National Energy Administration Emphasizes Coordinated Planning for Computing Power and Electricity Projects

On June 4, the National Energy Administration (NEA) announced that its recently issued Notice on Organizing the First Batch of Pilot Projects for the Construction of New Power Systems outlines a coordinated approach to planning computing power and electricity infrastructure. The initiative focuses on national hub nodes and energy-rich non-hub areas such as Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Heilongjiang. It aims to scientifically integrate energy generation, consumption, and storage resources, while aligning regional green power demands from data centers with local renewable energy capabilities.

The Notice specifies a focus on emerging directions in new power systems. Pilot projects will be conducted in two formats: single-direction pilots based on representative projects and multi-direction pilots based on selected cities. These pilots will explore new technologies and models, with initial efforts targeting seven key areas: grid-forming technologies, system-friendly renewable energy power plants, intelligent microgrids, coordination of computing power and electricity, virtual power plants, large-scale transmission of high-proportion renewable energy, and next-generation coal-fired power.

Local governments are encouraged to tailor pilot projects according to regional conditions, selecting appropriate directions and defining reasonable scales. Innovation is to be prioritized, with encouragement to adopt new technologies and models. Pilot projects may apply outcomes from national science and technology programs in smart grids and energy equipment improvement initiatives. The Notice also calls for comprehensive project management—from application and selection to implementation, evaluation, and promotion—to ensure effective outcomes and broader replication.

To enhance the proportion of green power used by data centers, the Notice proposes a “green power aggregation supply” model that leverages local power generation, aggregated trading, and onsite consumption. It also advocates for the application of joint forecasting technologies for computing load and renewable output, flexible computing load control, and intelligent dispatching to improve the coordination between supply and demand while reducing peak load capacity requirements.

Additional recommendations include improving energy efficiency through the reuse of waste heat from data centers and advancing hybrid operation models that combine solar thermal, wind, and photovoltaic power for more stable energy supply.

Furthermore, in regions facing power supply constraints or high energy absorption pressure, the Notice calls for the construction or upgrade of renewable energy plants. These stations are expected to enhance system compatibility through long-term, high-precision power forecasting and intelligent coordination of wind, solar, and storage. During peak periods (of at least two hours), these stations should achieve a confidence output increase of no less than 10%. Operators must also sign coordination agreements with dispatch centers, clearly defining dispatch methods, reliable capacities included in grid balancing, and support durations.