The following is a summary of the open access capacity for distributed photovoltaic (PV) grid connection in various cities of Hunan Province during the third quarter of 2025:
1. Notice of Zhuzhou City on Announcement of Open Access Capacity for Distributed PV in Q3 2025
2. Reply on Matters Concerning the Open Access Capacity for Distributed PV Grid Connection in Q3 2025 of State Grid Chenzhou Power Supply Company
3. Reply of Hengyang City on Release of Open Access Capacity for Distributed PV in Districts and Counties in Q3 2025
4. Reply of Loudi Municipal Development and Reform Commission on Grid Connection Management for Distributed PV Projects
5. Reply of Yiyang Municipal Development and Reform Commission on Matters Concerning the Open Access Capacity for Distributed Energy Sources in Q3 2025
6. Notice of Yongzhou Municipal Development and Reform Commission on Release of Open Access Capacity for Distributed PV in Q3 2025
7. Reply to the Request for Instructions on Calculation Results of Open Access Capacity for Distributed PV Grid Connection in Districts and Counties of Changsha City in Q3 2025
8. Reply on Release of Open Access Capacity for Distributed PV in Districts and Counties of Shaoyang City in Q3 2025
9. Reply on Release of Open Access Capacity for Distributed PV in Districts and Counties of Yueyang City in Q3 2025
10. Notice on Release of Open Access Capacity for Distributed PV in Huaihua City in Q3 2025
11. Notice on Release of Open Access Capacity for Distributed PV in Xiangtan City in Q3 2025
12. Notice on Release of Open Access Capacity for Distributed PV Grid Connection in State Grid Operation Area of Xiangxi Prefecture in Q3 2025
13. Reply on Release of Open Access Capacity for Distributed PV in Districts and Counties of Zhangjiajie City in Q3 2025
14. Reply on Calculation Results of Open Access Capacity for Distributed PV Grid Connection in Districts, Counties, and Cities of State Grid Changde Power Supply Company's Operation Area in Q3 2025
Profound Impact of Open Access Capacity Policy Implementation
The release of open access capacity documents for distributed PV grid connection in various cities of Hunan Province in Q3 2025 marks the province's transition to a phase of refined management in PV development, exerting far-reaching effects on market structure, investment strategies, and industry ecology. Based on publicly available documents from cities including Yueyang, Xiangxi, Zhuzhou, Shaoyang, Huaihua, Xiangtan, Zhangjiajie, Changde, Chenzhou, Hengyang, Loudi, Yongzhou, Yiyang, and Changsha, the core impacts are summarized as follows:
I. Restructuring of Market Development Landscape: Intensified Regional Differentiation and Centralization of Investment Flows
(1) Selective Regional Development Driven by Capacity Constraints
- Green Zones as Investment Hotspots: Areas with abundant capacity, such as Yueyang Economic Development Zone (47.8 MW) and Jishou City in Xiangxi (62.17 MW), are attracting rapid project concentration, forming "resource highlands."
- Restricted Development in Yellow/Red Zones: Regions with tight capacity, such as Junshan District in Yueyang (Yellow Zone, 8.6 MW) and Baojing County in Xiangxi (Red Zone, 0 MW), face approval restrictions or suspension of filings, forcing enterprises to shift to high-absorption areas and exacerbating regional disparities.
(2) Aggregate Contraction and Quarterly Volatility
- Yueyang City: Q3 capacity at 283.9 MW, a decline of over 50% compared to Q1 (576.6 MW) and Q2 (637.1 MW), reflecting surging absorption pressure.
- Xiangxi Prefecture: Despite a slight increase in total capacity (Q1: 164.55 MW → Q3: 192.32 MW), Baojing County shifted from Yellow to Red Zone, indicating localized deterioration.
Capacity fluctuations directly compress project approval space, requiring investors to dynamically adjust development timelines.
II. Project Economic Pressure: Reduced Profit Expectations and Rising Costs
(1) Bidding Mechanism Combined with Capacity Limitations
Provincial tariff policies mandate bidding for incremental projects connected after June 2025 (0.26–0.38 CNY/kWh), with a guaranteed electricity proportion of only 20%. The triple pressure of low tariffs, low guaranteed proportions, and capacity scarcity significantly lengthens investment recovery cycles, potentially causing marginal projects to withdraw.
(2) Increased Pre-construction Costs
Enterprises must verify access point capacity and submit building safety appraisals and load-bearing analyses before filing. Cases in Xiangjiang New Area show incomplete documentation leads to grid connection delays. Prolonged development cycles and compliance costs further squeeze profit margins.
III. Accelerated Industry Standardization and Integration: Elimination of Speculative Practices and Promotion of Professionalized Operations
**(1) Crackdown on "Nominal Arbitrage"
Policies explicitly prohibit "developing non-residential power stations in individual names," with violators facing grid connection and development restrictions (e.g., policies in Yueyang and Xiangxi). This eliminates gray operations like "residential loans," forcing compliant filings. While triggering short-term project withdrawals, it enhances long-term market transparency.
(2) Reconfiguration of Enterprise Competitiveness
- Resource Centralization: Small developers face capacity approval and performance bond requirements (excluding residential projects), shifting resources to leading enterprises.
- Technical Advantages: Companies with grid coordination and technical assessment capabilities (e.g., distribution network renovation service providers) gain an edge, accelerating industry consolidation.
IV. Grid Synergy and Technological Innovation: Driving Distribution Network Upgrades and Energy Storage Adaptation
(1) Urgent Need for Distribution Network Renovation
Xiangxi Prefecture has 103 overloaded distribution transformers (e.g., Tongwacheng Yongzu Public Transformer in Yongshun County, 132% overload), exposing low-voltage equipment bottlenecks. Policies requiring "single equipment connection ≤80% capacity" drive grid enterprises to accelerate substation capacity expansion, generating distribution network upgrade orders.
(2) Transformation of Energy Storage Role
Hunan has abolished mandatory pre-installation of energy storage, but the guaranteed electricity proportion drops to 64% during difficult absorption months (March–June). Market-driven peak-valley price spreads and low guaranteed electricity stimulate enterprises to voluntarily deploy storage for absorption improvement, shifting demand from policy-driven to economically-driven.
V. Policy Window Effect: Coexistence of Rush to Install and Caution
(1) Rush to Install Existing Projects: Xiangjiang New Area requires projects connected by May 31 to accelerate filings to lock in 0.45 CNY/kWh tariffs, reflecting concentrated冲刺 before the policy transition window (June 1, 2025).
(2) Cautious Layout of Incremental Projects: Post-Q3 capacity tightening leads enterprises to reserve 2026 quotas or shift to aggregated development (e.g., park-distributed PV) to avoid single-point capacity restrictions.
Conclusion: Policy Implications and Industry Response Recommendations
Hunan's open access capacity management fundamentally rebalances "grid safety and market efficiency," with impacts unfolding in three phases:
1. Short-term: Capacity contraction and bidding mechanisms depress profits, stalling projects and entering a market adjustment period.
2. Medium-term optimization: Elimination of inefficient developers drives enterprise transformation toward grid synergy and technological integration.
3. Long-term: Distribution network upgrades and improved energy storage economic models support high renewable energy absorption.
Enterprise Strategies:
1. Regional Focus: Prioritize Green Zones (e.g., Jishou, Yueyang Economic Development Zone), avoid Yellow/Red Zones.
2. Model Innovation: Explore "distributed PV + energy storage" self-use and green power trading to hedge tariff risks.
3. Compliance Priority: Strengthen access point capacity verification and documentation to avoid process delays.
This policy adjustment signals Hunan's shift toward scientific, sustainable distributed PV development, providing a reference for national energy transition and grid optimization.
