Challenges and R&D opportunities of smart distribution grids in China

In this paper, 5 investigations on the current states of power distribution grids in China have been introduced that cover the surveys of the practical distribution asset utilization, the simultaneity factor of feeder loading, the load compositions and characteristics, the urban reliability and the integration of distributed generations of renewable resources. Based on the survey results in the investigations, 12 Facts are clearly presented. It shows that the challenges to modernize the distribution grids in China are to improve the asset utilization rates, the electricity efficiencies and the reliability of distribution systems, as well as to integrate increasing amount of variable distributed renewable resources. Furthermore based on the challenges, 8 R&D opportunities have been identified.