Dual Traceability of Green Electricity Achieved at Dunhuang Cultural Expo

Sunset Over the Gobi: 110 kV Dunwu Lines I and II Deliver Reliable Power to Expo Venues

On November 2, the 9th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo officially opened. During this year's event, 100% of the green electricity consumed by the Dunhuang International Convention and Exhibition Center was covered by a dual-traceability system combining physical power supply with corresponding Green Electricity Certificates (GECs). This ensures that every kilowatt-hour of green electricity used at the venues can be traced to its source and verified by corresponding certificates.

Company employees conduct electrical safety inspections at the main venue

In tandem with Dunhuang's development of a "region-wide zero-carbon" modern smart distribution grid, State Grid Gansu Electric Power Company developed a traceable physical green power supply system for the expo. Built upon the exhibition center's hybrid AC/DC microgrid and integrated into the unified power grid visualization platform, the system centrally manages solar PV, EV charging stations, and energy storage assets. By monitoring operations in real time, it delivers full visibility and measurability across the distribution network via dynamic 3D spatial visualization. In plain terms, operators can track on-screen exactly how much power each solar panel generates, how much energy is being stored, and which specific venue is drawing power in real time.

Staff use drones to inspect power lines surrounding the expo venues

This marks the fourth consecutive year that the Dunhuang Academy and Dunhuang Cultural Expo Investment Co., Ltd. have procured green electricity through market-based trading for the expo, totaling 1.668 million kWh. Every single kilowatt-hour is backed by a nationally issued Green Electricity Certificate. Dunhuang currently possesses an aggregate installed power capacity of 4.34 GW—100% derived from renewables including wind, solar, and hydro, with zero coal-fired generation. This clean energy mix provides a fossil-fuel-free physical foundation for the expo's green power supply.

Staff conduct power grid patrols across the Mogao Caves scenic area

Looking ahead, this model can be replicated and scaled across zero-carbon business parks, major international event venues, and distributed cultural tourism sites. By developing customized smart microgrid demonstration projects tailored to local conditions, it unlocks the potential of microgrids for local renewable energy consumption and reliable power supply at the user end across diverse scenarios. (Text/Photo by Qiang Wenli, Yang Danqi, and Shang Lina)