In the heart of Datong, a city in north China's Shanxi region, a remarkable transformation is taking place. Once marred by extensive coal mining activities, the landscape now gleams with a sprawling array of solar panels, signaling a bold stride towards sustainable energy.
This photovoltaic base, covering nearly 50,000 mu (about 3,333 hectares), has been a powerhouse of green energy since 2016, generating over 12 billion kilowatt-hours. \"This photovoltaic base epitomizes the country's energy transition. Over eight years of operation, it has validated the reliability of photovoltaic products,\" stated Yin Xulong, chairman of Yingli Solar Co., Ltd., a leading solar panel supplier.
At the recent Taiyuan Energy Low Carbon Development Forum, Francesco La Camera, director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency, highlighted China's pivotal role in the global renewable energy expansion. In 2023 alone, China was responsible for 63 percent of the world's new renewable energy installed capacity.
By July, China's total renewable energy installed capacity reached an impressive 1.68 billion kilowatts, accounting for over 54 percent of the nation's total power capacity. Shanxi province has been a significant player in this shift, with the proportion of new and clean energy installations rising from 33.9 percent in 2019 to 47.2 percent in the first half of 2024. Moreover, electricity generated from these sources surged from 18.1 percent to 28.2 percent during the same period.
Shanxi's unique advantage lies in its abundant resources. For instance, coke oven gas, a byproduct of coke production containing about 60 percent hydrogen, serves as a cost-effective source for hydrogen production. Recognizing this potential, steel and coke giants like Jinnan Steel Group, Meijin Energy, and Pengfei Group have ventured into the hydrogen energy sector. By the end of last year, Shanxi's capacity for producing high-purity hydrogen from coke oven gas, chemical tail gas, and electrolysis reached 31,000 tonnes per year, with 885 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles now on the roads.
International interest in Shanxi's green initiatives is growing. In July, delegations from two Indonesian coal-producing provinces visited Shanxi, leaving impressed by China's tangible efforts to transform its traditional energy sector at companies such as Meijin Energy.
\"Shanxi's existing industries are being well-utilized as a foundation for a green transformation,\" noted Putra Adhiguna, managing director of the Energy Shift Institute. \"China views this shift not just as a challenge but as a significant opportunity.\"
Innovation continues to drive Shanxi's energy evolution. At the recent China (Taiyuan) International Energy Industry Expo, attendees were captivated by displays of intelligent mining technologies and space capsule-inspired ground control platforms. In March, an intelligent platform was launched to store vast data from over 400 coal mines in Shanxi, leveraging large model training to lower technological barriers and accelerate the development of smart products. These advancements have led to a 10.9 percent cumulative decrease in the province's energy consumption per unit of GDP since 2021.
Lu Junling, chief economist at the National Energy Administration, emphasized China's substantial contribution to global renewable energy. \"China's cumulative installed capacity of renewable energy now accounts for about 40 percent of the global total, and China's exports of wind and solar products have contributed to a reduction of 810 million tonnes in carbon emissions for other countries,\" he said. Lu advocated for strengthened international cooperation in wind, solar, hydrogen, storage, and smart energy technologies, highlighting the importance of supporting developing countries in their green and low-carbon energy pursuits and exploring new opportunities for diversified energy partnerships.
Reference(s):
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