China's green energy leader Inner Mongolia has begun work on two new flexible power plants that will use coal as a backup to renewable sources like wind and solar to supply the economic hubs of Shanghai and Jiangsu province.
Inner Mongolia's energy bureau announced that the National Energy Administration has approved plans for two power and transmission plants in the Kubuqi Desert. This marks a major strategic shift in coal usage, with the fossil fuel now serving as a backup to fill gaps in power generated by wind and solar energy, rather than as the primary source.
The plants will supply electricity to the eastern economic hubs of Shanghai and Jiangsu province. The Shanghai plant will have a capacity of 8 gigawatts of solar power, 4.5 gigawatts of wind power, 2.6 GW of supporting coal-fired power, and 9 gigawatt-hours of new energy storage. The Jiangsu plant is of a similar scale, though with slightly smaller wind and energy storage capacities, according to regional authorities.
This initiative underscores Inner Mongolia's leadership in green energy, known for developments like wind and solar projects in the Kubuqi Desert. The approval by the National Energy Administration highlights China's efforts to balance coal with renewables for stable and reliable power supply.