BEIJING: China will encourage renewable power generators to add energy storage or peak-shaving facilities, aiming to boost renewable power consumption and to ensure stable operation of the grid system, the country's state planner said on Tuesday.

       "China's renewable energy has been developing rapidly in recent years, but shortcomings such as insufficient flexibility and insufficient adjustment capability of the power system are prominent, restricting the development of a higher proportion and larger-scale renewable energy," said the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in a statement.

       It also said power generators can buy peak-shaving services from other market participants, including energy storage facility operators, gas-fired power plants and coal-fired power stations that have carried out flexibility adjustment.

       Peak-shaving facilities could help store electricity or reduce power generation during low-demand hours, and increase power output when demand spikes.

       China, the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, aims to to increase renewable power so that it accounts for more than 50% of total power generation capacity by 2025, while maintaining smooth operation of the grid system as renewables sources could flucutate alongside weather conditions.

       Last month, the NDRC aims to install more than 30 gigawatts (GW) of non-pumped hydro energy storage capacity within five years. - Reuters