🔥36氪•Stalecollected in 1m
China expands green power direct connection to multi-user
#green-energy#data-center#policygreen-power-direct-connection-policyndrcnational-energy-administration
💡New policy enables lower energy costs for AI compute clusters by facilitating direct access to green power.
⚡ 30-Second TL;DR
What Changed
Policy transition from 'point-to-point' to 'point-to-group' green power delivery.
Why It Matters
This policy will significantly lower operational costs for data centers and AI training clusters in China by facilitating direct access to renewable energy sources.
What To Do Next
If managing AI infrastructure in China, evaluate the cost-benefit of locating data centers in regions eligible for the new multi-user green power direct connection policy.
Who should care:Enterprise & Security Teams
Key Points
- •Policy transition from 'point-to-point' to 'point-to-group' green power delivery.
- •Designed to support compute facilities and emerging green industries.
- •Aims to solve complex energy integration issues in new power systems.
- •Provides a pathway for large-scale, cluster-based renewable energy consumption.
🧠 Deep Insight
Web-grounded analysis with 10 cited sources.
🔑 Enhanced Key Takeaways
- •The expanded policy specifically encourages investment in multi-user direct green power connection projects to promote traceable green production and boost local consumption of renewable electricity, with priority given to emerging industries like computing infrastructure and green hydrogen production.
- •Projects under this new policy are mandated to ensure that annual self-consumed electricity accounts for at least 60% of the total available power generation, and self-used green electricity must constitute at least 30% of total electricity consumption, increasing to 35% by 2030.
- •This policy aims to alleviate 'carbon anxiety' for Chinese export enterprises by providing verifiable green power, which is crucial for complying with international carbon tariffs such as the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
- •The shift to multi-user direct connections is projected to reduce power costs for participating enterprises by approximately 10% to 20% through optimized peak capacity demand and exemptions from system standby fees and cross-subsidies for self-generated power.
- •The policy supports both off-grid models, where renewable energy is supplied entirely through self-built regional power networks, and grid-connected models, where surplus power can be transmitted to the public grid, though generally limited to 20% of total generation to encourage local consumption.
🛠️ Technical Deep Dive
- Multi-user direct green power connection projects can operate in two primary models: off-grid, utilizing self-built regional power networks for exclusive supply, and grid-connected, where dedicated networks deliver power to users, with surplus potentially fed into the public grid.
- Grid-connected projects are typically restricted from transmitting more than 20% of their total available generation to the public grid to prioritize local consumption.
- The policy mandates clear physical and responsibility boundaries through property demarcation points, ensuring physical traceability of electricity to prevent 'greenwashing'.
- For grid-connected projects, a 'demand-determined generation' principle is applied, requiring prioritization of self-consumption and the integration of energy storage and demand-side flexibility to enhance operational stability.
- China is also deploying large-capacity flexible DC transformers and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems to facilitate long-distance transmission of intermittent renewable power from resource-rich western regions to eastern demand centers.
🔮 Future ImplicationsAI analysis grounded in cited sources
China's data centers will significantly accelerate their decarbonization efforts.
New data centers in national hub regions are now mandated to source at least 80% of their electricity from renewable energy by 2030, coupled with stricter Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) targets.
The policy will enhance China's competitiveness in export-oriented industries.
By providing traceable green power, the policy helps Chinese export businesses comply with international carbon tariffs like the EU's CBAM, potentially reducing trade barriers and costs.
There will be increased investment in localized renewable energy infrastructure and smart grid technologies within industrial parks.
The 'point-to-group' model encourages the development of self-built regional power networks and dedicated lines, necessitating the integration of storage and demand-side management for reliable local consumption.
⏳ Timeline
2006
China's Renewable Energy Law came into effect, establishing feed-in tariffs and guaranteed acquisition for non-hydro renewables.
2021-09
China launched its national green power trading pilot program.
2022-08
Government expanded green certificates and green power trading to include hydropower, biomass, and geothermal power.
2025-02
NDRC and NEA introduced a price settlement mechanism for renewable energy to ensure revenue stability and market participation.
2025-03
New policy guidelines tightened sustainability expectations for data centers, mandating 80% renewable electricity for new national hub data centers by 2030.
2025-05-30
NDRC and NEA issued a Notice promoting green electricity direct connection development for single users.
2026-05-03
China's first large-scale project supplying renewable energy directly to data centers began operation in Ningxia.
2026-05-20
NDRC and NEA officially upgraded the green power direct connection policy from 'one-to-one' to 'one-to-many' for multi-user groups.
📎 Sources (10)
Factual claims are grounded in the sources below. Forward-looking analysis is AI-generated interpretation.
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Original source: 36氪 ↗