China has maintained robust growth momentum in its renewable energy development since the beginning of 2024, with its total installed green energy capacity exceeding 1.6 billion kilowatts, as new breakthroughs are achieved continuously to provide strong impetus for green development.
A million-kilowatt offshore photovoltaic project has recently commenced construction in the Bohai Sea. Over a dozen of construction vessels are laying more than two million solar panels across some 1,333 hectares on the sea surface.
Upon completion, the solar panels will be generating an estimated 1.78 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, while the space underneath will be utilized for aquaculture, which is expected to bring in an annual income of over 27 million yuan (about 3.77 million U.S. dollars).
Meanwhile, the construction of the world highest wind power generation and energy storage project started on July 31 on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which has an average altitude of 5,000 meters.
With a total installed capacity of 100 megawatts, the project, located in Nagqu City of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, will be able to generate around 237 million kilowatt-hours of electricity every year upon its completion, providing a reliable source for green energy supply in northern Xizang.
At the same time, in the first six months of this year, renewable energy power generation investment accounted for more than 70 percent of the power investment from key surveyed enterprises nationwide.
"As of the end of June this year, the installed capacity of renewable energy power reached 1.65 billion kilowatts, accounting for 53.8 percent of China's total installed power generation capacity, an increase of 4.7 percentage points compared with the same period of last year. The power generation structure has been continuously optimized," said Yang Kun, executive vice president of the China Electricity Council.
As the scale of renewable energy continues to expand, new technologies and new models have kept emerging, and the pace of construction of China's new power system has accelerated significantly.
In north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the country's largest integrated wind-solar-storage demonstration project has recently been connected to the grid. With the help of integrated intelligent regulation technology, it can effectively solve the problems of large fluctuations and strong intermittency in new energy resources.
At the same time, five provinces and autonomous regions in southern China have adopted the AI-based load forecasting system developed by the China Southern Power Grid, which utilizes over 30 different AI algorithms to calculate the electricity load conditions for the next 10 days in the regions, providing precise forecasts of power dispatching.
"AI is over 10 times more efficient than traditional load forecasting based on human experience. Therefore we can arrange resources, including renewable energy and pumped storage, in an earlier and more proactively manner," said Li Peng, an official from the power distribution and management center under the China Southern Power Grid.
In the first half of 2024, over 80 percent of the increase in power generation nationwide came from renewable energy sources.
The proportion of renewable energy power generation in China has increased from 32 percent recorded at the end of 2023 to 35.1 percent at present.
According to the National Energy Administration, China will make further efforts to ensure complementary and coordinated development of multiple renewable resources, with equal emphasis on onshore and offshore power, to speed up the green and low-carbon transformation of energy and power generation.
China makes continuous breakthroughs in developing renewable energy
China makes continuous breakthroughs in developing renewable energy
China is abuzz with vibrant celebrations as folk cultural activities, including artistic performances, local snack-making, and cultural tourism events, are being held nationwide to welcome the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival on Tuesday.
The festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, is a cherished occasion for family reunions.
In Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, the Jinci Museum has seen a surge in holiday visitors, offering an immersive experience of traditional Chinese culture through activities such as cultural performances and music shows.
"Seeing the cultural performances, and being able to wear hanfu [traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group in ancient times] during the Mid-Autumn Festival, has filled me with a strong sense of cultural confidence," said visitor Wu Yiming.
Jinci is a millennium-old temple with over 100 buildings from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties (960-1911), more than 100 sculptures, and 30 ancient trees.
Meanwhile, in the renowned cultural city of Fuzhou, the capital of east China's Fujian Province, a series of events themed 'Come to Fuzhou and Receive Blessings' have been taking place in the city's ancient alleyways, showcasing the unique cultural heritage of the 'Zan' (hairpin).
This traditional art form, part of Fuzhou's intangible cultural heritage, showcases the intricate craftsmanship of hairpins, which symbolize luck and cultural heritage.
"This set of three hairpins I'm wearing weighs 330 grams and combines two elements. First, it features traditional patterns, and second, it incorporates the designs of scissors, razors, and kitchen knives, creating a unique blend of tradition and innovation. We hope that through the efforts of new generations in Fuzhou, we can open a door to this cultural heritage and share it with everyone from a fresh perspective," said Hu Lei, head of the Fuzhou Folklore Costume Team.
As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, Shajing Village in the Banan District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality has hosted a lively event showcasing the local tradition of making glutinous rice cakes (ciba), a special delicacy during the festive season.
The villagers gathered early to prepare the delicacy and share it while enjoying cultural performances rich in local flavor.
Many people have also chosen to travel during the holiday to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, visiting historical sites and landmarks to relax and immerse themselves in traditional Chinese culture.
The Yungang Grottoes Scenic Area in Datong City, Shanxi Province, has become a popular destination for tourists during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, offering personalized tours and photography sessions to appreciate the beauty of the ancient cave art.
The site has enhanced its services and activities to accommodate the diverse needs of visitors during the festive period.
Dating back 1,500 years to the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-535), the Yungang Grottoes boast 45 major caves and more than 59,000 statues. In 2001, they were inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.
In Xihuilijia Village, Jinxian County in east China's Jiangxi Province, the annual tradition of burning brick towers to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival took place on Friday, as villagers and tourists came together to welcome the joyous occasion.
The ancient village’s unique tradition of setting ablaze towering structures symbolizes hope for a bright future and a prosperous life.
At 20:00, three imposing five-meter fire towers, each built from 3,000 red bricks, dominated the village square. Villagers ignited the structures with dried mugwort, followed by larger pieces of wood, creating a fiery spectacle.
As the flames died down, villagers stirred the embers with long poles, sending sparks dancing in the wind, captivating tourists eager to witness this unique tradition.
The tradition of burning brick towers during the Mid-Autumn Festival has been passed down through generations in the village, with a history spanning over 600 years.
China celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival with vibrant folk culture activities
