At the crack of dawn, precisely at 5:00 AM, a massive train laden with 3,300 tons of raw coal makes its way towards the Datang Shanxi CompanyThe entire procedure, from inspections to guiding the train into the station and finally offloading the coal, unfolds seamlesslyThis is a crucial operation, particularly during the winter months when energy demands skyrocket due to dropping temperatures.

Every winter marks a critical time for energy supply assurance in ChinaSince the onset of winter, regulatory bodies and energy firms have taken proactive measures to ramp up production and enhance transportation capabilities, thereby continuously improving energy supply stability to bolster economic growthWang Hongzhi, the director of the National Energy Administration, indicates that China has maintained a focus on balancing high-quality development with elevated safety measures in energy supply

The nation has actively played the role of coal and coal-fired power as a foundational guarantee, driving up oil and gas reserves while ensuring steady energy supply overall.

Coal remains the cornerstone of energy supply stability in ChinaIn the snow-covered expanse of Ningdong, temperatures have plunged to as low as minus 10 degrees CelsiusChen Zhiping, a train driver at the Ningdong Railway of the National Energy Group, operates a locomotive using a remote intelligent control system, pulling a lengthy train of 752 meters consisting of 53 carriages loaded with 4,972 tons of coal into the coal distribution center of the Ningxia Coal Industry Company.

The Ningdong Railway plays a pivotal role in coal transportation from western China to the east, handling not just coal but also building materials, oil products, and coal chemical productsWith an annual transport capacity of approximately 65 million tons, the National Energy Group has invested heavily in modernizing equipment and technology to establish an intelligent railway transport system that underpins energy security.

Wang Hongzhi shared that throughout the year, China has consistently made strides in stabilizing coal production and supply by methodically advancing the development of advanced capacities, accelerating the construction of reserve coal mines to enhance supply capabilities and flexibility

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By year's end, total coal production in China is anticipated to reach about 4.76 billion tonsCurrently, the state-owned and regulated power plants possess more than 200 million tons of coal for storage, sufficient for over 30 days of consumption, ensuring ample electricity supply for the peak winter period.

Natural gas also emerges as a key element for energy supply during winterIn a recent update from the Huai'an Xinao Intelligent Operation Center, an alert regarding a weather forecast drew the attention of on-duty personnel indicating a temperature drop by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius over the next three daysThis was expected to elevate the residential gas usage by 15%, with current daily consumption of 830,000 cubic meters for households and 520,000 cubic meters for industries, while the emergency reserve stations maintained their gas supply at a steady 80% level.

The intelligent operating platform utilizes historical operational data along with real-time user gas consumption data, enabling accurate predictions of heating requirements through intelligent algorithms

Wei Qing, the manager of Xinao Energy Huai’an, noted the effectiveness of the system in preparing gas sources ahead of timeAs a prominent natural gas service operator in China, Xinao Energy has implemented this intelligent operating platform across 260 city gas projects, utilizing past operational data to identify potential challenges for winter supply, and automatically generating tailored supply plans to effectively manage gas distribution.

The upstream production capacity is preceded by the downstream supply capabilitiesThis year, China has made significant advances in oil and gas exploration and extraction, particularly focusing on natural gas in the Sichuan-Chongqing area as well as shale oil development in regions such as Daqing and ShengliAs a result, the nation witnessed a continuous rise in crude oil production for six consecutive years and an over 10 billion cubic meters increase in natural gas output over eight years.

Meanwhile, new energy sources like wind and solar have become essential players in power supply dynamics

In the snow-draped province of Liaoning, the Longyuan Power Company operates over 900 massive wind turbines towering over mountains and plains, efficiently generating electricity in the brisk northern windsA significant milestone was reached on December 1st, when all 16 wind farms under the company transitioned to an "unmanned" operational mode, enabling a centralized dispatching system for a revolutionary operational model.

In recent years, wind and solar power in China have escalated rapidly, morphing into a formidable force in the electricity supply landscapeWang remarked on the ongoing efforts to build large-scale wind and solar bases, implement desertification control measures in the "Three Norths," and integrate wind and solar energy projectsCurrently, the national installed wind capacity reaches approximately 510 million kilowatts while solar capacity stands at about 840 million kilowatts, boasting a utilization rate of over 95%.

Simultaneously, major hydropower projects are progressing steadily

Several significant hydropower projects have been approved for construction, including the Lancang River Toba project and the Yellow River Malang project, while the Yalong River renewable energy base is also advancing wellThe total installed capacity for hydropower in the nation stands at 435 million kilowatts.

However, generating electricity is only half the battle; delivering it smoothly is equally criticalChina continues to optimize the distribution of electricity nationwide, actively coordinating projects for the transfer of power from Inner Mongolia's "Sha Ge Huang" to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, while high-voltage AC projects like those linking Wuhan to Nanchang and Zhangbei to Shengli have been completedOngoing construction on high-voltage DC projects between Shaanxi and Anhui, as well as Gansu to Zhejiang, is also underway, expediting the execution of more than 10 projects enhancing electricity interconnectivity.

In winter's severe weather, transmission lines are susceptible to icing

Traditionally, this has been managed through manual inspections or pre-existing monitoring devicesHowever, under harsh weather conditions where visibility is low, operational complexity increasesThe ±800 kV Jintang Line, boasting a length of over 2,100 kilometers and serving as one of the three key high-voltage direct current lines transmitting electricity from western regions into Zhejiang, recently saw the State Grid Huzhou Power Supply Company install infrared thermal imaging and visible light dual-spectrum monitoring devices on line towers, enabling clear remote visibility of ice on transmission lines even in low-visibility conditionsThis innovation bolsters electrical supply protection for the winter.

Lai Jun, Director of Operations and Maintenance at the State Grid Huzhou Power Supply Company, emphasizes that low-visibility conditions aren't exclusive to winter; thus, enhancing visibility over transmission lines aids in maintaining a comprehensive grasp of the electric grid's operational safety year-round

The plan moving forward involves pushing for breakthrough advancements in operation and maintenance technologies along vital high-voltage transmission corridors to ensure their safe functioning.

Ensuring that energy supply remains uninterrupted during peak seasons is paramountSummer and winter are critical seasons for energy supply assurance annuallyThis past summer, many regions in China faced prolonged extreme heat, leading to skyrocketing electricity consumption that shattered historical records repeatedlyDuring the summer peak demand period, China's electricity supply support measures proved fortified and effective, thanks to an increasingly diversified arsenal of strategies.

To guarantee seamless energy transitions during both winter and summer peak seasons, aside from enhancing power sources and renovating power grid infrastructure, as well as ensuring coal supply, China has unlocked newer competencies for increasing energy storage capability, regional electricity interdependence, and virtual power plants among others.

With the in-depth implementation of the dual carbon strategy, the new energy generation capacity in China maintains rapid growth, with the electricity system experiencing a swift uptick in demand for new storage resources

By the end of September, a newly operational hybrid storage capacity of 58.52 million kilowatts and 128 million kilowatt-hours had been built, a remarkable 86% increase from the end of 2023, marking it as an integral component of the stable operation of the electrical system.

Bian Guangqi, Deputy Director of the Energy Saving and Technology Equipment Department at the National Energy Administration, pointed out that the administration actively guides localities to scientifically establish and leverage new storage solutions based on traditional electricity supply methods, maximizing the efficacy of new storage resources, which have proven to be a 'supercharging battery' during peak energy demands.

New developments regarding electricity interdependence are also emergingThe Fujian-Guangdong interconnection project functions as a significant power corridor linking the two provinces, facilitating mutual electricity interconnectivity and assistance

Given the divergent industrial structures of Fujian and Guangdong, their varied daily and monthly electricity consumption patterns, along with highly complementary energy sources, the interconnection allows for seasonal electricity transfers between the two regions ranging from 500,000 to 2 million kilowatts—essentially offsetting the need for building a large coal-fired power plant and considerably lowering the cost of supporting renewable energy consumption.

As of December 15, the Fujian-Guangdong interconnection project has transmitted over 10 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, thus significantly enhancing power supply capacity between the provinces, equivalent to the electricity consumed by more than 2.7 million households in a year.

Wang Hongzhi emphasizes the need to maintain a grounded perspective and strategic resolve, continuously prioritizing energy security