The conference on technologies and equipment for global energy interconnection was held in Berlin from December 10 to 11, 2015 local time. This conference was co-hosted by State Grid Corporation of China or SGCC, and German Electrical and Electronic and Communications Technology Institute, participated by over 70 representatives from international organizations, Chinese and European utilities, research institutes and universities. Chairman of Electrical and Electronic and Communications Technology Institute, Dr. Zimmer, Chinese Ambassador to Germany Shi Mingde, general manager of Germany Trade & Invest Dr. Peng Ze attended the seminar and delivered speeches. SGCC Chairman Liu Zhenya made a keynote speech on “Work Together to Conquer Technical &Equipment Difficulties and promote an Innovation-driven Development of Global Energy Interconnection”. 18 experts also delivered themed speeches, offering advice to the innovation in technology and equipment of global energy interconnection. Great fruits have been obtained.
Liu illustrated the concept and the purpose of global energy interconnection and how to construct it. He pointed out energy was the blood of our economy and society. Large-scale exploration and utilization of fossil energy brought about energy shortage, environment pollution and climate change. And the fundamental way out is to accelerate the implementation of “Two Replacements” and construct global energy interconnection.
Liu Zhenya also said the innovative breakthroughs in UHV, smart grid and clean energy technology and equipment have laid a foundation for constructing the global energy interconnection. China has fully mastered the core technology of UHV and its set equipment manufacturing. The EU proposed that the transnational transmission capacity for each country of EU should be no less than 10% of its national installed capacity by 2020. This goal is consistent with the construction of global energy interconnection. Now there are three super large interconnected grids in the world, located in North America, Europe, and Russo-Baltic Sea region. Other energy interconnection plans, such as the European super interconnection, Northeast Asia super interconnection, as well as the Desertec initiative designed to deliver electricity from North Africa to Europe, were in progress. All these will become important components of global energy interconnection.
He emphasized global energy interconnection conforms to the common benefits of all mankind and provides huge space for the world’s energy and power technology innovation and equipment manufacturing. It’s a rare opportunity in history. He hoped that all participating parties should strengthen cooperation, establish a coordination mechanism, set up a high-level research platform, and make major breakthroughs in UHV, smart grid, clean energy, grid operation and control as soon as possible to propel an innovation-driven global energy interconnection.
This seminar is the second technology and equipment workshop after the one held in US in November. Experts from IEA, IEC, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CEC, SGCC, Shandong University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Zhejiang University, German Electrical and Electronic and Communications Technology Institute, E.ON, RWE AG, EDF, UESR, TERNA, REN, Abengoa, Prysmian SpA, Siemens, ABB, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, University of Birmingham, University of Manchester, European Marine Energy Centre, and Desertec initiative conducted thorough communication and discussion on global energy interconnection, transmission and transformation technology and equipment, smart grid and new energy.
During his stay in Berlin, Liu met with REN’s Chairman of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee Rodrigo Costa and senior management of CDP and Turin Polytechnic University on December 9. Three parties signed an MOU on promoting advanced transmission and transformation technologies. On December 11, Liu Zhenya met with Professor Schofield, Senate member of University of Birmingham, witnessing the signing of an MOU on grid power storage technology between State Grid Energy Research Institute and the University of Birmingham. During the meeting, foreign companies and university management highly appreciated the concept of global energy interconnection, taking it as a grand vision and concept. They were willing to strengthen their cooperation with SGCC in terms of technical R&D and grid development to make global energy interconnection a bigger influence on the world’s sustainable development.