China plans 6GW of pumped hydro to address solar and wind curtailment issues

LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email

China’s State Grid Corporation will build 6GW of pumped hydro storage as part of ongoing efforts to cut rates of wind and solar power curtailment.

Wasted electricity from solar projects in the country’s northwest has often been in double-figure percentages. National rates of PV curtailment peaked at 11% in 2015, according to official figures. These have been falling with the 2017 figure just 6%. The equivalent figure for wind power is 12%.

Overcoming curtailment is also one of the motivations behind the 531 New Deal for solar, which saw support for utility projects cease overnight. In an initial consultation with industry, Beijing floated the idea of targeting support through local governments, specifically those on regions with the lowest curtailment rates and the most competitive levelised costs of energy (LCOE).

The five projects announced by the State Grid Corporation will be operation by 2026 and require an investment of RMB38.7 billion (US$5.67 billion).

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Enjoy 12 months of exclusive analysis

Not ready to commit yet?
  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Annual digital subscription to the PV Tech Power journal
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

China is targeting 40GW of pumped hydro storage by 2020. The country has also embarked on a national Mission for Energy Storage which includes plans to build flow battery projects, some of which will be several hundred megawatts in size and even 1GW in a couple of cases.

Read Next

August 27, 2025
Chinese solar PV inverter and energy storage provider Sungrow has announced two major developments: plans for a Hong Kong IPO and the release of its half-year 2025 interim report.
Premium
August 22, 2025
China continued to drive global grid-scale BESS commissioning activity in July, as the technology approaches the global installed gigawatt (GW) capacity of pumped hydro.
August 21, 2025
A product launch at this year’s EESA Energy Storage Exhibition in China drew attention, discussion and even disbelief, reports Carrie Xiao.
August 19, 2025
Major US utility company Duke Energy has submitted its final license application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to extend operation at the Bad Creek Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Station for an additional 50 years.
August 19, 2025
Energy storage system safety is being taken to new levels, as evidenced by the fire testing efforts of Chinese market players, writes Carrie Xiao.

Most Popular

Email Newsletter