Core Viewpoint - The U.S. energy secretary's order to keep a unit of the TransAlta coal power plant operational through winter reflects the Trump administration's ongoing support for fossil fuels [1] Group 1 - The order was signed on Tuesday, indicating a timely response to energy needs during the winter season [1] - The decision to maintain operations at the TransAlta coal power plant highlights the administration's policy direction favoring traditional energy sources over renewable alternatives [1]

Core Insights - The Henan Provincial Government announced that energy project investments have exceeded 100 billion RMB for three consecutive years [1] - The province is actively supporting private enterprises in participating in major energy projects, including wind power, solar power, clean and efficient coal power, new energy storage, pumped storage, biomass power generation, and charging stations [1] - Henan's low-carbon energy transition is accelerating, with total installed power capacity surpassing 160 million kilowatts, and renewable energy generation capacity accounting for over half of the total [1] - It is projected that by 2025, the province's renewable energy generation will exceed 1,400 billion kilowatt-hours, representing a year-on-year growth of 21% [1]

Core Viewpoint - Shandong Province is actively implementing the "Eight Major Actions" to promote high-level consumption of renewable energy, focusing on new energy storage projects and market development for energy storage [1][2][4]. Summary by Sections New Energy Storage Development - Shandong has launched a million-kilowatt action plan for new energy storage, establishing a market-driven mechanism for independent energy storage participation in spot market trading, and has achieved an operational scale of 8.085 million kilowatts, quadrupling since the end of 2022 [1][17]. - The province aims to increase the new energy storage capacity to over 10 million kilowatts by the end of this year [2][18]. Market Mechanisms and Policies - The province is implementing measures to widen the price gap for energy storage, allowing for greater market returns and transforming energy storage from a cost item to a value item [2][17]. - New energy storage will participate in frequency regulation and other auxiliary service markets, enhancing profitability through a multi-use trading model [2][17]. Renewable Energy Consumption - As of 2024, Shandong's renewable energy installed capacity reached 125 million kilowatts, accounting for over 51% of total capacity, with solar and wind power leading nationally [4][5]. - The province has set a target to optimize the ratio of solar to wind power installations from 3.2:1 to 2.6:1 by the end of the year to better utilize the complementary characteristics of these energy sources [5][9]. User Participation and Market Reforms - Shandong is enhancing user participation in energy consumption through dynamic pricing mechanisms, encouraging users to adjust their consumption patterns based on peak and off-peak pricing [13][15]. - The province has established a virtual power plant system that aggregates distributed energy resources, achieving a total adjustable capacity of 550,000 kilowatts [14][22]. Future Directions - The province will continue to support the development of new energy technologies and applications, including compressed air and electrochemical storage, to further enhance energy storage capabilities [18][19]. - Shandong aims to strengthen the integration of energy planning and market reforms to ensure a coordinated approach to renewable energy development and consumption [8][9].

A wind farm seen in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia autonomous region. WANG ZHENG/FOR CHINA DAILY China's combined installed capacity of wind and solar power surpassed that of coal power for the first time by the end of the first quarter, marking a significant milestone in the country's energy transition, the National Energy Administration said. As of end-March, the installed capacity of wind power and solar power nationwide increased by 17.2 percent and 43.4 percent year-on-year, respectively, with the combined ...