全球能源互联网(quánqiú néngyuán hùliánwǎng): Global energy 'Internet'

The State Grid Corporation of China invited representatives from relevant government departments, and financial and power enterprises both from China and abroad to a workshop on global energy interconnection on Jan 21.

Liu Zhenya, board chairman of SGCC and chair of China Electricity Council, said in a speech that the main purpose of the workshop was to boost global energy interconnection by harnessing the strength of international financial power.

According to Liu, global energy interconnection could serve as a platform for the extensive development, deployment and utilization of clean energy globally.

He said the key to global energy interconnectivity was an ultra high voltage power grid, with a smart grid as the foundation and clean energy as the principle.

Liu also said with the development of technology, the cost and competitiveness of new energy will be improved, promoting the rapid development of wind and solar power. But to realize the utilization of clean energy, a global energy optimization platform, that is, a global "energy Internet" must be developed.

But building such a global energy Internet would require a huge investment, or more than $50 trillion by 2050.

Despite the commercial and technical feasibility, Liu admitted that building a global energy net costs much and faces many obstacles, but he said to do so is in the common interests of all.