In Jiangsu’s Nantong, over 60 companies have engaged in the construction of microgrids. As the early summer sun shines brightly, we visit Zhongtian Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd., located in the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Zone. The rooftop solar panels gleam in the warm sunlight, converting solar energy into green electricity. Inside the facility, the microgrid management platform continuously adjusts the output of this green electricity, ensuring efficient power supply to all equipment. “Our rooftop solar not only meets our self-consumption needs, but any excess green electricity can also be sold to the grid for revenue,” said Tan Qingwu, the Chief Engineer of Zhongtian Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd.
The development of microgrids is a vital pathway for enhancing energy efficiency and promoting green, low-carbon growth within industrial parks. In April of this year, Jiangsu Province introduced policies to further optimize the time-of-use electricity pricing structure for industrial and commercial users, encouraging them to lower electricity costs through the installation of energy storage devices and the implementation of integrated energy management.
Nantong City also launched a near-zero carbon pilot construction plan in 2024, initiating microgrid pilot projects within manufacturing companies, providing financial subsidies to those that pass the evaluation. Driven by a series of favorable policies, many high-energy consumption enterprises and significant carbon emitters have proactively applied to participate in microgrid construction. For instance, Nantong Chongtian Spinning Co., Ltd. invested over 20 million yuan last year to establish a photovoltaic generation and energy storage project that integrates solar power, storage, charging, and adjustable loads. The company reported that by charging during off-peak hours and discharging during peak hours, it significantly reduced electricity costs through a strategy of “two charges and two discharges” each day. Additionally, optimized power supply has enabled the company to increase production efficiency, raising its daily cotton yarn output from 80 tons to 110 tons.
To maximize the use of green electricity, effective microgrid management is crucial. “Some companies have high electricity loads but insufficient solar capacity; others have ample solar capacity but low electricity demand, leading to imbalances,” explained Zhang Pengcheng, Deputy Director of the Energy Department of Nantong’s Development and Reform Commission. To address these challenges, the commission has collaborated with local power supply departments to create a microgrid management platform that forecasts factory loads and adjusts energy storage accordingly.
Upon accessing the management platform, users can see real-time data on photovoltaic generation and current electricity loads from each connected enterprise. Yuan Yi, head of the marketing department at State Grid Nantong Power Supply Company, noted that the platform includes six preset operational management strategies to help companies flexibly adjust energy consumption based on energy storage levels and time-of-use pricing.
This system can be likened to installing “smart home” technology for industrial power use, allowing companies to precisely control their energy consumption and quickly adapt to grid demands, thereby optimizing electricity costs and maximizing revenue from surplus electricity fed back into the grid.
Over the past year, Nantong’s microgrid initiatives have resulted in a “win-win” situation. For companies, microgrids enhance the absorption of green electricity and lower energy costs, facilitating their transition towards greener operations. With more enterprises integrating into the microgrid, the resilience and emergency response capabilities of the power grid have also improved, leading to a more stable operation of the electricity load curve.
Currently, more than 60 companies in Nantong are involved in microgrid construction. In the future, microgrids are expected to leverage the region’s coastal and riverside advantages, along with its abundant renewable energy resources, to drive green, low-carbon, and high-quality development.
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