China's State Power Investment Corp has vowed to further tap digital ecosystems to improve the operating and maintenance efficiency of the country's vast, distributed renewable energy industry.
SPIC Integrated Smart Energy Technology, a subsidiary of SPIC, introduced its Tianshu One smart energy system in Beijing on Friday.
The cutting-edge platform combines energy monitoring, forecasting, control, analysis and operation, and addresses issues related to the excessive dispersion and management complexities of assets in distributed photovoltaic and energy storage sectors, resulting in enhanced efficiency.
The system, which integrates big data and AI algorithms, is expected to increase energy efficiency by over 20 percent, cut costs by more than 30 percent, lower overall energy consumption by over 15 percent and raise comprehensive energy utilization efficiency to over 75 percent.
The platform is also expected to elevate the renewable energy integration rate to more than 98 percent, the company said.
Tianshu One represents a pivotal moment in China's energy transformation journey and sets a global benchmark for the integration of smart technologies in the energy sector, the company added.
The system has so far been deployed in 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions across China, boasting a total installed capacity of nearly 27,000 megawatts.
By the end of 2023, its coverage is expected to expand to control a comprehensive energy capacity exceeding 40,000 megawatts, solidifying its status as the world's largest integrated smart energy digital platform, the company said.
Technology has been simultaneously reshaping the energy industry and driving the global energy transition, said Luo Zuoxian, head of intelligence and research at the Sinopec Economics and Development Research Institute.
While distributed renewable energy, including wind and solar power, has been playing a key role in China's green energy transition by replacing traditional fossil fuels, energy asset maintenance and management have been complex with relatively higher costs, Luo said.
Digital technology will be fundamental in managing a more distributed, diverse and decentralized energy system and will further transform the way the country manages its assets, he said.
Domestic energy companies have been striving to consolidate efforts to build a diverse platform ecosystem, leveraging intelligent digital solutions for smart operations.
