China to launch unified national power trading market by year-end to boost real-time electricity trading and renewable energy use.

China to launch unified national power trading market by year-end to boost real-time electricity trading and renewable energy use.

China is on track to launch a unified national power trading market by the end of 2025, according to State Grid Corp. of China. The country's main electricity grid operator, led by President Pang Xiaogang, is confident that the platform will be operational by then. This initiative aims to facilitate near real-time electricity trading across provinces and promote the adoption of renewable energy sources [1].

The launch of the national power market comes after China set a 2025 target for building the initial stages of the market in 2022. The acceleration of this process was driven by the need to address price distortions caused by rising coal costs, which led to widespread power outages. As of June 1, all wind and solar projects in China are required to sell their electricity in open markets, leading to a surge in renewable energy installations. In May alone, wind and solar power accounted for about 25% of total power generation, with utilization rates reaching around 93% [1].

The new market is expected to enhance the efficiency of electricity trading and support the growth of renewable energy sources. This is particularly significant given China's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and achieving sustainability goals. The move also opens up opportunities for international companies, such as Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power Co., which sees China's clean energy expansion as an incentive to set up operations in the country [1].

Meanwhile, Octopus Energy Generation has announced the launch of the Octopus Energy Power Africa Fund (OEPA), aimed at accelerating investment in renewable energy across Sub-Saharan Africa. The OEPA, with an initial commitment of $60 million and aspirations to attract $250 million over three years, will focus on projects such as rooftop solar, battery storage, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and grid upgrades. This initiative underscores Octopus Energy's dedication to environmental sustainability and powering regions with historically unreliable access to traditional power grids [2].

These developments highlight China's and Octopus Energy's strategic moves to capitalize on the global potential for renewable energy. The unified national power trading market in China is poised to revolutionize the country's electricity sector, while the OEPA represents a significant step towards transforming Africa's energy landscape.

References:
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-24/china-on-target-to-launch-national-power-market-by-end-of-year
[2] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/octopus-energy-launches-first-african-144334493.html