From XINHUA
The installed capacity of the Northwest Power Grid has surpassed 500 gigawatts (GW), following the recent grid connection of the 150 MW Biansaihu Wind Farm in Yan'an, Shaanxi Province, according to the Northwest Branch of the State Grid Corporation of China.
Since 2012, power generation capacity in Northwest China has grown rapidly, transforming the Northwest Power Grid from the smallest regional grid in the country to the third largest. Of the total 500 GW, renewable energy accounts for 269 GW, making up more than 53%. The region has doubled its installed capacity since the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period, with nearly 45 GW contributed by renewable energy projects in desert, Gobi, and arid areas. This shift toward green energy has significantly enhanced the region's energy structure, laying a strong foundation for advancing China's "dual carbon" strategy and driving a green, low-carbon economic transformation.
To date, the Northwest Power Grid has delivered over 2 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity to other regions through the "West-to-East Power Transmission" initiative, ranking first among China's regional power grids in cross-regional electricity delivery.
Looking ahead, the Northwest Power Grid is expected to exceed 1.2 terawatts (TW) of installed capacity by the end of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Of this, approximately 800 GW will come from renewable energy, with advanced energy storage systems adding close to 80 GW. Renewable energy is projected to account for 50% of total electricity generation, marking a historic shift from capacity-driven development to output-focused growth. These developments will position the Northwest Power Grid as a pioneering demonstration area for modern power systems.