Promoting grid interconnection and promoting regional sustainable development

China Energy Storage Network News: From July 2 to 10, Liu Zhenya, Chairman of the Global Energy Interconnection Development Cooperation Organization and Chairman of the China Electricity Council, visited Laos, Myanmar and Bangladesh, and held talks with Bounnhang Vorachith, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and President, Khammany Inthirath, Minister of Energy and Mines of Laos, Win Thunay, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Planning and Finance of Myanmar, U Thein Lwin, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, U Thant Myint, Presidential Advisor, Nasrul Hamid, Minister of Electricity, Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh, and Beruni, General Manager of the National Electricity Transmission Company, and held in-depth exchanges of views on the development of energy and power in Laos, Myanmar and Bangladesh, as well as the promotion of power grid interconnection, and reached important consensus.

On September 26, 2015, President Xi Jinping formally proposed the Chinese initiative of building a global energy internet at the United Nations Development Summit. On May 14 this year, President Xi Jinping reiterated at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that we must seize the trend of a new round of energy structure adjustment and energy technology transformation, build a global energy internet, and achieve green and low-carbon development.

Liu Zhenya shared the China Initiative on Global Energy Internet with relevant parties, introduced the construction of the Belt and Road, the Global Energy Internet, the concept of "three networks integration", the work of cooperative organizations, and China's progress in the fields of ultra-high voltage transmission, smart grid, and clean energy development. He also had in-depth exchanges on issues such as accelerating the interconnection of power grids in the Indochina Peninsula, promoting the development and utilization of clean energy, and achieving sustainable development. He said that building a global energy Internet is completely consistent with the concept of the Belt and Road construction, and it solves the problem of sustainable development for mankind. Clean energy is very abundant in the world. With the advancement of technology, the efficiency and economy of clean energy have been greatly improved, and its competitiveness will surpass fossil energy by 2025. Ultra-high voltage technology has long transmission distances, low losses, and large capacity, and can realize cross-border and cross-continental transmission, making the global energy Internet possible. The essence of the global energy Internet is the global power grid, which is a global energy resource allocation platform based on the interconnected large power grid. It can coordinate the time difference, seasonal difference, and electricity price difference of different countries, and effectively promote global electricity trade, with huge comprehensive benefits.

Liu Zhenya pointed out that the Indochina Peninsula and its surrounding areas have a large population, small fossil energy reserves, relatively rich hydropower resources, low per capita electricity consumption, and huge development potential. It is necessary to build a unified synchronous power grid, interconnect with China to the north and South Asia to the west, and achieve large-scale optimization of energy resources. Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh and other countries are rich in hydropower resources. By accelerating hydropower development and cross-border and cross-regional power grid construction, the problem of surplus and shortage of hydropower can be effectively solved, creating huge economic value and driving the sustainable development of regional economy and society.

All parties highly recognized and responded positively to the construction of the global energy internet. Ben Yang agreed and supported the "Belt and Road" and the global energy internet initiative, saying that China is a comprehensive strategic partner of Laos and is willing to continuously deepen cooperation with China in the energy field and build Laos into a "battery" in the ASEAN region. At present, the construction of hydropower stations in Laos is relatively fast, but the power grid is weak. The government is accelerating research and promoting the implementation of related projects. Yingtila agreed with the concept of the global energy internet and believed that interconnection with neighboring countries, especially with China's power grid, can fundamentally solve the problem of surplus electricity in Laos during the flood season and shortage during the dry season. He hopes to deepen cooperation and jointly study and promote the interconnection between China and Laos. Wen Tunai expressed his willingness to jointly promote the interconnection of China and Myanmar power grids, hoping to form a detailed plan as soon as possible to accelerate planning research and project implementation. Wu Tenglun expressed admiration and approval for the strategic concept of the global energy internet. Myanmar is also actively promoting the interconnection of power grids with neighboring countries. At present, it is urgent to accelerate the interconnection with China to ease the tight power supply situation. Wu Danmin said that the global energy internet initiative will be promoted to all aspects of Myanmar to win more support. Hamid expressed appreciation for the concept of global energy internet and China's progress in the field of ultra-high voltage power transmission, and hoped that the two sides would strengthen pragmatic cooperation and promote the development of global energy internet. Beruni expressed strong support for the China-Myanmar interconnection and was willing to sign a cooperation agreement with the cooperation organization to jointly study and promote related work.

Since its establishment more than a year ago, the Global Energy Interconnection Development Cooperation Organization has done a lot of work in planning research, concept dissemination, international cooperation, and project promotion, and has achieved remarkable results. It has signed cooperation memoranda with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the African Union, the League of Arab States, the Gulf Cooperation Council Grid Administration, and has established cooperative relations with more than 130 international organizations, government departments, enterprises, institutions, and universities in 41 countries (regions), gathering broad consensus, and the Global Energy Interconnection has entered the strategic implementation stage.