Renewables Power Over 75% of UK Electricity; China Rolls Out NEV Rural Promotion Drive
（2025/06/02—2025/06/08）
Author：Hao-Wang
International Energy News
1. Over 75% of Britain's Electricity Now Comes from Renewables
Over 75% of Britain's total electricity supply now comes from renewables, with wind power contributing a dominant 62%. Data from the UK National Grid's real-time tracker shows renewables outpaced all other sources this week, exporting 3.4% to neighboring countries including Belgium and the Netherlands. Offshore and onshore wind farms generated 20.42 GW combined, dwarfing output from nuclear, solar, gas, and hydro. The UK's northeastern Atlantic location offers ideal wind resources, with the North Sea's shallow waters hosting several of the world's largest offshore wind projects.
2. Japan's EEZ Unleashes Huge Untapped Potential for Offshore Wind
Japan's parliament passed a key amendment permitting offshore wind projects in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), marking a strategic clean energy shift. Proposed in January 2024, the bill unlocks renewable development across Japan's 4-million-sq-km EEZ. Previously confined to territorial waters, this reform advances Japan's offshore wind ambitions, bolsters energy security, and supports its 2050 net-zero goal. Under Japan's energy plan, renewables will comprise 40-50% of the mix by 2040, with offshore wind contributing 4-8%. Such projects circumvent land constraints and urban conflicts, ideal for densely populated regions.
3. China's Energy Investment Reaches Sum of US and EU
China's energy investment now matches the combined total of the US and EU, the IEA's 2025 World Energy Investment Report revealed on June 5. Global energy investment is projected to hit $3.3 trillion this year. The Wall Street Journal noted China's spending has surged from parity with the US a decade ago to equaling both the US and EU today. China's global clean energy investment share rose from 25% to nearly 33% over 10 years, driven by strategic funding for solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, batteries, and EVs. The report highlighted China's reduced reliance on imported oil and gas and its growing leadership in new technologies, with increasing foreign investments directed toward clean energy manufacturing.
Domestic Energy News
1. Promoting V2G Technology Applications in Rural Areas
On June 3, a joint notice issued by multiple ministries including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology outlined plans for the 2025 new energy vehicle (NEV) promotion campaign in rural areas. The document emphasizes advancing vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology in rural regions to enhance green development. Policies such as vehicle purchase tax and vessel tax reductions, automobile trade-ins, and upgrading charging/swapping infrastructure in county-level areas will be implemented. Automakers are encouraged to diversify product offerings and improve services to boost NEV consumption in rural markets. The campaign will select representative county-level cities with untapped NEV market potential for targeted activities, radiating outreach to surrounding townships with localized initiatives. Synergies will be created with pilot programs for charging infrastructure improvements and "vehicle-road-cloud integration" for intelligent connected vehicles, directing premium resources toward rural development.
2. NEA Launches First Batch of New Power System Pilot Projects
On June 4, the National Energy Administration (NEA) released a notice initiating the first batch of pilot projects for constructing a new power system. The document prioritizes breakthroughs in seven key areas: grid-forming technology, system-friendly renewable power stations, smart microgrids, computing-power-electricity coordination, virtual power plants, large-scale high-penetration renewable energy transmission, and next-generation coal power. Notably, for system-friendly renewable stations, the notice specifies: "Focus on regions facing tight supply or grid absorption pressure to build/upgrade renewable stations. Through long-duration high-accuracy power forecasting and smart coordinated control of wind-PV-storage systems, enhance grid compatibility. Stations must achieve ≥10% effective capacity during peak hours (minimum 2 hours)."
3. NEA Sets 90% National Renewable Utilization Target by 2027
At a June 5 State Council press conference, officials announced measures to enhance the power system’s renewable energy absorption capacity. The NEA has deployed key tasks including planning adjustable resources, optimizing dispatch mechanisms, and improving market participation frameworks to effectively boost system flexibility. By strengthening regulation capabilities and dispatch efficiency, the grid will support the annual integration of over 200 GW of new renewable capacity from 2025–2027. It was explicitly stated that by 2027, the national renewable energy utilization rate will reach no less than 90%.
(Main news sources: CCTVNEWS APP, International Energy Network, China Energy Network, National Energy Administration, China Energy News)
