be included in the statistics and assessment of new energy utilization rates. (15) Increase central government funding support and provide financial subsidies to eligible coal power and new energy integrated projects. Encourage power generation enterprises to actively explore and broaden investment and financing channels and revitalize and make good use of existing infrastructure. V. Organization and Implementation Support provincial energy authorities, together with relevant departments, in formulating detailed policy measures for supporting the integrated development of coal power and new energy in their regions in light of local realities, clarifying requirements for the disposal of grid line assets, verification of peak-load support capacity of integrated projects, etc., improving market and price mechanisms, strengthening factor guarantees, and guiding grid enterprises and power generation enterprises in project implementation, construction, and operation. Grid enterprises shall do a good job in grid connection services and dispatch operation for coal power and new energy integrated projects. All dispatched agencies of the National Energy Administration shall strengthen supervision, promptly carry out follow-up evaluation of policy effectiveness and project progress, and report major situations in a timely manner. This article is edited from the official website of the National Energy Administration; GMTEight editor: Chen Siyu.