On September 22, the Hydropower Digital and Intelligent Transformation Forum, co-hosted by the Hydropower Generation Branch of the China Electricity Council (CEEC) and State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), was held in Chongli, Hebei Province.

As a parallel forum of the 2025 New Power System Development (Chongli) Forum, it centered on the theme "Empowering the New Power System, Jointly Exploring Hydropower Digital and Intelligent Transformation". Participants conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions on topics such as hydropower's strategic supporting role in building the new power system, implementation paths of digital transformation, and key technological breakthroughs.

Yu Chongde, Member of the Party Committee and Full-time Vice Chairman of CEEC, and Chairman of the Hydropower Generation Branch, attended and delivered a speech. He pointed out that hydropower is a clean and renewable energy source, and also a core power source with both power supply support and flexible regulation capabilities in the new power system. It plays an irreplaceable role in promoting renewable energy consumption and ensuring system safety and stability. Promoting the in-depth integration of digital and intelligent technologies with hydropower and accelerating the construction of smart hydropower is the only way to achieve high-quality development of hydropower. CEEC will continue to play its role as a bridge and link, help the industry transform and upgrade, and contribute to building a clean, low-carbon, safe, sufficient, economical, efficient, supply-demand coordinated, flexible and intelligent new power system.

Xing Lianzhong, Director of the Infrastructure Industry Department of SPIC (the rotating chairman unit of the Hydropower Generation Branch), stated that building a new power system with new energy as the main body has become the strategic direction of energy transformation. Hydropower has excellent peak shaving, frequency modulation and energy storage capabilities, and is a key support for ensuring power grid safety and stability and improving system flexibility. Facing the volatility challenges brought by the high proportion of renewable energy, hydropower must accelerate digital and intelligent transformation, tap operational potential, improve safety levels, strengthen dispatch response, and develop new "hydropower +" integrated development models. SPIC will give full play to its role as the rotating chairman unit of the Hydropower Generation Branch, work with the industry to promote digital and intelligent upgrading and coordinated development of new energy, and make solid contributions to the construction of the new power system.

In the keynote speech session, industry experts conducted in-depth exchanges on the core challenges and realization paths of hydropower digital and intelligent transformation. Regarding accelerating the upgrading of intelligent operation and maintenance: Wuling Power demonstrated the "terminal-platform-application-service" intelligent operation and maintenance solution; Yangtze Power shared the construction and practice of the "International First-Class Hydropower Plant Evaluation Index System". In consolidating engineering safety: PowerChina Kunming Engineering Corporation proposed the "inspection-diagnosis-treatment-management" full-life-cycle technical system, providing whole-process risk management support for major projects such as high dams and long tunnels. In the field of hydropower industry digital transformation: State Energy Dadu River Company built a three-layer intelligent system of "decision brain, professional brain, and unit brain", realizing full-element perception, intelligent regulation and risk early warning of basin hydropower stations. In promoting multi-energy complementary coordination: China Three Gorges Corporation proposed establishing a benefit-sharing and risk-sharing mechanism for hydro-solar-wind complementary dispatch, promoting the transformation of multi-energy integration from "physical superposition" to "in-depth coordination".

This forum focused on current transformation pain points and long-term needs, reflecting the industry's consensus on systematically solving digital and intelligent transformation issues. It provided important references for subsequent policy formulation, technological R&D, and management innovation. Participants stated that the hydropower industry is currently in a critical window period transitioning from traditional operation models to intelligent operation. Facing the construction goals of the new power system, it is necessary to adhere to systematic thinking, innovation-driven development, and coordinated development, and fully release hydropower's multiple values in green and low-carbon transformation—not only to be a stable supplier of clean power, but also to act as a core provider of power grid regulation services and an active leader in energy digital transformation. (Reporters: Zhao Kun, Yi Yuntong)