China's NDRC and NEA Outline "15th Five-Year Plan" for New Power Systems
China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration (NEA) have jointly released the "15th Five-Year Plan" for the construction of new power systems. A key initiative involves promoting efficient, wide-load range retrofits for existing coal-fired power units. The plan mandates that the increase in coal consumption during low-load operation should be controlled within 25%. Additionally, the plan encourages the phased implementation of denitrification retrofits for coal-fired units, tailored to local conditions. It also supports upgrading a number of 600,000-kilowatt class units through generational replacement projects. In suitable regions, the plan calls for the construction of projects involving the co-firing of zero-carbon and low-carbon fuels, alongside carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). Policies will be developed to foster integrated development between coal power and new energy sources. This includes prioritizing projects that combine coal power with new energy in appropriate areas, enhancing the flexibility of coal power generation, and promoting system coupling and integrated control for power output. The ultimate goal is to reduce the overall reliance on coal-fired power generation.
This policy signals China's strategic approach to balancing energy security with decarbonization goals during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. By mandating efficiency improvements and load flexibility for existing coal plants, the government aims to optimize their role as a grid stabilizer while integrating more variable renewable energy sources. The focus on CCUS and low-carbon fuel co-firing suggests a pragmatic, technology-agnostic pathway to emissions reduction, acknowledging the long-term necessity of fossil fuels in the energy mix. This strategy reflects a system-level optimization challenge, where legacy infrastructure must adapt to the demands of a future grid increasingly reliant on intermittent renewables and advanced energy storage. The success of this plan will hinge on the effective implementation of these retrofits and the development of robust policy frameworks that incentivize the seamless integration of diverse energy generation technologies.
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