Energy equipment updates turn "burden" into wealth

Poor use of old energy equipment is a "burden", and good use is "wealth". The "Implementation Plan for Large-scale Equipment Renewal in Key Energy Fields" organized and compiled by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration clarifies that by 2027, the scale of equipment investment in key energy fields will increase by more than 25% compared with 2023, focusing on promoting the implementation of energy-saving transformation of coal-fired power units. The "three reforms linkage" of transformation, heating transformation and flexibility transformation have achieved equipment renewal and technological transformation in the fields of transmission and distribution, wind power, photovoltaic, hydropower and other fields. What signals do energy equipment updates send?

Any device has a life cycle. As the service life increases, a number of equipment in the energy field has entered an "aging" stage, bringing some negative impacts. On the one hand, the performance of old equipment declines, resulting in lower energy conversion efficiency, causing energy waste and increasing operating costs of enterprises. Coupled with frequent maintenance, it affects the company's production progress and efficiency. On the other hand, due to backward technology or improper maintenance, pollutants from old equipment exceed the standard, which may easily have adverse effects on the environment. In energy systems, the performance degradation of old equipment may lead to a decrease in the stability of the entire system, increase the risk of system failure, and adversely affect energy security.

At this stage, it is particularly important to promote large-scale renewal of energy equipment. From the perspective of energy security, in the context of the complex and ever-changing global energy situation, energy equipment updates will enhance the stability and reliability of the energy system, significantly improve energy efficiency, reduce energy waste, help improve my country's energy self-sufficiency and enhance its response to external energy security challenges.

From the perspective of energy transformation, energy equipment renewal is an important means to promote green and low-carbon transformation. Promoting clean energy equipment, eliminating equipment with backward production capacity, and recycling and reusing used equipment can effectively reduce carbon emission intensity, accelerate the construction of a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system, and promote the development of the economy in a green, low-carbon, and circular direction.

From the perspective of pulling effect, the renewal of energy equipment requires a large amount of capital investment, the market is huge, and involves many industrial chain links, which will directly drive the growth of related manufacturing and service industries and cultivate new productivity. At the same time, a large number of job opportunities are created, especially in the fields of equipment manufacturing, installation, maintenance, etc. The application of new energy equipment will also spawn new business models and employment opportunities, providing impetus for high-quality economic development.

Overall, promoting large-scale equipment updates in key energy areas is an important measure to better coordinate high-quality development and high-level security. For old equipment, it is necessary to carry out timely replacement or technical transformation to improve equipment performance and efficiency and turn "burden" into "wealth".

The renewal of energy equipment is not a matter of grasping the eyebrows and beards. This encouragement policy presents two clear main lines.

The first is to expand domestic demand in the clean energy field. New energy is the main energy source for energy substitution. In recent years, the main driving force for investment in my country's energy field comes from new energy. At present, my country's new energy equipment manufacturing industry is in a downward cycle, with market supply and demand mismatches in stages, and some enterprises have difficulties in operating. Further creating market growth and stimulating domestic demand are important measures to help industrial relief.

Since my country introduced the Renewable Energy Law in 2005, wind power and photovoltaic have entered a period of rapid development. The design life of wind power and photovoltaic equipment is usually 20 to 25 years, and many units are gradually entering the renewal and elimination period. At the same time, wind power and photovoltaic technology have been iteratively upgraded many times in recent years, and power generation efficiency and capabilities have been greatly improved. Encourage mainstream models with large single capacity and advanced technology to replace the original small-capacity wind turbines, support the application of advanced photovoltaic modules, and promote the development of photovoltaic module recycling and reuse technologies to improve the quality and efficiency of wind, wind, land and power grid resources. In addition, improving the charging performance of charging piles can help sales of new energy vehicles. Equipment renewal in the new energy field has become an objective need and can open up new space for the development of the industry.

The second is to ensure energy security and high-level utilization. Supply security is the prerequisite for energy transformation. At present, my country has entered a stage of high proportion of new energy. In order to protect new energy and build a new power system, traditional power generation equipment and power grids must be transformed. For thermal power equipment, it is necessary to continue to promote the "three reforms linkage" to further reduce the energy consumption of coal-fired units and improve flexible adjustment capabilities. Support the low-carbon development of coal and electricity and accelerate the construction of digital smart power plants. For hydropower equipment, it is necessary to improve the flexibility and wide-load operation capability of hydro-generator units, improve the operating efficiency of old units, and better adapt to the operating needs of new power systems. For transmission and distribution equipment, it is necessary to carry out overall renovation of old substations and transmission lines to improve the safety of power grid operation. Build the distribution network appropriately ahead of schedule, improve the carrying capacity of the distribution network, and meet the development of distributed new energy and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Capital is a key element for companies to update energy equipment. Relevant departments should effectively increase financial support for equipment renewal and technological transformation in key energy areas, guide financial institutions to strengthen docking with relevant enterprises and projects, and make a good "combination" of fiscal, taxation, finance, investment and other policies.