Smart grids empower sustainable development

China's rapid development and ambitious goals of peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060 require a robust and adaptable infrastructure that goes beyond energy. Smart grids and artificial intelligence are critical technologies for optimizing energy management, integrating renewable resources, enhancing disaster resilience, and securing critical infrastructure.

The scope of smart grids and AI applications is continually expanding, playing a crucial role in China's energy transition. Smart grids enable the seamless integration of renewable energy while reducing inefficiencies in energy generation and distribution.

AI plays a pivotal role in several key areas. One of the main contributions is predictive maintenance, where AI continuously monitors grid components for signs of wear and tear, helping to prevent outages. Digital twins — virtual replicas of grid infrastructure — allow operators to simulate and optimize grid operations. For instance, in Hebei province, a wind farm's digital twin reduced curtailment rates by 20 percent. Another critical application is real-time demand response, where AI-powered systems dynamically adjust energy distribution during peak demand. In Shanghai, an AI-driven grid management program helped reduce peak loads by 30 percent during the heat wave in 2023.