China unveils 4 trillion yuan grid plan as coal remains backbone through 2030
At the 2026 New Power System Development Forum in Chongli, Hebei, Chinese officials and industry leaders outlined plans for the 2026-2030 period. State Grid announced 4 trillion yuan in fixed-asset investment. Officials stated coal power will remain the primary electricity source through 2030, while non-fossil energy is forecast to reach 50% of generation. AI computing demand was identified as a new variable reshaping grid operations.
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China's 15th Five-Year Plan: Coal Remains Key as AI Computing Power Reshapes Power Grid
At the 2026 New Power System Development Forum in Chongli, Chinese officials and experts outlined plans for the '15th Five-Year Plan' period (2026-2030) to build a new-type power system supporting the 'dual carbon' goals. National Energy Administration Deputy Director He Yang called for coordinated efforts across generation, grid, load, and storage. The plan targets 50% non-fossil fuel power generation by 2030, with new energy becoming the main installed capacity but coal remaining the primary power source. China Engineering Academy academician Liu Jizhen stated coal consumption will still grow during the period, and new coal power must balance flexibility, safety, and economy. A new variable is the explosive growth of AI computing power and data centers, which US Engineering Academy academician Bian Jianhua said is transforming the grid from a transmission network into a 'super operating system' requiring grid-forming technologies and digital scheduling. State Grid and China Southern Grid outlined actions to build main-distribution-microgrid coordinated systems. The forum emphasized that market mechanisms and technological innovation are both needed to achieve the 2030 preliminary completion target.
Read sourceChina's 15th Five-Year Plan: Coal Backbone, AI Computing Reshapes Power Grid
At the 2026 New Power System Development Forum in Chongli, Chinese officials and industry leaders outlined plans for the '15th Five-Year Plan' period (2026-2030) to build a new-type power system supporting carbon neutrality goals. National Energy Administration Deputy Director He Yang called for coordinated efforts across generation, grid, storage, and consumption. Key forecasts include: by 2030, non-fossil energy will account for 50% of power generation, and new energy will become the main installed capacity, but coal power will remain the main source of electricity. Chinese Academy of Engineering academician Liu Jizhen stated coal consumption will still grow during the period, and new-generation coal power must balance flexibility, safety, and economy. A new variable identified is AI computing power demand, which US National Academy of Engineering academician Bian Jianhua said is transforming grids from transmission networks into 'super operating systems' that can turn AI loads into dispatchable flexible resources. Grid companies like State Grid and China Southern Power Grid are focusing on main-distribution-microgrid coordination and technological innovation.
Read sourceChina's 15th Five-Year Plan: Coal Remains Key as AI Compute Reshapes Power Grid by 2030
At the 2026 New Power System Development Forum in Chongli, Chinese officials and experts outlined plans for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) to build a new power system supporting the 'dual carbon' goals. National Energy Administration Deputy Director He Yang called for coordinated efforts across generation, grid, load, and storage. The plan aims for non-fossil energy to account for 50% of power generation by 2030, with the new power system initially taking shape. Chinese Academy of Engineering academician Liu Jizhen stated that while new energy will become the main installed capacity, coal power will remain the main source of electricity generation. A new variable identified is the explosive growth of AI computing demand, which US National Academy of Engineering academician Bian Jianhua said is transforming the grid from a transmission network into a 'super operating system' for flexible scheduling. Grid companies like State Grid and China Southern Power Grid outlined actions to build coordinated main-distribution-microgrid systems, while power generation firms like China Datang emphasized the need for safety, market mechanisms, and green electricity consumption.
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China's New Power System Investment to Reach 4 Trillion Yuan, Market Opportunities Emerge
At the 2026 New Power System Development Forum in Chongli, Chinese officials and industry leaders outlined major market opportunities and challenges for the '15th Five-Year Plan' period (2026-2030). National Energy Administration Deputy Director He Yang called the period critical for new power system construction. State Grid Chairman Zhang Zhigang announced a planned fixed asset investment of 4 trillion yuan for the period. China Datang Chairman Lv Jun noted that industry investment will surge significantly, urging focus on investment efficiency to avoid waste. Hebei Governor Wang Zhengpu introduced seven green electricity demonstration scenarios including steel, petrochemicals, and computing power. Huawei Vice President Sun Fuyou suggested power companies build AI data centers leveraging their site advantages. China Huadian General Manager Xu Shubiao called for data sharing mechanisms to enable AI large models. China Huaneng Chairman Bai Yong urged breakthroughs in grid-forming renewables, long-duration storage, and advanced nuclear technologies, alongside an 'AI + energy' initiative. The forum emphasized market mechanism innovation, with China Motor Engineering Society Vice Chairman Chen Guoping arguing that different power sources cannot compete on a single electricity price platform.
Read sourceChina's New Power System Enters Accelerated Transition, New Energy Becoming Main Power Source
At the 2026 New Power System Development (Chongli) Forum in Hebei, China, officials and industry leaders stated that the country's new power system construction has entered an accelerated transition period. China Huaneng Group Chairman Bai Yong noted the need to balance development and security. National Energy Administration Deputy Director He Yang emphasized the '15th Five-Year Plan' period as critical, calling for coordinated efforts across generation, grid, load, and storage. State Power Investment Corporation General Manager Yan Guochun said new energy is accelerating to become the main power source, with the system shifting from 'source following load' to 'source-load interaction'. World Energy Council Chair Adnan Amin praised China's scale and speed in renewable energy utilization. China Electricity Council Executive Vice Chairman Yang Kun highlighted AI+energy and computing-power synergy as key directions. China Datang Corporation Chairman Lyu Jun said the power industry is entering a clean replacement phase with green electricity dominance. Hebei Governor Wang Zhengpu outlined the province's progress in energy structure transformation. The forum also released the 2026 China Electrification Annual Development Report and other outcomes.
China's Power Sector Eyes Market Reforms and 4 Trillion Yuan Grid Investment for New System
At the '15th Five-Year Plan' New Power System Development Forum in Chongli, Chinese officials and industry leaders outlined key strategies for building a new-type power system. National Energy Administration Deputy Director He Yang emphasized coordinated development of generation, grid, load, and storage. State Grid Chairman Zhang Zhigang announced a 4 trillion yuan fixed-asset investment plan for the 2025-2030 period, focusing on grid infrastructure and integration with computing power facilities. China Datang Chairman Lyu Jun called for improved market mechanisms linking electricity, green certificates, and carbon markets, and warned against redundant investment as industry spending is expected to surge. Executives from China Southern Power Grid, State Power Investment Corp, Huawei, and China Huaneng discussed technological advancements including the Dianhong IoT operating system, the Tianshu energy management system, and AI applications for grid optimization. Hebei Governor Wang Zhengpu highlighted the province's strategy to integrate green electricity with new productive forces, including the steel sector. The forum underscored the need for market-oriented reforms, investment efficiency, and technological innovation to drive the transition toward a safe, low-carbon, and efficient power system.
Read sourceChina's New Power System Enters Accelerated Transition; New Energy Becoming Main Power Source
A forum on the new power system, held in Chongli, Hebei, on September 22, 2026, featured statements from Chinese officials and industry leaders. Bai Yong, chairman of China Huaneng Group, stated that China's energy power system construction has entered an accelerated transition period, requiring a balance of development and security. He Yang, deputy director of the National Energy Administration, emphasized the importance of the '15th Five-Year Plan' for new power system construction. Yan Guochun of State Power Investment Corporation noted that new energy is accelerating to become the main power source, with a shift from 'source following load' to 'source-load interaction'. World Energy Council Chair Adnan Amin praised China's scale and speed in renewable energy utilization, digital grid operation, and industrial electrification. Yang Kun of the China Electricity Council highlighted the role of new grid construction and AI integration. Lv Jun of China Datang Group called for five pillars including safety, market mechanisms, and green power consumption. Hebei Governor Wang Zhengpu outlined the province's progress in energy transition. The forum released the 'China Electrification Annual Development Report 2026', a national computing center power consumption index, and 2026 zero-carbon park certification results.
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