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China's State Grid Corp Plans To Build 'Smart Grid' By 2020

BEIJING -(Dow Jones)- China's power distribution monopoly State Grid Corp. has set a goal of building a smart grid by 2020 to improve efficiency and distribute power more flexibly, the company's general manager Liu Zhenya said Thursday.

The so-called "strong and smart grid" would help increase the share of clean energy in China's energy mix.

Clean energy such as wind and solar generate electricity intermittently; a smart grid is more "intelligent" in terms of electricity storage, stable transmission and power allocation, Liu said.

With the smart grid completed in 2020, China's clean energy installed capacity is expected to increase to 570 million kilowatts, or a 35% share of the total, State Grid said.

Planning will start this year, including establishing technical standards and equipment research and development.

The smart grid will be based on the current national grid, including ultra- high voltage power transmission lines. State Grid is increasing capital expenditure on its UHV projects, exceeding CNY200 billion ($29.3 billion) by 2012.

Wan Xu contributed to this story, Dow Jones Newswires; 8610-65885848; wan.xu@ dowjones.com

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