How can we concretely understand the results of China’s energy transformation today?When you turn on the lights or start the air conditioner, 1 kWh of every 3 kWh of electricity consumed comes from green electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.As cities and villages light up, generators across the country work day and night, delivering a steady stream of electricity. Today, China's installed power generation capacity accounts for one-third of the world's total.Building the world's largest clean power generation system and the world's largest power infrastructure system - these firsts have become a vivid footnote to China's energy transformation.The proportion of clean energy continues to increaseIn Otog Front Banner, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, stands a photovoltaic power station covering over 100,000 mu (approximately 16,000 acres). The Mengxi Blue Ocean Photovoltaic Power Station, a subsidiary of the State Energy Group Guodian Power Company, boasts long annual sunshine hours and strong winds, making it a veritable hub for renewable energy.Walking around the power station, you'll often see herds of cattle and sheep grazing leisurely beneath the photovoltaic panels. The ground beneath these panels lies rich coal resources. Once connected to the grid, this photovoltaic farm in the coal mining area will generate over 5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This green electricity, sent to Shandong for consumption, can meet the annual electricity needs of 2 million households.From such a power station, we can get a glimpse of the two key words of China's energy transformation - coal and green electricity.Due to China's resource endowment of being rich in coal, poor in oil, and little in natural gas, coal has long served as the ballast and stabilizer of China's energy system, occupying a crucial position in ensuring energy consumption in the economy and society. Thermal power generation was once the primary component of China's electricity supply.Since China proposed its "dual carbon" goals, new energy power generation has seen strong growth. Wind and solar projects have blossomed across the country, with increased investment and construction, becoming the primary source of new power sources. Xing Yiteng, Deputy Director of the Development Planning Department of the National Energy Administration, explained that after wind and solar power generation capacity surpassed thermal power at the end of March, non-fossil fuels accounted for over 60% of installed capacity for the first time by the end of May. In the first half of this year, new wind and solar power generation capacity doubled compared to the same period last year. Throughout the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China has embraced cleaner energy consumption, building the world's largest clean power generation system. To put this into perspective, "for every 3 kilowatt-hours of electricity used, 1 kilowatt-hour is green electricity, and this proportion will continue to rise," said Zheng Zhajie, Director of the National Development and Reform Commission. This "1/3" represents the rapid transition of clean electricity from a "supplementary energy source" to a "primary energy source."There's another "one-third"—traveling in China today, whether across the vast Gobi Desert, the rolling hills and mountaintops, or the vast blue seas, one can often see whirring wind turbines and gleaming photovoltaic panels. These constantly operating power plants not only meet the energy needs of economic and social development but also contribute to building the world's largest, safe and reliable power system, spanning urban and rural areas, connecting the east and the west."At present, my country has built the world's largest power infrastructure system, with installed power generation capacity accounting for one-third of the world's total. Even during peak energy consumption periods such as peak summer and peak winter, the energy needs of the people are effectively guaranteed," said Zheng Zhajie.Liu Zhiqiang, assistant director of the Planning and Development Department and director of the New Energy Department of the China Electricity Council, analyzed to reporters that China has mastered ultra-high voltage transmission technology, and was the first in the world to build an ultra-high voltage AC and DC power grid, and independently developed key core equipment such as converter transformers and converter valves; at the same time, it has mastered the core technology of long-distance, high-proportion renewable energy multi-terminal flexible direct current transmission. Currently, more than ten flexible direct current transmission projects have been put into operation across the country, effectively supporting the long-distance transmission of a high proportion of renewable energy, and fully serving the high-quality coordinated development of both energy and power supply and demand sides."China has also independently developed and successfully applied a large-scale operation and control system for power grids with a high proportion of new energy, covering more than 60,000 substations and hundreds of thousands of new energy stations in the State Grid's operating area. It can support the rapid and economic deployment of more than 300 million kilowatts of new energy output per day, supporting the State Grid to become the world's largest power grid for new energy consumption, and thus helping to achieve the goal of 'for every 3 kilowatt-hours of electricity used, 1 kilowatt-hour is green electricity'." Liu Zhiqiang said.Policy guidance + technical breakthroughs + market mechanismsThe two "1/3" on the energy transformation report card are inseparable from the clear guidance of national policies, the strong drive of scientific and technological innovation and the effective coordination of market mechanisms.Top-level design provides guidance and direction. Since the promulgation of the Renewable Energy Law, China has gradually established basic systems and policies for the development of new energy nationwide. "From the fixed grid-connected electricity price system for new energy to grid parity, a series of policy adjustments have formed a development chain for the new energy industry, from policy support to market pressure and then to independent competition. This has also promoted the development of new energy from a 'policy-driven' to a 'market-driven' one, helping to accelerate the industry's development," Ye Xiaoning, Deputy Director of the New Energy Research Institute of the State Grid Energy Research Institute, told reporters."With the introduction of the 'dual carbon' goals, the policy environment for the development of wind power and photovoltaic power generation in my country has undergone profound changes, and major adjustments have taken place in the development ideas, mechanisms, and models of new energy. This has promoted the transformation of new energy development from 'absorption guiding development scale' to 'absorption supporting development demand', and achieved large-scale, high-proportion, market-oriented, and high-quality development of new energy." Ye Xiaoning said.Technological innovation has made a breakthrough. Recently, the world's largest direct-drive floating offshore wind turbine, boasting both single-unit power and rotor diameter, rolled off the production line in Fuqing City, Fujian Province. Developed jointly by China Huaneng Group and China Dongfang Electric Corporation, the turbine utilizes domestically produced large-diameter main shaft bearings for the first time. Key components such as blades, generators, converters, and transformers are all domestically produced. This marks another breakthrough for China in offshore wind power equipment manufacturing."From starting with 5MW and 7MW, to achieving breakthroughs in key technologies for 11MW, and then successfully installing the world's largest 18MW fixed offshore wind turbine and 17MW direct-drive floating offshore wind turbine, these figures document the steady progress of independent innovation in offshore wind power equipment technology," said a representative from China Huaneng Group. From establishing technical research teams to establishing a technological innovation consortium and fostering a hub for original technology, these innovative efforts have provided a testing ground for large-scale domestic offshore wind power technology, breaking the bottleneck of core technology control. The commissioning of these wind turbines has also injected more green momentum into economic and social development.This is a microcosm of the continuous innovation in China's energy industry. From continuously breaking world records in photovoltaic cell conversion efficiency to leading internationally in independent R&D capabilities for large wind turbines; from the flourishing of new energy storage technologies to the "Created in China" and "led by China" ultra-high voltage projects, these innovative achievements have effectively reduced clean energy costs, broken through bottlenecks in resource endowments and spatial and temporal constraints, and made more clean technologies a "Chinese calling card."Market mechanisms stimulate vitality. 2025 marks the tenth anniversary of the implementation of the new round of power system reform. Data shows that in the first half of this year, power trading centers completed a total of 2.95 trillion kWh of market electricity transactions, a year-on-year increase of 4.8%, and green electricity transactions totaled 154 billion kWh, a year-on-year increase of 49.3%.Zhang Xing, Deputy Director of the General Affairs Department of the National Energy Administration, explained that the development of a unified national electricity market is currently experiencing further improvements in quality and speed. New breakthroughs have been made in the regularized cross-regional electricity trading mechanism, regional electricity market development has reached a new level, provincial electricity spot market development has accelerated, and new progress has been made in the fundamental rules of the electricity market. Today, supported by the continuously improving electricity market trading mechanism, more green electricity is reaching millions of households, transcending time and space barriers.More energy resources are within reachThe achievement of China's energy transformation lies in the construction of a cleaner energy system, which is also fully reflected in the daily lives of the people.In Tonglong Village, Nima Township, Nierong County, Nagqu City, Tibet Autonomous Region, residential houses complement the grasslands beautifully, their rooftop photovoltaic panels gleaming in the sun. Villager Zhucuo already has an electric heater installed. "We used to burn cow dung for heating, burning 18 piles of it each winter. Now we use electricity, and our house is clean and warm. The power generated by the photovoltaics is more than enough," he said.Nierong County, with an average altitude of over 4,700 meters, boasts a cold and dry climate with long winters and no summers, and annual lows reaching -40°C. In recent years, the State Energy Group has promoted the development of "zero-carbon" villages here, installing rooftop photovoltaic systems for herders, along with chemical energy storage and smart microgrids, creating a "photovoltaic + energy storage + smart grid" model. Currently, these rooftop photovoltaic systems generate over 2,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity daily, meeting villagers' daily electricity and heating needs while also significantly reducing annual carbon emissions from burning cow dung.Launch the "Thousands of Towns and Villages Harnessing the Wind Action" and the "Thousands of Households Bathing in the Sun Action", and promote new "photovoltaic + agriculture" models such as agricultural-photovoltaic complementarity, fishery-photovoltaic complementarity, and pastoral-photovoltaic complementarity... During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, renewable energy will develop with high quality, and photovoltaic panels and wind turbines will make more energy resources "within reach".Looking around the world, the two "1/3" on China's energy transformation report card also contribute wisdom and strength to the global response to climate change and promotion of sustainable development.A recent report released by the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows that China's investment in clean energy accounts for one-third of global totals. By 2024, China's clean energy investment will reach $625 billion, nearly double the amount of a decade ago. This investment is roughly equal to the combined total of the European Union and the United States, making China the world's largest energy investor."Through policy innovation, market cultivation, and technology exports, China is providing replicable solutions for global energy transformation," said Ye Xiaoning. "This dual dividend of 'scale effects and technological spillovers' is effectively promoting global energy governance. Currently, China is also strengthening international cooperation with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, continuously sharing technology and experience, and encouraging emerging economies to actively participate in international cooperation. Together, we will promote the construction of clean power generation systems and open up a path for green, low-carbon, safe, and efficient global energy development." ( Liao Ruiling )