On September 18, at the power dispatch control center of State Grid Changzhou Power Supply Company, the duty dispatcher adopted a three-stage control strategy based on real-time grid conditions to precisely guide distributed solar photovoltaic systems in making science-based responses across different time intervals. This approach has enabled refined management and dynamic regulation of distributed solar capacity.
With Jiangsu's cumulative installed solar power capacity surpassing 100 gigawatts, making it the first province in China to reach this milestone, solar power has historically overtaken coal-fired electricity to become the province's largest power source. As new energy accelerates its substitution for traditional energy sources, challenges brought by high-proportion distributed solar grid integration are becoming increasingly prominent, including bidirectional voltage overruns in distribution networks and temporal-spatial mismatches between power generation and load consumption.
Faced with this common industry challenge, State Grid Changzhou Power Supply Company has selected Jintan District as a pilot zone to explore a systematic governance solution combining strategy optimization, equipment remediation, and live-line maintenance operations. This experience in building the new power system has been promoted citywide, offering a replicable Changzhou model for high-proportion renewable energy grid integration.
Taking Jintan District as an example, cumulative distributed solar power generation from January to August 2026 reached approximately 628 million kilowatt-hours, accounting for more than 9% of total societal electricity consumption. During the midday peak solar generation period, distribution network power flows have shifted from traditional one-way supply to bidirectional exchange, resulting in significant line voltage fluctuations that demand urgent remediation.
To address these pain points, State Grid Changzhou Jintan Power Supply Company has implemented targeted measures. At the strategy level, a differentiated one-station-one-policy management approach has been adopted, dynamically optimizing main and distribution network operation modes based on regional solar penetration rates, with automatic voltage regulation strategies developed to achieve coordinated source-grid-load-storage regulation. At the equipment level, new devices such as voltage balance cabinets have been introduced to establish a dynamic balance mechanism between solar generation and end-user consumption. At the construction level, the application scenarios for live-line maintenance have been substantially expanded to minimize power outage impacts during remediation works and safeguard customer experience.
Jintan's exploration serves as a microcosm of Changzhou's citywide advancement of the new power system. Currently, Changzhou is coordinating four national-level pilot tasks, including the national carbon peak pilot, zero-carbon parks, vehicle-to-grid interaction, and new power system capability enhancement, with full commitment to building a new power system centered on renewable energy. By the end of 2025, new energy installed capacity accounted for 37.8% of the city's total, with total solar power installed capacity exceeding 5 gigawatts, historically surpassing coal-fired and gas-fired power to become the largest power source.
In terms of resource integration, Changzhou has leveraged its municipal-level virtual power plant management platform to aggregate over 1.28 gigawatts of adjustable resources including solar, energy storage, and charging infrastructure. All newly built distributed solar projects at 10 kilovolts and above now achieve real-time visibility, measurability, and controllability. Additionally, technical safeguards such as installing independent over-and-under voltage protection devices and mandating inverters with high and low voltage ride-through capabilities have been implemented to fortify power quality defenses.
On the mechanism innovation front, Changzhou has introduced a vehicle-to-grid dedicated electricity pricing policy with the most comprehensive scenario coverage and highest discharge revenue nationwide. Fifteen intelligent and orderly controlled demonstration communities have been established, enabling massive numbers of private vehicles to serve as flexible grid regulation resources. Jintan District has pioneered the Electric-Magic Cube electro-thermal coupled microgrid, opening up information links between the power grid and heating networks. When solar power is in surplus, thermal storage equipment is directed to participate in consumption, achieving dual benefits of peak shaving and valley filling alongside cost reduction and carbon emission cuts.
Liyang High-Tech Zone has completed the province's largest near-zero carbon park microgrid, with more than ten core hardware and software components sourced from the local industrial chain. In 2025, this microgrid reduced energy expenditures for resident enterprises by 7.2 million yuan. In terms of service assurance, Changzhou has established the province's first prefecture-level people's mediation committee for power industry disputes, exploring a model combining exemplary litigation with batch mediation to resolve disputes before litigation and address issues at their source. Meanwhile, leveraging digital inspection technology, drone aerial photography and image recognition techniques are employed to precisely identify and penalize default electricity usage behaviors such as unauthorized solar capacity expansion and over-capacity grid connection, maintaining a fair and orderly grid integration environment.
From the refined one-station-one-policy governance in Jintan to the systematic citywide deployment of virtual power plants, microgrids, and vehicle-to-grid interaction, Changzhou is driving its comprehensive green and low-carbon transformation through a modernized power business environment. This Changzhou solution, which balances safety, efficiency, and fairness, not only ensures reliable local power supply but also provides practical reference for Jiangsu Province and the entire nation in maintaining safe and stable grid operations under high-proportion renewable energy integration.
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