China's National Energy Administration issued implementation opinions to advance
integration of coal-fired power and renewables, requiring that integration must
not reduce coal units' ability to provide system support and flexibility.
Renewable capacity in integration projects must be sized to match the enhanced
regulating capability delivered by coal-unit upgrades. The guidance calls for
stronger coal decarbonization to materially improve decarbonization quality and
efficiency, measures to boost renewable offtake and cut wind/solar curtailment,
and support for diversified innovation and pilot deployments of integration
technologies. Integration models should be chosen by local conditions; by the
end of the 15th Five-Year Plan the NEA expects mature application of integration
scenarios and significant reductions in annual carbon emissions versus
pre-retrofit/pre-construction levels.
