Central China Power Market Achieves 80 Days of Trading in Inter-Provincial Peak-Shaving Auxiliary Services in Q1 2025

The total number of trading days in the inter-provincial power peak-shaving auxiliary service market in Central China (the four eastern provinces) reached 80 days in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Central China Energy Regulatory Bureau under the National Energy Administration. This achievement is part of ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency and capacity of the regional electricity market.

Under the guidance of the National Energy Administration, the Central China Energy Regulatory Bureau is committed to implementing the national energy work conference and energy regulatory work meeting directives. These efforts focus on deepening the reforms of the electricity system and establishing a unified national electricity market. The Bureau is actively promoting the construction of the electricity market in Central China, aligning it with national strategies like the rise of the central region and the integration of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

1. Innovative Breakthroughs in Regional Long-term Transactions

The regional power grid resource optimization platform has been leveraged to maximize the use of available transmission capacity. In April 2025, transactions between provinces resulted in agreements for 22.6 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, including interprovincial transactions from Henan to Hunan and Jiangxi. This strategy has allowed for a peak power exchange of 400,000 kilowatts between Henan and Jiangxi, and 500,000 kilowatts with Hunan during peak summer periods. Additionally, it has created space for 1.05 million kilowatts of new energy generation in Henan, raising consumption levels by over 900 million kilowatt-hours.

2. Enhanced Regional Electricity Market Operations

The first quarter of 2025 saw significant improvements in the operations of the regional electricity market. The inter-provincial power peak-shaving auxiliary service market recorded 80 days of trading, with an average of over 6 transactions per day. This marked a substantial increase compared to previous years, resulting in a reduction of abandoned renewable energy by 520 million kilowatt-hours and a peak power exchange of 3.43 million kilowatts among provinces.

In the first quarter, 22 transactions for standby auxiliary services were conducted, providing a total of 3.7 million kilowatt-hours of supply across Central China. The peak assistance power reached 1.98 million kilowatts, ensuring stable winter operations across the four provinces.

3. Progress in Regional Electricity Market Construction

In alignment with the 2025 Energy Regulatory Work Plan, which emphasizes the establishment of inter-provincial trading mechanisms in regions like Northwest and Central China, the Central China Energy Regulatory Bureau has taken a proactive role in enhancing market design and planning.

The Bureau has organized the development of trading rules for inter-provincial power exchanges in Central China and is working towards creating a real-time electricity trading market, which encompasses peak-shaving and standby services. This aims to cover demands not currently met in cross-regional markets.

Furthermore, a joint meeting mechanism for the construction of the electricity market in the four eastern provinces has been established to ensure effective coordination and problem-solving in market construction tasks. The Bureau is also enhancing the peak-shaving auxiliary service market in the Sichuan-Chongqing region.

Looking forward, the Central China Energy Regulatory Bureau will continue to advance the construction of the regional electricity market, focusing on improving inter-provincial trading mechanisms and digital regulatory operations, contributing to the establishment of a unified, open, and competitively regulated national electricity market.