Key focus on the National Energy Administration's dispatch meeting: From January to August, solar power installed capacity historically surpassed coal power.

On October 9, according to a report citing the National Energy Administration, the NEA recently held its monthly (September) video dispatch meeting on national renewable energy power development and construction. The meeting disclosed that from January to August 2026, China's renewable energy power installed capacity reached 2.496 billion kilowatts, accounting for 60.8% of the total national power installed capacity, with new installed capacity of 159 million kilowatts, accounting for 71.6% of all new installed capacity. Among these, solar power installed capacity has historically surpassed coal power, becoming the largest power source category by installed capacity.

Zhejiang Virtual Power Plant Sets New Domestic Record for Valley-Filling Response During National Day Holiday

On October 9, it was reported that during the National Day holiday, State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power organized a market-based valley-filling response through virtual power plants, with 50 operators and 2,542 aggregated users participating. The maximum response load reached 3,595.2 megawatts, setting a new domestic record for virtual power plant response scale. Among them, 1,359 user-side energy storage units participated, with a maximum response load of 1,064.1 megawatts.

China's First Million-Kilowatt-Class Opposed Firing Tower Boiler Ignites Successfully on First Attempt

On October 9, the No. 5 boiler of the Huaneng Haimen project, for which Dongfang Electric Corporation Limited (Dongfang Electric) (ASX: 01072) supplied the opposed firing tower boiler, steam turbine, generator, boiler control system, and commissioning services, ignited successfully on its first attempt. This marks the project's official transition from the infrastructure installation phase to the hot commissioning phase, laying a solid foundation for subsequent full startup and grid-connected power generation. Located in Shantou, Guangdong, the Huaneng Haimen project is China's first million-kilowatt ultra-supercritical unit to adopt an opposed firing tower boiler, filling the domestic gap in opposed firing technology for large-capacity tower boilers.

Industry News: China's First Off-Grid Megawatt-Class Island Microgrid Under Accelerated Construction on Taishan Island, Fujian

According to an October 9 report, the microgrid project on Taishan Island in Fuding, Fujian, is under accelerated construction as China's first off-grid megawatt-class island microgrid, with plans to commence operation in November 2026. The project is equipped with three 100-kilowatt wind turbines, 500 kilowatts of solar power, a 100-kilowatt-class mobile "ammonia-hydrogen" fuel cell, and 600 kilowatts of lithium battery energy storage systems, with an average annual power generation capacity of 1.2 million kilowatt-hours.

State Power Investment and Dongfang Electric Adjust External Directors

On October 9, following deliberation, Wang Wei, Ning Fushun, Wang Sen, and Lv Zhiren were appointed as external directors of State Power Investment Corporation Limited, with Liu Deheng and Nie Xiaofu no longer serving in that capacity. Li Baoqing, Gai Zhaoju, and Sheng Genghong were appointed as external directors of China Dongfang Electric Corporation Limited (Dongfang Electric) (ASX: 600875), with Huang Yongda, Zhang Cheng, and Su Wensheng no longer serving in that capacity.

International News: US Imposes New Round of Sanctions on Iran, Involving 17 Oil Tankers

On October 8 local time, the US Department of the Treasury website published a message announcing a new round of sanctions against Iran. The sanctions target 17 vessels transporting Iranian crude oil, petroleum products, and petrochemical products. Just one day earlier, the International Energy Agency had agreed to accelerate the release of approximately 100 million barrels of oil reserves.