nyslfriends Chapter 166 Commercialization
Chapter 166 Commercialization
For three days after the news of the world record was released, Han Lu's phone kept ringing.
"Mr. Zuo, the Vice President of the State Grid New Energy Research Institute, would like to schedule a visit to Hangzhou. The same goes for the Strategic Cooperation Department of China Southern Power Grid. Also, representatives from Huaneng Group and Datang Power—four of the five major power generation groups have already sent letters of intent for cooperation."
Han Lu stood at the door of Zuo Cheng's office, holding a stack of printed emails in her hand, her voice filled with barely suppressed excitement.
"A full contract," Zuo Cheng said. "The priority order is: State Grid, China Southern Power Grid, Huaneng, Datang. Schedule it two weeks later, let Li Guodong's team finish compiling the data report first; we need to have something to offer in the negotiations."
Han Lu wrote it down, turned to leave, then turned back: "Also, three foreign companies have already inquired. SoftBank Energy from Japan, SolarX from the US, and Siemens Energy from Germany."
Zuo Cheng thought for a moment: "No rush. Let's prioritize the domestic market and get the domestic model working first."
This was the easiest decision he ever made. After generating 87.3% of the data, he didn't need to actively seek out clients; they would come to him on their own.
The news reached Huaxin Group.
That afternoon, Lin Jianhua called Zhao Tianxing to a meeting. The two sat in the conference room on the top floor of Huaxin Group, with West Lake in Hangzhou visible through the window, a thin layer of spring mist floating on its surface.
"I didn't pursue the space photovoltaic project," Lin Jianhua said, his voice unusually calm. "I misjudged this track."
This statement is quite rare. Zhao Tianxing saw Lin Jianhua admit to misjudging the situation no more than three times in total.
"Even JAXA didn't expect that figure of 87.3%," Zhao Tianxing said. "This is a systemic breakthrough, not just engineering optimization. Zuo Cheng's technical team is a bit eccentric."
Lin Jianhua didn't reply. He was looking at a report on the table, a timeline of technological breakthroughs in 402 over the past three years compiled by his people. Communication protocols, AI models, unmanned systems, intelligent driving—the timelines for each key breakthrough were ridiculously short compared to normal technology development cycles. The most outrageous instance was that the fourth phase of Sky Dome went from project initiation to solution verification in just five weeks.
"He's not doing engineering; he's like solving a problem." Lin Jianhua pushed the report aside. "We've given him the problem; he just keeps working on it."
It's hard to describe this feeling, but Lin Jianhua has been in this industry for twenty years and has met all kinds of technical people, but none of them have given him this feeling.
"We can't catch up in the space photovoltaic field," he finally said. "Let's find other avenues."
Zhao Tianxing nodded, without asking what kind of opening they were looking for. They all knew there would be one.
Two weeks later, in the signing hall of the 402 Technology Headquarters, Zuo Cheng met Ge Lilin, Vice President of the State Grid New Energy Research Institute, in front of the camera.
Ge Lilin is in his sixties, with gray hair, and looks older than his actual age. He has worked in the power industry for thirty years, witnessing every rise and fall of photovoltaic, wind power, and hydropower, and possesses a unique composure that comes with years of experience in large businesses.
"Before I came here, I showed the 87.3% figure to our internal technical team," Ge Lilin said as he sat down. "They told me that if this figure is true, the significance of this event is no less than the maturity of photovoltaic technology."
"The data is authentic," Zuo Cheng said. "The entire process was witnessed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's technical observation team, and independently verified by the Institute of Energy Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. All original telemetry data is available for public review."
Ge Lilin nodded, not saying anything more about the matter. He had already read the report; he wasn't here to confirm the data, but to discuss the next steps.
"We have a few questions." He pulled out a notebook filled with notes. "First, grid stability. Is the power supply from the space photovoltaic system continuous or intermittent?"
"It's continuous," Zuo Cheng said. "Geostationary satellites remain relatively stationary with the Earth, with Earth's shadow obscuring the satellite for no more than 72 minutes per day. During this time, energy can be replenished through energy storage systems, ensuring an overall power supply continuity of over 99.6%."
Ge Lilin wrote a few words in his notebook: "Much better than solar power. Solar power shuts off at night, and we still have to rely on energy storage."
"Yes," Zuo Cheng said. "This is one of the core advantages of space photovoltaics."
"The second question is the cost per kilowatt-hour."
"During the verification satellite phase, the overall cost per kilowatt-hour is below 5 yuan. After the second-generation satellites enter mass production, our goal is 1.5 yuan, and for the third generation, 0.8 yuan. This 0.8 yuan figure is in the same range as the current domestic grid-connected electricity price for new energy sources."
Ge Lilin paused for a moment: "What is your own timetable?"
"Second-generation satellites, two years. Third-generation, five years."
The meeting lasted from 2 PM to 5 PM. Li Guodong sat next to Zuo Cheng, responsible for answering technical questions; Han Lu sat opposite, responsible for taking notes and outlining the framework of the terms. Of the three members of the technical team brought by the State Grid, two were taking notes the whole time, while the other remained silent, simply listening.
As he was leaving, Ge Lilin stood up to shake hands and said, "We have a saying internally: 'We have to be the first to ride the energy revolution.' I'm here today to see if that's really happening."
He didn't state the conclusion directly, but that statement itself is the conclusion.
The signing ceremony is scheduled for one week from now.
On the day of signing, Zuo Cheng looked at the words "State Grid" on the cover of the agreement, as well as the string of numbers below: the first batch of procurement contracts was worth 20 billion yuan, to be executed over five years, with an initial payment of 30%, or 6 million yuan, and the acceptance standard based on 87.3% of the actual measured data.
Following behind is China Southern Power Grid, with a purchase amount of 18 billion yuan and an advance payment of 5.4 million yuan.
The two contracts together amount to 38 billion, with an advance payment of 11.4 billion.
After that came Huaneng, 8 million, and Datang, 4 million.
Four contracts, totaling 50 billion, with an advance payment of 15 billion.
As Zuo Cheng was signing, he heard the rapid clicking of camera shutters from the media below the stage, like a light rain. Han Lu stood beside him, her phone held up to the scrolling news feed on the screen, her expression almost unrecognizable—she was just too happy.
After the signing ceremony, Zuo Cheng stood in the corridor outside the hall and took out his phone to check the system panel.
The progress bar for the space photovoltaic branches is already halfway lit up.
He did some mental calculations. The actual test results of the verification satellite showed that 87.3% was technical verification, the State Grid contract was the first step towards commercialization, and there were still the hurdles of market share and industry standards to overcome.
The road ahead is still long.
But this step has been taken.
At the end of the corridor, Yu Ying was talking to Li Guodong. The two of them were pointing at a data report, as if they were discussing the next technological direction.
Zuo Cheng glanced at her, then turned and walked towards the next meeting room.