State Grid's green initiative to help boost prosperity in Zhejiang

As the spring sun shines on photovoltaic panels in the mountains around Tangyuan, East China's Zhejiang province, they glitter like a layer of gold laminate.

With over 800 residents, the picturesque village in the prefecture-level city of Quzhou first installed the solar power facilities in 2020, netting an income of some 50,000 yuan ($6,963) each year for the villagers by sending electric power to the grid.

Zhejiang, the birthplace of China's concept of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets", is trying to beautify itself through green initiatives amid the country's drive to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

Quzhou Electric Power Co of the State Grid — the world's largest utility shouldering a dual task of safeguarding the nation's energy security and spurring economic growth — has organized a zero-carbon service team, launching projects where "zero-carbon can make one greener, richer and more beautiful".

The projects include erecting and operating photovoltaic facilities, upgrading electric power lines, expanding charging stations for new electric vehicles and promoting greener homestays — in accordance with the local conditions of each place, the State Grid branch said.

Wang Qi, director of Qingyang substation of Quzhou Electric Power Co, said the construction of village-level photovoltaic power stations in Tangyuan, Tangyuankou township is one example.

All six local projects in the county-level city of Jiangshan have been included in the quota of photovoltaic power generation in Zhejiang, winning national and provincial cash subsidies, he said.

In Hongfu village under Tangyuankou, they are focusing on local homestays, which have been aided by the power company through funding for power line upgrades to beautify the living environment, Wang said.

In Jianglang village, the power company encourages local people to create all-electric homestays and all-electric kitchens, Wang said, adding that "electricity consumption in Jianglang Mountain Scenic Area will rise sharply in each tourist peak season, and we will regard it our top priority to ensure the local power supply".

"We are an all-electric homestay with a monthly consumption of some 500 kilovolt-hours, and the power supply workers will rush to our aid whenever needed," said Li Fengming, a homestay owner.

Zhang Ming, another homestay owner, added: "Since power lines were upgraded, our village looks cleaner, and we often hear compliments from our guests regarding its beauty and cleanliness."

In the nearby town of Xintangbian, the service team helped install and debug charging piles in Qinqin, allowing villagers to charge NEVs at their doorsteps.

"We are installing four charging piles in the village, meeting both the charging needs of villagers and visiting tourists," said Zheng Yingxuan, a staffer from State Grid Quzhou Electric Power Co.

"Previously, I had worries about buying an NEV due to inconvenient power charging, but now the worries are gone," said Li Quanping, a villager.

Zheng said currently, there are some 300 NEV charging stations with 2,900-odd charging piles in Quzhou's townships and towns.

Zhou Xiangjun, deputy secretary-general of the Zhejiang provincial government, said that by the end of June 2023, the province had built 9,691 charging and swapping power stations and 93,320 charging piles, ranking third in the country, and realizing its construction goal for the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period ahead of schedule.

By 2025, more than 2.3 million charging stations will be constructed in Zhejiang, with no less than 900,000 in rural areas, to meet the charging needs of over 4 million NEVs, he said.

Meanwhile, in Wuyi county under the prefecture-level city of Jinhua, the local people also pushed for green driving practices to bring about cleaner air, with the local development and reform bureau saying charging stations must be expanded for a greener travel environment.

In addition, in Liandu district under the prefecture-level city of Lishui, the local branch of the State Grid is also deepening its green push by helping farmers establish photovoltaic facilities, upgrade power lines, expand NEV charging stations and promote all-electric homestays and all-electric kitchens in homestays.