“看不见的电厂”顶住夏季用电高峰丨年中能源观察

Core Insights - The article discusses the emergence and significance of virtual power plants (VPPs) in addressing peak electricity demand and high electricity prices in China, highlighting their role as a digital management system that aggregates distributed energy resources [1][2][3] Group 1: Virtual Power Plant Overview - A virtual power plant is defined as a system that integrates controllable electricity devices, storage units, and distributed renewable energy sources into a unified dispatching system, functioning as a "city power regulation pool" [1][2] - The total regulation capacity of operational virtual power plants in China has exceeded 35 million kilowatts, equivalent to the installed capacity of 1.5 Three Gorges power stations, with a target to surpass 50 million kilowatts in the next five years [2] Group 2: Economic and Environmental Benefits - The rise of virtual power plants addresses the increasing demand for flexibility and cost-effectiveness in China's energy structure, compensating for the rigidity and high costs of traditional power systems [3][4] - Building a large coal or gas power plant requires an investment of tens of billions to over a hundred billion yuan, while virtual power plants can provide similar peak power services at a significantly lower investment of 50 to 60 billion yuan [4] Group 3: Policy Support and Market Potential - The demand for flexible and adjustable resources in the new power system is being fueled by supportive policies from the National Energy Administration, which encourages the aggregation of distributed resources [6] - By 2025, the investment market for virtual power plants in China is projected to exceed 30 billion yuan, with annual investments ranging from 10.5 billion to 20 billion yuan [6] Group 4: Regional Developments and Challenges - Shanghai has seen significant advancements in virtual power plant capabilities, with a reported increase of 81.17% in declared adjustable capacity compared to the end of 2024 [7] - Despite rapid development in some provinces, the overall virtual power plant construction in China is still in its early stages, with a lack of unified understanding of definitions and functions [8]