2024: China's green transformation through sustainable technologies

In the bustling city of Shenzhen, the transition to new electric vehicles (NEVs) is becoming increasingly evident. At the Lianhua Hill Supercharging Station, NEV owners can recharge their vehicles quickly, thanks to a major upgrade in the station's infrastructure. Once limited to 60 kilowatts, it now offers up to 600 kilowatts of charging power, allowing up to 46 vehicles to charge simultaneously.

This development is part of Shenzhen's broader initiative to create a more convenient and efficient charging infrastructure for NEVs. As of October 2024, over a quarter of the city's vehicles are electric, and the trend is accelerating rapidly.

The surge in adoption reflects a nationwide shift. Across China, NEV sales have skyrocketed, with more than 9.5 million vehicles sold in 2024 alone –an increase of 41.2 percent compared to the previous year, data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) shows.

The rise in electric vehicles is also closely tied to a larger transformation in China's energy sector, with solar power playing an equally crucial role in the country's push toward sustainability.

China's solar power generation has surpassed its wind and hydroelectric power generation to become the country's second-largest power generation source, with the installed capacity reaching 793 giga-watts by the end of October this year, according to official data. Much of this capacity is concentrated in China's eastern and western regions, where vast solar farms and distributed solar systems generate clean energy.

"It is expected that the newly installed capacity of solar power generation will be about 250 million kilowatts in 2024, and the cumulative installed capacity of solar power generation is expected to exceed 850 million kilowatts, accounting for more than a quarter of the total installed capacity in the country," Yang Kun, executive vice chairman of China Electricity Council, told the China Media Group (CMG)

China's rapid development of solar power capacity is complemented by investments in cutting-edge technologies to enhance efficiency and reliability, such as the 1-million-kilowatt integrated solar project in Hami, located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which combines photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal power generation.

The Hami project, which commenced operations in December 2024, features China's largest "Linear Fresnel" concentrated solar power (CSP) demonstration, utilizing advanced technology that harnesses solar energy through reflection and refraction. With the integration of 260,000 sun-tracking mirrors, the project converts solar energy into stored thermal energy, enabling continuous power generation day and night, even after the sun sets.

"The combination of photovoltaic and solar thermal systems allows for uninterrupted power generation around the clock, with photovoltaic energy during the day and solar thermal energy at night," explained Niu Jianle, the project manager. This dual system ensures reliable energy output and highlights the potential of integrating solar power with energy storage.

Read more: 

One million-kilowatt integrated solar-thermal project begins operation in Xinjiang

Solar thermal technology stabilizes energy output and enables flexible regulation, making it an essential tool for replacing traditional energy sources. Currently, more than 600 enterprises in China support the solar thermal sector, with improved domestic equipment helping to drive large-scale development of this renewable energy technology.

As China advances its renewable energy capabilities, it also focuses on greening its logistics sector, a key component of the national economy. This includes adopting clean energy vehicles, such as hydrogen-powered trucks, and optimizing supply chains using digital technologies.

Several key trends are driving the green transformation of China's logistics sector, according to the China Green Logistics Development Report (2023-2024) released this month by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP). One of the most significant developments is the rise of multimodal transport, which integrates road, rail and water transport to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency. This approach is central to China's strategy for cutting the carbon footprint of its logistics sector while maintaining the efficiency of its vast supply chains.

In addition to multimodal transport, the logistics sector is embracing digital technologies like artificial intelligence, big data, and the Internet of Things (IoT). These innovations streamline operations, reduce energy consumption, and boost overall efficiency. Alongside these technological advancements, China's logistics companies are also introducing recyclable packaging and biodegradable materials to minimize waste and further enhance sustainability.

According to He Liming, head of the CFLP, intelligent warehousing systems and real-time data analytics are playing a key role in reducing waste and emissions. As a result, logistics operations are becoming increasingly environmentally friendly, fundamentally changing how goods are transported, stored and delivered.

He highlighted the progress in clean energy and intelligent technologies that are shaping the green transformation of logistics. "In recent years, technologies like hydrogen fuel logistics vehicles and intelligent warehousing systems have made significant strides, creating new pathways for the industry's green shift," He noted.

"Additionally, efforts are being made to promote sustainable materials and practices, such as recyclable packaging and biodegradable solutions, further reducing the carbon footprint of logistics operations."