Regional difference in utilization ratio of thermal power equipment increases

In the first half of 2017, the overall situation of China's thermal power industry was better than expected due to the macroeconomic warming. The thermal power generating capacity of the power plants above Designated Size reached 22215 billion kwh, an increase of 7.1% over the same period last year, and the growth rate increased by 10.2 percentage points over the same period last year.

The Central Electricity media power media data research and development center statistics show that in the first half of this year, the utilization rate of thermal power units in China is increasing, the "North High South low" "East High West low" pattern is further highlighted. The average utilization hours of thermal power in Jiangsu and Shandong are as high as 2463 hours and 2436 hours, which is higher than the average utilization hours of thermal power equipment in the whole country more than 400 hours, leading the whole country.  In Southwest China, such as Yunnan and Sichuan, the utilization hours of thermal power equipment are only 652 hours and 1091 hours.

It is expected that in the second half of 2017, the impact of macro economic growth and the large increase in electricity consumption in the whole society will be greatly increased in the second half of 2017, and the average utilization hours of thermal power equipment in China will be further improved. There is room for growth in North China, Northwest China and East China. It is estimated that the average utilization hours of thermal power plants in China will exceed 4000 hours in 2017.

North China

North China is one of the most concentrated areas of thermal power installations in China. As of June, there were 3 provinces with thermal power installed capacity exceeding 60 million kilowatts in North China, namely, Shandong, Inner Mongolia and Shanxi.

From the average utilization hours of thermal power unit, compared with the same period last year, the average utilization hours of thermal power equipment in most provinces in North China have reversed the declining trend for many years, realizing general growth. The average utilization hours of thermal power equipment in Shandong and Beijing are declining, the decline is 5 respectively. 1 hours, 136 hours.

The analysis shows that the utilization rate of thermal power equipment in North China is relatively high. It is expected that the average use hours of thermal power equipment in North China still have room for growth in the future.

East China

East China is one of the most concentrated areas of thermal power installations in China. As of June, there were two provinces in eastern China over 60 million kilowatts of thermal installed capacity, respectively Jiangsu and Zhejiang, of which Jiangsu province's thermal power installed capacity reached 88 million 750 thousand KW, ranking second in the country.

From the average utilization hours of thermal power unit, the utilization rate of thermal power equipment in this area has been greatly improved. Compared with the same period last year, Zhejiang and Fujian have increased greatly, reaching 183 hours and 138 hours respectively. Only a certain degree of decline has occurred in Anhui, but the average utilization hours of Anhui thermal power plants are still high, ranking eighth in the country. Affected by regional economy and hydropower development, the average utilization hours of thermal power plants in Fujian are relatively low, which is only 1569 hours.

With the acceleration of economic recovery in East China, the average utilization of thermal power equipment in the region is expected to be further improved, especially during the summer of the peak in Jiangsu province. In the future, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui have great potential for growth.

Central China

The capacity of thermal power installed in Central China is relatively low. As of June, more than 60 million kilowatts of central China provinces were only Henan Province, and the remaining provinces had relatively low thermal power installed capacity. In the first half of this year, the new installed capacity of thermal power in Central China has been slowly increasing in the first half of this year. Only 350 thousand kilowatts have been installed in Henan Province, and the growth of the other provinces is almost zero.

From the average use hours of thermal power equipment, the average utilization rate of thermal power equipment in Central China is low in the first half of this year, only 2278 hours in Jiangxi, sixth in the country, higher than the national average, and the rest of the provinces are less than 2000 hours. The thermal power province is only 1868 hours in Henan, and the lowest in Sichuan is 1091 hours.

The research and development center of China China electric media power media data shows that Hubei, Hunan and Sichuan in Central China are the big hydropower provinces in China. In the first half of this year, the water and electricity water situation is relatively good, which caused certain extrusion to the thermal power in the region. In the second half of this year, gradually entering the flood season, there is still pressure on the average utilization hours of thermal power equipment in this area. It is noteworthy that there is a serious problem of thermal power consumption in Henan Province, which will cause some pressure on the local thermal power enterprises.

Southern Region

The capacity of thermal power installed in the south is relatively low. As of June, more than 60 million kilowatts of the provinces in the southern region were only Guangdong Province, followed by 30 million 880 thousand kilowatts in Guizhou Province, and the installed capacity of thermal power in other provinces was relatively low.

From the average use hours of thermal power equipment, in the first half of this year, all the provinces in the South have risen to a certain extent. Only the Hainan province has fallen to a certain extent, reaching 2054 hours. In recent years, the number of thermal power equipment in the South has been greatly fluctuated. In the first half of 2014, the average utilization hours of thermal power equipment in Guangxi and Yunnan were 2188 hours and 1603 hours, and the first half of this year was only 1348 hours and 652 hours, and the local thermal power enterprises were subjected to greater pressure.

It is expected that the power market in the south is basically saturated, the growth of power consumption in the main load areas is small, and the thermal power redundancy in the south is more serious. With the advancement of electricity market reform, some old and inefficient units will gradually withdraw from the market.

Northwest Region

The capacity of thermal power installed in Northwest China is relatively small.  As of June, more than 30 million kilowatts of provinces were Xinjiang and Shaanxi, with installed capacity of 46 million 90 thousand kilowatts and 30 million 360 thousand kilowatts respectively.

Compared with the same period last year, the provinces in the northwest have reversed the declining trend over the years. In addition, the average utilization ratio of thermal power equipment in Northwest China is relatively balanced, slightly higher than the national average level, and only slightly lower in Gansu province.

The analysis shows that the average utilization hours of thermal power equipment in Ningxia, Shaanxi and Qinghai are generally in the national average. With the gradual warming of the macro-economic situation in the northwest region, the average utilization hours of thermal power equipment in the northwest region will be further promoted in the future. It is worth noting that the average use hours of thermal power equipment in Gansu and Xinjiang are still in the decline interval. As the main power output provinces in the northwest, there is certain pressure in the future two thermal power plants under the circumstances of the lack of power in the external provinces.

Northeast region

Generally speaking, the installed capacity of thermal power in the northeast provinces is not large. As of June, the installed capacity of thermal power in Liaoning was slightly higher than 30 million kilowatts, reaching 31 million 490 thousand kilowatts, and the lowest in Jilin Province, only 17 million 750 thousand kilowatts.

From the average utilization hours of thermal power equipment, the average utilization hours of thermal power equipment in Northeast China are lower than the national average, while the average utilization hours of thermal power equipment in Liaoning and Heilongjiang are still in the downlink. The average utilization hours of thermal power equipment in Jilin province are partly rising, which is 38 hours higher than that of the same period last year.

The analysis of the R & D center of China China electric media power media data shows that the thermal power redundancy pressure in Northeast China is large, especially in Jilin and Heilongjiang, and the local economic situation is low, which causes the average utilization hours of thermal power equipment in this area to be greatly improved in the short term. With the acceleration of electricity market reform, Northeast China needs to adjust its structure with the help of market forces. At present, Northeast China has established Liaoning electric power trading center, Jilin power trading center and Heilongjiang electric power trading center, but the market transaction scale is relatively small.  In the short term, the pressure of thermal power enterprises in Northeast China is hard to solve.

In the first half of 2017, the total energy consumption of our country has risen sharply, but the rise in coal prices has hedged some of the profit generated by the growth of electricity generation. In general, the pressure of thermal power enterprises in some areas is increasing, especially in areas with low utilization rate of equipment in Northeast and southwest, and the challenge of thermal power enterprises is more severe.

The second half of 2017, China's thermal power industry equipment utilization rate has room for improvement, coal prices will be the largest variable in the second half of the development of China's thermal power industry.

Data sources: National Energy Bureau, China Electric Power Enterprise Federation, China electric media power media data research and development center, provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) by the Commission.

Note: for the convenience of statistics, Shandong is incorporated into North China, Sichuan is incorporated into central China, and Tibet and Qinghai are incorporated into the northwest region, which is different from the traditional geographical concept division.