Coordinated Optimization of Coal-Power Flexibility Retrofitting and Renewable Energy Integration in Northwest China Under the "Dual Carbon" Goals

Under the background of "dual carbon" goals, the Northwest region, as a critical area for China's energy structure transformation, holds strategic significance in achieving green and low-carbon development through the coordinated optimization of coal-power flexibility retrofitting and renewable energy integration. The research highlights that while the Northwest region's abundant wind and solar resources complement its solid coal-power foundation, practical challenges persist, including immature technologies, high retrofitting costs, lagging market mechanisms, and policy implementation deviations. Multidimensional innovations are required to overcome these difficulties. From the perspective of energy internet, a "technology-market-policy" collaborative framework is constructed: first, strengthening breakthroughs in key technologies such as low-load stable combustion and long-duration energy storage, while establishing a full-lifecycle cost control system; second, deepening power system reform by improving ancillary service markets and spot market mechanisms, and exploring differentiated electricity pricing and capacity compensation models; third, perfecting policy support systems through clarifying coal-power transition roadmaps, enhancing regulatory frameworks, and promoting public participation mechanisms. The study emphasizes the need for systemic thinking to balance energy security, economic viability, and ecological benefits, thereby advancing the Northwest region's energy system toward a clean, low-carbon, secure, and efficient transformation model, which can serve as a regional paradigm for achieving national dual carbon goals.