State Grid set to ramp up clean energy efforts

The State Grid Corp of China, which runs the majority of the nation's electricity distribution networks, is constructing five pumped storage power plants to increase domestic new-energy power generation.

The move comes amid the nation's determination to move away from coal power to combat air pollution.

Such storage plants transfer water from a reservoir at a lower elevation to a higher reservoir during the night when demand is low, by using off-peak power production from sources such as wind power. The water is then released from the higher reservoir to generate enough power to meet demand at peak hours.