Meeting power system flexibility needs in China by 2030: a market-based policy toolkit for the 15th five-year plan

The People’s Republic of China is deploying record levels of wind and solar PV, challenging the flexibility of its power system. At the same time, China has been making big steps towards implementing markets, and the goals announced in 2020 of carbon dioxide emissions peaking before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060 have added momentum to expand their footprint.
This report investigates the evolving flexibility requirements of China’s power system as it transitions towards a cleaner energy mix. The analysis aims to present a market-based policy toolkit that can enhance flexibility, especially during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), focusing on short-term flexibility solutions for the integration of variable renewable energy. Though the main audience of this report is policy makers in China and experts from around the world intending to contribute to power sector reforms, the report also aims to be informative for generalist readers.