Abstract: To implement the dual-carbon strategy, energy is the main battlefield and electricity the main force; developing a new power system with new energy resources as the main body is the only feasible path to achieving carbon neutrality. This paper examines the emission reduction targets, electricity composition, and structure of the power industry under the dual-carbon strategy, and demonstrates that accelerating the construction of conventional hydropower stations and pumped storage power stations is an important basis for solving problems and challenges such as the reliability and long-term regulation capabilities of the new system. Based on the hydropower resources endowment and the development status, we present a strategic idea of strengthening the coordinated development of hydroelectric power and new energy, and redefine the development path of building clean energy bases and energy storage plants and accelerating the construction of pumped-storage power stations and cascaded conventional hydropower reservoirs. This new positioning of hydroelectric power in the new system not only provides basic electricity but plays its capacity function. Thus, we suggest certain policy should be formulated to speed up the construction of clean energy bases and energy storage plants. Our findings could help the revision and compilation of the planning schemes and regulations.

Key words: carbon neutrality, conventional hydropower, pumped storage, new power systems, clean energy bases, energy storage plants