According to reporting by Chinese news outlets, the government of China’s Hainan Province held a press conference on January 25 to explain its plan for “the realization of the values of ecological products”. At the event, government officials stated that the island province intends to have clean energy sources account for about 50% of its energy consumption by 2025. Also, clean energy sources will account for 85% of the installed generation capacity of the province by the same year. It should be noted that nuclear power is considered to be a clean energy source by the provincial government.
To reach these targets, the provincial government will be expanding CHP generation capacity by 5,520MW and renewable generation capacity by 8,000MW. Regarding the distribution of the additional 8,000MW of renewable generation capacity, solar PV will account for 5,000MW and offshore wind power will account for 3,000MW. The provincial government currently plans to develop 1,230MW of offshore wind generation capacity and will be working hard to reach 3,000MW within the period of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025).
According to the statements made by the officials at the press conference, the installed generation capacity of the province is projected to reach around 23,000MW by 2025. Clean energy sources are expected to comprise 85% of that total.
The Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant, which is located on the island, is presently undergoing its second-phase development. The new reactors that will be added to the plant – Unit 3 and 4 – are scheduled to enter operation in 2026. Also, China National Nuclear Corporation is setting up a small modular reactor northwest of the plant site. This demonstration project is also expected to go online in the same year. Collectively, the second-phase development and demonstration project will provide an additional generation capacity of 2,525MW. Again, it should be emphasized that the provincial government regards this expansion as a contribution from a clean energy source.
Apart from the clean and renewable generation targets, the press conference also revealed plans to promote the adoption of new energy vehicles. A notable highlight was the announcement that the provincial government will study on the possible development of a local industry for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and complementing infrastructure. Officials also said that the expansion of the electric vehicle charging network in the province will continue. The province aims to have one charging pile for every 2.5 electric cars by 2025.
Wang Yuan-song, who heads the energy department of the provincial development and reform commission, said that by 2025, the province will have the basics of an energy infrastructure system that is clean, low carbon, highly efficient, and secure. Hainan will be on its way to become a “clean energy island”. Wang also projects that the province will more or less achieve the goal of energy transition by 2035. At that time, clean energy sources are forecasted to account for around 81% of the island’s energy consumption and 94% of the island’s installed generation capacity.