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Z. Lu and G. Zhu
Distributed renewable energy systems entail shorter construction period, lower
infrastructure investments and present less impact on the environment and ecological system than their centralized counterparts. Electricity generated by distributed
renewables prefers to be consumed on site, and any surplus is exported to the grid.
The adaptive, clean, efficient, distributed and localized nature of distributed generation supports, on the one hand, the replacement or reduction of fossil fuel use through
tapping into local resources, and on the other hand, the addressing or alleviation of the
problem of power shortages in certain areas. In addition, distributed energy systems
are located close to the end-user, thus entailing less complicated electric equipment
and resulting in less transmission losses.
Although distributed renewable power generation remains supplementary to the
traditional, centralized power infrastructure in China at the current juncture, it will
undoubtedly rise to become the main source of electricity for not only rural communities, pastoral and mountainous areas but also urban and commercial areas on the
merit of its unique advantages as the country works toward embracing renewables
as the main source of future energy.
It is worth noting that while distributed renewable sources have a positive impact
on the stability and safety of power systems, they can also pose certain challenges
and risks. For one thing, distributed renewable power systems are independent of
each other, and as such, large-scale power outages can be avoided and the problem
of instability facing large-scale power grids is a non-issue. For another, the grid
connection of distributed renewable systems also increases the variability and uncertainty of the load, in addition to causing voltage fluctuations in the grid and impacting
the distribution relay protection of the system.
4.2.4 Analysis of the Impact of Policy on the Power
Generation Mix
The development and evolution of China’s power generation mix have been accompanied by the introduction and implementation of a series of policies. The transition
of the energy system down the road, especially the development of renewable energy,
will call for the continuing support of enabling policies. The adoption of the Renewable Energy Law in 2005 can be deemed as the beginning of China’s outpouring of
supportive policies for the development of renewable energies, especially wind and
solar.
A close look at the evolution of China’s power generation mix in the past two
decades and the introduction of policies reveals the central role of policies in driving
and supporting the country’s energy transition. The Wind Farm Concession Program
rolled out in 2003, the Renewable Energy Law promulgated in 2005 and the slew of
policy documents for supporting wind power issued in the years that followed have
fueled explosive growth in the installed capacity of wind energy since 2005. Coinciding with the rapid growth of China’s PV capacity since 2009 was the aggressive
Z. Lu and G. Zhu
Distributed renewable energy systems entail shorter construction period, lower
infrastructure investments and present less impact on the environment and ecological system than their centralized counterparts. Electricity generated by distributed
renewables prefers to be consumed on site, and any surplus is exported to the grid.
The adaptive, clean, efficient, distributed and localized nature of distributed generation supports, on the one hand, the replacement or reduction of fossil fuel use through
tapping into local resources, and on the other hand, the addressing or alleviation of the
problem of power shortages in certain areas. In addition, distributed energy systems
are located close to the end-user, thus entailing less complicated electric equipment
and resulting in less transmission losses.
Although distributed renewable power generation remains supplementary to the
traditional, centralized power infrastructure in China at the current juncture, it will
undoubtedly rise to become the main source of electricity for not only rural communities, pastoral and mountainous areas but also urban and commercial areas on the
merit of its unique advantages as the country works toward embracing renewables
as the main source of future energy.
It is worth noting that while distributed renewable sources have a positive impact
on the stability and safety of power systems, they can also pose certain challenges
and risks. For one thing, distributed renewable power systems are independent of
each other, and as such, large-scale power outages can be avoided and the problem
of instability facing large-scale power grids is a non-issue. For another, the grid
connection of distributed renewable systems also increases the variability and uncertainty of the load, in addition to causing voltage fluctuations in the grid and impacting
the distribution relay protection of the system.
4.2.4 Analysis of the Impact of Policy on the Power
Generation Mix
The development and evolution of China’s power generation mix have been accompanied by the introduction and implementation of a series of policies. The transition
of the energy system down the road, especially the development of renewable energy,
will call for the continuing support of enabling policies. The adoption of the Renewable Energy Law in 2005 can be deemed as the beginning of China’s outpouring of
supportive policies for the development of renewable energies, especially wind and
solar.
A close look at the evolution of China’s power generation mix in the past two
decades and the introduction of policies reveals the central role of policies in driving
and supporting the country’s energy transition. The Wind Farm Concession Program
rolled out in 2003, the Renewable Energy Law promulgated in 2005 and the slew of
policy documents for supporting wind power issued in the years that followed have
fueled explosive growth in the installed capacity of wind energy since 2005. Coinciding with the rapid growth of China’s PV capacity since 2009 was the aggressive