Jiao Xianzheng: Devoting Major Efforts to Developing Hydropower and Constructing an Integrated Energy System

What is the energy situation in Tibet? How will our district develop resource advantages, further solve the problem of electricity consumption for the people, and improve the power shortage situation? With these questions, the reporter interviewed Jiao Xianzheng, deputy director of the Autonomous Region Energy Office.

Reporter: What is the overall situation of energy resources in our district? What are the advantages of current energy resources for the development of power resources in our region?

Jiao Xianzheng: Tibet’s energy resources mainly include renewable energy sources such as hydropower, solar energy, geothermal energy, wind energy, forest trees, and animal manure, and the lack of proven energy resources such as oil, natural gas, and coal. The theoretical reserves of hydropower resources are 210 million kilowatts, and the amount of technology exploitable is 140 million kilowatts, accounting for 29% and 24.5% of the country respectively. They all rank first in the country; the amount of solar energy resources ranks first in the country, and most of the regions are exposed to the sunshine. More than 3,000 hours, the annual radiation amount is 6000-8000 MJ/m2; geothermal energy and wind energy are relatively abundant; geothermal power generation potential is about 800,000 kilowatts; annual wind energy resource reserves are about 93 billion kilowatt-hours; theoretical output of fuel wood resources is about 4.8 million tons of standard coal; annual production of animal manure equivalent to nearly 2.8 million tons of standard coal; fossil energy, coal proved reserves of less than 50 million tons, oil and gas resources to be identified.

It can be said that the energy resources of hydropower, solar energy, geothermal energy and wind energy in our district are relatively abundant. This has great advantages for the development of hydropower stations in our district and the full use of solar energy, geothermal energy, and wind power.

Reporter: Among these energy resources, how will our district vigorously develop resource advantages, further solve the problem of electricity consumption by the people, and improve the tension in electricity consumption?

Jiao Xianzheng: Tibet enjoys the reputation of an Asian water tower. Its unique natural and geographical environment has created a rich hydropower resource in Tibet. As I mentioned earlier, Tibet’s hydropower resources and solar energy resources rank first in the country. The development of hydropower is not only our need in Tibet, but also the need for energy development in our country, and it is also the need for China's economic and social development and energy conservation and emission reduction. In order to accelerate economic development in our region and contribute to the economic development of the country, the development of hydropower in Tibet will become an inevitable choice. Since then, the autonomous region has made an energy development plan of “vigorously developing hydropower and building an integrated energy system”.

Tibet’s abundant hydropower resources are the natural advantages of Tibet’s economic development. Scientifically and rationally developing Tibet’s hydropower resources, establishing Tibet’s hydropower strategic supporting industries, and implementing the “transmission of Tibet Electric Power” can not only provide sufficient clean energy for Tibet’s social and economic development. It will bring huge financial gains, and at the same time it will also promote the development of related industries, help promote the economic and social development of Tibet, and promote the living standards of the Tibetan people. According to calculations, Tibet's hydropower export capacity can reach about 95 million kilowatts, with 450 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity sent outside. If the delivery goal is achieved, it will save about 150 million tons of standard coal annually, reduce the annual emission of sulfur dioxide by about 2 million tons, reduce the annual emission of nitrogen oxides by about 750,000 tons, reduce the annual emission of soot by about 1 million tons, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. About 300 million tons. Therefore, the environmental benefits achieved by the implementation of Tibet’s hydropower transmission are considerable. The development of hydropower in Tibet is conducive to the sustainable development of China’s power industry.

Through the efforts made in recent years, as of the end of 2010, the region’s cumulative installed power capacity was 974,000 kilowatts, and the energy structure has improved. The region’s electricity consumption reached 2.38 million, accounting for 82.06% of the total population of the region, and the amount of electricity and electricity used. Significantly increased. With further optimization of the energy structure and accelerated development of power construction, the “12th Five-Year Plan” period will comprehensively address the issue of electricity use in urban and rural areas in our district and gradually move towards electrification.