Volume 66

Assessing the Role of Coal Power Flexibility in Provincial Power System Transitions Jinhui Ren, Wenying Chen

Abstract

Coal power is still central to China’s electricity system but also a major source of emissions. With more renewables, the system needs stronger flexibility to stay reliable. This study uses a TIMES-based power system model of China’s 30 provinces. It characterizes coal technologies in detail, including part-load efficiency losses, retrofits, and early retirements. Two scenarios are compared: CN60 as the baseline, and CN60-DPS where coal acts as a flexibility resource. Results show that coal flexibility lowers the need for solar PV and storage, improves ramping, and brings earlier BECCS deployment. In the eastern regions, flexible coal power, together with storage and transmission, can meet net load ramping needs. Investing in coal flexibility offers a viable pathway for China’s power sector transition.

Keywords carbon neutrality, power system transition, coal power flexibility, deep peak shaving