China to build 6GW of pumped hydro storage in bid to slash solar and wind power curtailment

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Source: State Grid Corporation.

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%.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

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).

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.

11 March 2025
Frankfurt, Germany
The conference will gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing out to 2030 and beyond.
17 June 2025
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 17-18 June 2025, will be our fourth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2026 and beyond.

Read Next

February 18, 2025
Chinese solar manufacturer Tongwei has ended its plan to acquire a controlling stake in fellow Chinese manufacturer Runergy.
February 18, 2025
Germany has now installed more than 100GW of solar PV after adding 1.1GW in January 2025, according to monthly data from the German Federal Network Agency.
February 17, 2025
Germany is poised to introduce new rules aimed at removing electricity peaks and negative pricing associated with surplus generation of solar power.
February 17, 2025
Meridian Energy, a New Zealand state-owned energy company, has secured planning consent for its 120MW Ruakākā Solar Farm in Tai Tokerau Northland.
Premium
February 14, 2025
Several distributors told PV Tech that they received messages from suppliers that some PV module manufacturers are considering increasing prices.
February 14, 2025
Muswellbrook Shire Council in New South Wales, Australia, has backed a solar module recycling mandate for a 135MW solar PV plant being developed by Swedish solar developer OX2.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
February 19, 2025
Tokyo, Japan
Solar Media Events
March 11, 2025
Frankfurt, Germany
Solar Media Events
March 18, 2025
Sydney, Australia