Xinjiang power swing threatened China’s nationwide electricity supply in August
‘Severe threat’ to grid’s stability this summer may be linked to the region’s large-scale renewable energy sources
The National Energy Administration (NEA) reported on Thursday that the “low-frequency power oscillation” was caused by inadequate management of local power unit operations and a failure to activate a system stabiliser, as mandated by the country’s safety standards.
While oscillations can occur in any power system, they are particularly relevant in grids with renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, which are prone to variability because of changing weather.
The August 3 incident “severely threatened” the stability of the power grid in the northwest region and potentially across the entire country, according to a notice posted on the NEA’s website.
Without providing further details of the incident, the NEA emphasised the critical role of grid-connected safety management in maintaining stability and supporting the transition to green energy.
It urged agencies to “actively participate in and jointly conduct emergency drills for large-scale power outages”, and called for improved top-down planning to address structural issues like unbalanced grid configurations.
The administration said regional offices and provincial power management departments would conduct thorough inspections to prevent system oscillations, with findings to be submitted to the NEA by next April.
