The development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) brings new opportunities for those advanced industries driven by innovation, technology and digitization. Fabrice Fourcade,President of Partnership France China Electricity Association (PFCE) believes that the energy industry should be more intelligent and low-carbon to meet the needs of city cluster in the GBA.

Fabrice Fourcade,President of Partnership France China Electricity Association. [Photo provided for Newsgd.com]

Innovation and creativity will be key factors for the GBA to compete with other bay areas in New York, Tokyo and San Francisco. Nowadays, GBA cities like Shenzhen, Hong Kong are able to compete with cities in US and Japan, even leading in some specific fields.

Demand for new energy will come after high quality economic development in world-class bay areas including the GBA. Fourcade thought it is necessary to increase electricity supply over the next few years for developing the GBA into a center for IT and innovation.

Guangdong has established a diverse system for electricity generation, including thermal power, nuclear power, hydropower and new energy. Over 80 percent of Guangdong's electricity supply depends on hydropower and thermal power by using coal or gas.

As an innovation center, it is also essential to keep improving urban environments in order to attract outstanding talent. More attention should be payed to carbon emission reduction.

Based on this situation, it is imperative to improve Guangdong's energy consumption structure by encouraging the use of low-carbon energy, and to support the green development of the GBA.

In order to build a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system in the GBA, Fourcade suggested Guangdong should fully utilize its abundant resources of offshore wind power. "Guangdong plans to build 30GW of offshore wind power plants by 2030, which impresses us a lot. We are confident that Guangdong can achieve this goal, and French companies will work with our Chinese partners to make this happen," said Fourcade.

File photo shows the Taishan Nuclear Power Station. (Source: Nanfang Daily)

In July 2019, Guangdong unveiled a three-year development plan for the GBA, stating that the province will carry out the preliminary work on the second phase of the Taishan Nuclear Power Project by the end of 2020.

Many members of PFCE have provided help on the construction of the Taishan nuclear power station, especially the fitting of a European Pressurized Water Reactor (EPR).

The addition of two EPR nuclear power units will promote the GBA's energy development in a climate-friendly way. The new phase of the Taishan nuclear project will further nuclear power cooperation between France and Guagndong, added Fourcade.

Reported by Will

Edited by Simon