Recently, the Financial Times expressed astonishment, stating: “China is becoming the first true ‘electricity giant’ in human history.”
In 2024, China’s electricity generation exceeded 10 trillion kilowatt-hours, accounting for nearly one-third of global output—2.5 times that of the United States and almost five times that of India. Even more striking, in July alone, China’s electricity consumption surpassed 1 trillion kilowatt-hours, more than Japan’s entire annual usage and even exceeding the combined yearly consumption of Germany and France.
Yet, surprisingly, China is still advancing a wave of “super power projects”. These include the Yalong River Hydropower Station—equivalent to three times the capacity of the Three Gorges Dam—as well as five newly approved nuclear power projects with ten reactors spread across Zhejiang, Guangxi, Guangdong, Shandong, and Fujian.
Why is China investing so heavily in electricity?
The answer lies not merely in soaring demand but in the transformation of China’s energy structure and technological leadership.
Did you know that in China, one out of every three kilowatt-hours of electricity already comes from green energy—wind, solar, hydro, or nuclear? By April 2024, wind and solar installed capacity reached 1.53 billion kilowatts, surpassing coal power for the first time in history.
Equally important, China now leads the world in power technology: from ultra-supercritical high-efficiency coal power, to the Dunhuang molten salt tower solar project, the world’s first million-kilowatt hydroturbine generator, and the only operating thorium-based molten salt reactor. All of these technologies point to one future—green power.
Thus, instead of calling China merely an “electricity empire,” it is more accurate to say that the country is racing toward becoming the world’s first “Green Power Empire.”
And the ripple effects are already reshaping the global energy order.
Electricity as a Core of National Competitiveness
In 2023, China accounted for 95% of newly built coal projects worldwide, 60% of global solar capacity, and maintained the world’s number one position in new wind power installations for 14 consecutive years. It has also led in nuclear power construction for 18 straight years.
Meanwhile, China has built the world’s most advanced ultra-high-voltage grid, enabling large-scale, cross-regional, and high-efficiency electricity dispatch. While households in Europe and the U.S. struggle with rising bills, Chinese consumers benefit from stable power supply.
China is also driving a triple-layered strategic agenda:
- Carbon neutrality goals – China has pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve neutrality by 2060. Early data shows emissions already declined by about 1% year-on-year in the 12 months leading up to May 2024.
- Preparing for the AI era – Artificial intelligence demands enormous electricity. For instance, training GPT-4 consumed 240 million kWh, equivalent to the total electricity used by 30,000 Teslas circling the Earth. With giants like Google, Microsoft, and Tesla turning to nuclear power, China is leveraging its nationwide “power web” to prepare for AI’s rise.
- Energy security – By reducing dependence on imported oil and bypassing chokepoints like the Malacca Strait, China strengthens its resilience against U.S. maritime dominance.
For China, becoming a Green Power Empire simultaneously addresses carbon goals, technological competitiveness, and national security.
Challenges Ahead
Despite progress, challenges remain. Much of China’s renewable energy—solar in the northwest deserts, wind along the coasts, hydro in the southwest—is far from the main economic hubs in the east. Transmission bottlenecks mean some electricity cannot be delivered efficiently.
In the first half of 2024, China recorded 60 billion kWh of “curtailed electricity”, with solar curtailment reaching 6.6% and wind 5.7%, nearly double the previous year.
This reflects a global challenge: balancing intermittent renewable generation with grid stability. The April 2024 Iberian Peninsula blackout in Spain and Portugal illustrated the risks, leaving millions without power and causing €1.8 billion in losses.
For China to lead as a true Green Power Empire, it must solve the problem of large-scale, stable, and efficient green grid operation.
China’s Edge in Energy Storage
China has already taken the lead in storage. By the end of 2024, its new energy storage capacity hit 73.76 million kW (168 GWh)—the largest in the world, accounting for over 40% of global capacity.
Policies reinforce this momentum. The 2024–2027 National Action Plan for New Power Systems highlights storage 14 times. Both the 2024 and 2025 Government Work Reports emphasize it as a central pillar.
Globally, Europe is looking to China for answers. Spain’s storage covers only 0.3% of its demand, far below the IEA’s 20% safety threshold. Analysts argue Chinese expertise is essential for Europe’s resilience.
China also dominates global storage technology standards. Of the 17 IEC international standards for storage, six are led by China. Companies like CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology) and Huawei are pioneering cutting-edge storage and grid-balancing technologies.
Conclusion: Toward the World’s First Green Power Empire
The rise of the first Green Power Empire will be a milestone for humanity. For China, it marks not only an opportunity for energy leadership but also a return of global influence in shaping the future.
With 40% of the world’s renewable technologies, over 80% of solar module production, 70% of wind turbine capacity, and 90% of energy storage cells, China is powering a global green transition.
From hydropower stations in Angola to solar fields in Argentina and nuclear plants in Pakistan, Chinese technology, manufacturing, and solutions are already lighting up the world.
As the energy revolution accelerates, the global path toward green electricity is increasingly intertwined with China’s rise.
References
- Financial Times, 2025.
- BBC, “China’s Carbon Emissions Decline Amid Economic Growth,” 2024.
- Carbon Brief, 2023–2024 Carbon Emissions Report.
- National Energy Administration of China, 2024–2025 Reports.
