The National Energy Administration's recent release of the Draft for Comments has sparked significant debate within the industry due to its new provisions on project categorization, grid connection modes, filing management, and market competition. This analysis aims to elucidate the draft's key points and their implications, assisting industry professionals in grasping the policy direction.
From Zhong Lun Perspective
The National Energy Administration's recent release of the "Distributed Photovoltaic Power Generation Development and Construction Management Measures (Draft for Comments)"has sparked significant debate within the industry due to its new provisions on project categorization, grid connection modes, filing management, and market competition. This analysis aims to elucidate the draft's key points and their implications, assisting industry professionals in grasping the policy direction.
The draft introduces a new classification for "non-natural person household use "projects commercial and industrial projects into "general commercial and industrial "and"large-scale commercial and industrial "categories. Article 4 of the draft distinguishes distributed photovoltaic projects based on the filing entity and voltage level, setting limits on total installed capacity for specific project types. This clarity in classification lays the groundwork for differentiated management approaches.
A novel addition is the "full self-generation and self-use "grid connection mode. Building on the ation of distributed photovoltaic projects, Article 5 introduces the "full self-generation and self-use" mode alongside the existing "full grid connection" and "self-generation and self-use, surplus electricity to the grid "options. The draft limits the scope of grid connection modes for different project types, offering household photovoltaic projects the broadest range of options, while commercial and industrial projects are restricted from the "full grid connection" mode, with large-scale projects limited to "full self-generation and self-use."
The draft also proposes the participation of distributed photovoltaic projects in the electricity market and green certificate trading. While detailed regulations on market entry for distributed photovoltaic are pending, Article 36 affirms that such projects will engage in the electricity market as per national regulations. They can participate in energy trading and auxiliary services through various means, including independent operations, microgrids, source-network-load-storage integration, and virtual power plant aggregation, ensuring fair market access. Localities are tasked with developing supporting policies based on their specific conditions regarding distributed photovoltaic development and electricity market construction progress.
The marketization of the green certificate system is also advancing. The draft mandates the issuance of green certificates for all electricity generated by registered distributed photovoltaic projects, with tradable green certificates issued for grid-connected electricity. Project investors can engage in green certificate trading according to management regulations once they hold these certificates. This indicates a future supply structure that differentiates between grid-connected and self-used electricity, with only the former being eligible for tradable green certificates, potentially increasing their market value.
The draft's release is intended to regulate and foster the healthy development of distributed photovoltaic power generation projects, aligning with national strategies for energy transition and carbon neutrality. It sets clear requirements for refining project types, innovating grid connection modes, streamlining procedural processes, setting construction boundaries, protecting natural person interests, encouraging investment and technological innovation, and promoting market transactions and fair competition. It is hoped that the draft will be refined and enacted after extensive consultation, providing not only a framework for the market-oriented operation of the distributed photovoltaic power generation industry but also ensuring project compliance and legality. Furthermore, it will offer clear regulatory policy support for optimizing the energy structure and achieving environmental protection goals.
（Zhong Lun Perspective Hao Li, Wang Wei, Ye Yuxin)