For the first time, the Northwest Power Grid has surpassed 100 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in annual renewable energy transmission, reaching 100.5 billion kWh in 2024, according to the Northwest Branch of the State Grid Corporation of China.
From XINHUA
For the first time, the Northwest Power Grid has surpassed 100 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in annual renewable energy transmission, reaching 100.5 billion kWh in 2024, according to the Northwest Branch of the State Grid Corporation of China. This figure accounts for over 60% of China's interprovincial renewable energy transmission and consumption, equivalent to the annual electricity use of Tianjin. Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, renewable energy transmission from the Northwest has grown at an average annual rate of 18%, leveraging the region's vast resources and reinforcing its leading role in green energy development.
As of November 2024, the Northwest region's installed renewable energy capacity has reached 269 GW, representing 53% of the region's total capacity—double the figure at the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period. To support large-scale renewable energy transmission, the region has completed 19 interprovincial 750 kV transmission lines and 11 high-capacity DC transmission projects. These advancements provide the necessary infrastructure for efficient energy distribution. Moreover, through enhanced regional coordination, the Northwest Branch has implemented measures such as peak shaving and interprovincial energy balancing, optimizing the allocation of renewable resources. In 2024, interprovincial energy exchange within the region totaled 12.4 billion kWh, a year-on-year increase of 18.9%.
Looking ahead, the establishment of a unified national electricity market is accelerating, and the Northwest Branch is pioneering market mechanisms to integrate high proportions of renewable energy. By innovating trade models, the branch facilitated China's largest interprovincial green electricity transaction in 2024. This enabled the delivery of renewable energy from the Northwest to 21 provinces and regions, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing, supporting renewable energy utilization in the Northwest while meeting the growing demand for green electricity in the east and central parts of the country.