Technicians check solar panels in Huaibei, East China's Anhui province. WAN SHANCHAO/FOR CHINA DAILY
China's rapidly expanding green power sector is expected to provide crucial support for the global energy transition, as the country leads the world with advanced solar technology, massive manufacturing capacity and formidable export capabilities, said a leading economist.
Fan Gang, vice-president of the China Society of Economic Reform, described the new energy sector as a highly promising sunrise industry for the nation, adding that China's advanced photovoltaic technologies, massive industrial capacity and strong export performance give the nation an unprecedented advantage in guiding and supporting the global clean energy transition.
Over the next five to 10 years, the global push for clean energy — particularly solar power — will become increasingly urgent, Fan said.
He pointed out that if conflicts in the Middle East persist, the risks of surging oil prices and supply disruptions will intensify. Coupled with the skyrocketing electricity demand driven by the artificial intelligence industry, the shift toward renewables has never been more urgent.
"In the past, the primary driver for new energy development was reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change. However, with the escalation of geopolitical conflicts, nations are profoundly realizing the vulnerability of fossil fuels in terms of supply security," Fan said, adding that energy security has become a powerful new engine for green development.
He emphasized that solar power is the most equitable and secure energy resource available. Unlike nuclear, wind, hydropower or fossil fuels — which suffer from distinct geographic and resource limitations — solar power can be generated virtually anywhere, from deserts to water surfaces and rooftops.
This transition is not merely a climate response, but a strategic choice to safeguard national energy security, Fan added. He urged the country to seize this opportunity to consolidate its technological advantages, drive the continuous upgrading of the new energy supply chain, and contribute Chinese strength to global green and low-carbon development.
This strategic pivot is already being reflected in China's domestic power mix. According to official data, the nation's energy sector has crossed a historic threshold, with coal-fired power generation accounting for less than 50 percent of total electricity output for the first time.
During the first six months, coal power generation stood at 2.5 trillion kilowatt-hours, bringing its share down to 49.7 percent, said Xing Yiteng, deputy director-general of the National Energy Administration's development planning department.
"Falling below 50 percent of total power generation for the first time is a landmark achievement in China's long-term push for renewable energy alternatives, signaling a new breakthrough in the country's green and low-carbon transition," Xing said.
He said that despite complex global headwinds, China's energy security and effective investments continue to see robust advances.
China's domestic momentum is creating massive ripple effects globally. The International Renewable Energy Agency reported that over the past decade, the global average cost of electricity for wind and solar projects plummeted by over 60 percent and 80 percent, respectively.
This massive cost reduction is largely due to China's continuous technological innovation, unrivaled manufacturing scale and highly efficient supply chains, the agency said.
