Timeline of the Proposal for the Global Energy Interconnection

The Global Energy Interconnection (GEI) was proposed in 2015 and is planned to develop over a 50-year period in three major phases.Key Milestones2013 – Chinese President Xi Jinping, during visits to Central and Southeastern Asian countries, proposed discussions on establishing a Global Energy Interconnection to meet global power demand with clean and green alternatives, linking it conceptually to the Belt and Road Initiative . November 12, 2015 – The idea of GEI was formally put forward by Liu Zhenya, Chairman of the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), at a workshop, marking the official conception of the proposal . September 26, 2015 – President Xi Jinping publicly proposed GEI at the UN Sustainable Development Summit, emphasizing its alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and global clean energy goals . March 2016 – Establishment of the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO) in China to promote the GEI concept, conduct strategy and planning studies, and facilitate technology innovation and standardization .Phases of ImplementationPhase 1 (2015–2030) – Focuses on integrating national grids, building new smart grids, and increasing renewable energy usage within countries . Phase 2 (2030–2070) – Aims to connect continental grids, enabling cross-border electricity trade and coordination . Phase 3 (2030–2070) – Development of Afro-Eurasian transcontinental grids linked by ultra-high voltage systems, creating a global electricity network .International EngagementGEI has been promoted in forums such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Gulf Cooperation Council .The GEI Action Plan outlines ten actions and five cooperation mechanisms to facilitate global grid planning, transnational project construction, electricity trade, smart grid development, and policy support . This timeline highlights the conception, official proposal, organizational establishment, and phased implementation of GEI, reflecting its long-term vision to create a globally interconnected, renewable energy-based electricity network.