By Zhou Jianqi, Enterprise Research Institute, DRC

Research Report, No.188, 2021 (Total 6253) 2021-7-7

Abstract: Platform-based development is the goal of China’s electric grid enterprises in the new era. The national electric grid strategy is to build energy network enterprises with Chinese characteristics and world-leading capacities and to establish an energy ecosystem based on electric grid platform by 2025. The platform-based transformation of electric grid is in line with the requirements of changes induced by new energy revolution and such a project calls for key efforts to form the bilateral and multilateral electric power markets so as to ensure the opening of more channels for power access and meet the free power trading demand of power producers and consumers. The digital technologies are witnessing swift progress and have provided sound support for the platform-based transformation of electric grid. However, China is facing some hurdles to cross in realizing platform-based transformation. One, the bilateral and multilateral trading patterns of power markets are not yet in place; two, the management of electric grid needs to be promoted to meet the requirements of platform-based transformation; three, the corresponding supports need to be enhanced. To tackle the above-mentioned issues, this paper notes that we need to take the innovation of the platform-based trading pattern for new energies as the focus issue for electric grid platform-based transformation; we need to strengthen the platform management capacity of electric grid enterprises in a phased-in manner; we need to speed up the reform of corresponding supportive measures.

Keywords: platform-based transformation of electric grid, bilateral power trade, main issues, policy options