Exploring the challenges of residential space heating electrification in China: A case study in Jinan and Qingdao

De-carbonization actions, represented by the electrification of end-use energy sources, have been strongly promoted, while space heating in residential buildings is an important aspect. In this paper, Jinan and Qingdao in northern China are selected to explore the challenges that electrification of heating will bring. The electricity demand for heating of different types of buildings is simulated, with the assumption that all heating loads are provided by electric heat pumps. Then the comparison of heating electricity demand with current electricity consumption in various social sectors has been analyzed to investigate the impact of the newly added electrical load on the power grid. The annual dynamic power supply under the currently installed wind turbines and photovoltaic modules is calculated to explore the interrelationship between the power supply potential of the available renewable energy and the heating electricity demand. The results show that the implementation of heating electrification will bring a strong impact on the existing grid, with photovoltaic generation almost negligible during the heating period and wind generation severely affected by intermittency. In the future, the deployment of installed renewable energy needs to continue to be promoted, while the layout of energy storage facilities needs to be strengthened.