Interpretation of Guidance on High Quality Development of Distribution Network

As a major energy infrastructure, the distribution network plays an important role in ensuring power supply, supporting economic and social development, serving and improving people's livelihood, especially in the context of the "double carbon" goal, the supporting role of the distribution network is more prominent. It is the access carrier of distributed power supply and electric vehicle charging facilities, and it is the key support for the comprehensive and efficient utilization of various distributed energy sources and the energy saving and emission reduction of power users. In recent years, extreme weather such as typhoons, rain, snow and freezing have caused power outages from time to time, exposing the problem of insufficient safe and reliable power supply capacity of the distribution network. At the same time, with the rapid development of distributed new energy, the increasing scale of electric vehicles and the continuous promotion of power market construction, higher requirements are put forward for the development of distribution network. From equipment to structure, from planning to operation, from operation to market, distribution network is facing many challenges.

First, the foundation for supply protection needs to be further consolidated. Through the continuous capital investment and construction and transformation in the past 20 years, the power supply capacity and reliability of China's distribution network have been greatly improved, especially in some developed urban areas, the operation level of the distribution network has entered the international advanced ranks. However, it should also be noted that in some towns (especially old communities) and rural areas, the structure of the distribution network is still very weak, the reliability of power supply is very low, the potential operational risks are very high, and the ability to resist disasters is insufficient. The energy efficiency and intelligence level of equipment needs to be improved urgently.

Second, the carrying capacity of new energy and emerging industries is insufficient. In recent years, distributed photovoltaics in many areas of our country have seen explosive growth, resulting in serious reverse overload of distribution network lines and transformers, and the problem of voltage over-limit is prominent, so we have to slow down the development speed of photovoltaics in some areas. At the same time, my country's electric vehicles have also entered a period of rapid development. On the one hand, the number of electric vehicles is growing rapidly. On the other hand, people's demand for fast charging of electric vehicles is more urgent. High-power short-term charging puts forward the operation of the distribution network. A major challenge. With the development of distributed photovoltaics and electric vehicles, the installation capacity of power storage in the distribution system is also increasing rapidly, but how to play the role of energy storage and really use energy storage to solve the problems of the distribution network still need continuous practice and exploration. With the wide application of a large number of new technologies such as microgrid, AC/DC hybrid distribution network and distributed smart grid, the format of distribution network will also undergo major changes in the future. Enhancing the carrying capacity of the distribution network and supporting the development of China's energy transformation will become the inevitable mission of the future distribution network.

Three is the development of distribution network links need to strengthen the overall convergence. The typical characteristics of the distribution network are the large number of equipment types and the complexity of the factors involved in each link. Under the new situation, it is necessary to further strengthen the whole process management from distribution network planning to project investment management, engineering construction, from dispatching operation to operation and maintenance services. In the planning work, we should not only do a good job in the collaborative planning of new energy, electric vehicles, energy storage, distribution network grid, etc., but also strengthen the connection with the overall urban and rural planning and land space planning. At the same time, we should also do a good job in the unified planning of other infrastructure. In the project investment management, we should not only increase the investment of power grid enterprises, but also encourage multiple entities to invest in distribution networks and actively innovate various investment methods, multi-departmental coordination and coordination of various municipal construction projects are needed. In terms of dispatching and operation mechanism, we should make full use of user-side resources to participate in the consumption of renewable energy in the power grid, make full use of new technologies such as microgrid and virtual power plant, realize the interaction between supply and demand of power users, the interaction between electric vehicles and networks, the linkage between source and storage of power distribution networks, and make full use of the market mechanism to make good use of renewable energy and ensure the safe and reliable operation.

We are very pleased to see that in response to the above problems, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration have issued the "Guiding Opinions on the High-quality Development of Distribution Networks under the New Situation" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions") to deploy and promote the construction and transformation of distribution networks and high-quality development at the national level. The working principles and measures put forward in the opinions not only highlight the goal and mission of the development of the new distribution network in the future, but also reflect the unique characteristics of the development process of the distribution network itself, which is highly implementable, and will play an important guiding role in the construction and development of the new distribution network in China.

The distribution network is an asset-heavy infrastructure, and its structural transformation requires a relatively long-term process. To truly promote the implementation of the "Opinions", the following points need to be done. One is to strengthen the planning lead. Planning is the basis for the development of the distribution network, the foundation is not strong, the earth is shaking. Strengthening planning guidance can effectively improve the investment efficiency of distribution network construction, and realize the quality and efficiency improvement in the process of transformation from the current distribution network to the new distribution network. The second is to adhere to the system concept. Distribution network is the "last kilometer" part of power supply, which is directly oriented to power users, with long chain and many links. It is necessary to adhere to the overall connection of various resource elements to better meet the needs of users in the development of the new distribution network. The third is to promote innovation breakthroughs. The new distribution network will undergo major changes in system structure, operation mode and market mechanism. Many new technologies need to be constantly explored. In recent years, with the emergence of new entities and new formats such as distributed new energy, new energy storage, electric vehicle charging facilities, microgrid, virtual power plant, etc., the structure and form of the distribution network need to be changed in order to make better use of the regulation and control ability of these entities. At the same time, the operation mode of the distribution network also needs continuous innovation and development, creating conditions for a large number of new entities to participate in the operation of the power grid, while satisfying the value pursuit of the new entities, provide support for the safe and economic operation of the power grid.