By hannover-web.com On October 16, 2024, the China (Chongqing) Digital Energy Industry Innovation Development Conference kicked off, featuring prominent experts including Liu Jizhen, an academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering. They gathered to discuss the critical topic of “The Deep Integration of New Productive Forces and the Energy Sector.” Concurrently, nearly 80 companies from the digital energy industry participated in the “Digital Energy Industry Exhibition.”
During his keynote address titled “Energy Transition and the Construction of a New Energy System,” Liu Jizhen shared insights on China’s progress, noting that the country has established the world’s largest clean power supply system. However, he highlighted ongoing challenges within the energy transition. Issues such as the disparity between large installations of renewable energy sources and their limited output, as well as the continuous growth in overall electricity demand, pose significant hurdles. He pointed out the inadequacy of flexible power sources and the temporary limitations of new energy storage technologies. Severe weather conditions, including extreme heat without wind and cloudy, rainy days, further strain electricity demand and impact the overall reliability and stability of the power grid. Additionally, Liu mentioned weaknesses like the limited capacity of household photovoltaic systems, mismatched generation times and locations for solar power, an underdeveloped market mechanism for distributed electricity trading, and insufficient bidirectional regulation capabilities of the grid.
Liu emphasized that the fundamental solution to China’s energy development challenges—such as high demand pressure, numerous supply constraints, and difficulties in low-carbon transitions—lies in vigorously advancing new energy sources. He advocated for the establishment of a new energy system prioritizing energy security, accelerating the construction of a diverse energy supply system, and reshaping the energy supply-demand landscape.
Yu Chongde, the Vice Chairman of the China Electric Power Enterprise Federation, projected the future transformation from traditional energy power systems to new energy systems. He remarked on the importance of integrating “computational power and electricity” to facilitate upgrades and create a flexible, intelligent production, supply, and consumption system centered on electricity, underpinned by digitalization and networking. He specifically urged for enhanced standards and the rapid establishment and application of a digital energy standard system.
Chongqing, the only direct-controlled municipality in Central and Western China, is actively nurturing and developing its digital energy industry, accelerating the application of digital and intelligent technologies in the energy sector.
Qian Wei, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chongqing Municipal Government, stated that in 2023, the scale of digital energy-related industries in Chongqing reached approximately 90 billion yuan, displaying immense market potential and innovative vitality. The city has identified new energy and advanced energy storage as part of its six key industrial clusters valued at over a trillion yuan. Furthermore, areas such as photovoltaic materials, components, power batteries, and transmission and distribution equipment are being integrated into targeted segments of next-generation electronic information manufacturing, advanced materials, intelligent equipment, and manufacturing clusters, enhancing the development of a comprehensive digital energy industrial system.
During the conference, the Chongqing Digital Energy Industry Development Alliance was officially established. This alliance comprises 46 entities, including upstream and downstream companies in the digital energy supply chain, service organizations, research institutes, and financial institutions, aimed at consolidating industry resources and creating an open, shared industry platform to promote the deep integration of digital technologies and the energy sector.
Additionally, the “Digital Energy Industry Exhibition,” spanning three days, attracted exhibitors representing the entire industry spectrum—from manufacturers of digital energy equipment to end-user applications. The exhibition featured dedicated areas for “Electric Power Digitization, Intelligent Manufacturing, Digital Empowerment, and Application Scenarios,” covering a total exhibition area of approximately 15,000 square meters.
