Core Insights - The Southern Power Grid Company reported a significant increase in the operational frequency of pumped storage power stations in the southern region, with over 24,000 starts in the first half of the year, marking a year-on-year growth of over 20% and setting a historical record [1][3] Group 1: Pumped Storage Operations - The seven pumped storage power stations in the southern region have a total of 34 units with a capacity of 10.28 million kilowatts, providing over 20 million kilowatts of regulation capacity, which has increased the power system's peak shaving and valley filling capability by nearly 10% [1] - In the first half of the year, these pumped storage stations collectively adjusted 12.11 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, equivalent to the half-year electricity demand of over 11 million residential users [1] - The number of unit starts reached 24,827, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 24.1% [1] Group 2: Adaptation to Renewable Energy - The increasing penetration of renewable energy in the power system has raised the demand for more precise and flexible responses from pumped storage units, as renewable generation is characterized by randomness and intermittency [3] - The centralized control platform in Guangzhou manages 31 pumped storage units in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, with a control capacity of 2.4 million kilowatts per operator, which is 2 to 3 times that of traditional models [3] - The operational scenarios of pumped storage stations are evolving to adapt to local energy structure adjustments, such as the Qiongzhong pumped storage station in Hainan, which now operates in a mode that stores excess solar energy during the day and generates power at night [3] Group 3: Intelligent Operations - During the peak summer demand period, the pumped storage units are utilizing intelligent operation and maintenance strategies to enhance performance [4] - An AI data analysis platform has been implemented to monitor over 400,000 operational data points from the units, using more than 9,000 algorithms to diagnose the health status of the machines [4] - Since June, all 34 units have maintained a safe and reliable operational status, with a maximum daily adjustment capacity reaching 101 million kilowatt-hours, and a significant increase in operational frequency compared to the same period last year [4]