Originating in Zhejiang Province, the concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” embodies the harmony between economic growth and ecological protection.
Once reliant on quarrying, Yucun Village in Zhejiang’s Anji County is now defined by green energy and eco-tourism. Photovoltaic “trees,” microgrids, and full green power supply have enabled 35 homestays to transition into zero-carbon lodgings, transforming the village into a model for sustainable living.
The centralized tea-frying demonstration area in Mantangli Village, Anji County [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
In March 2024, China’s first self-healing smart microgrid on an island began operation in Zhoushan. In Wenzhou and Taizhou, State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power Co., Ltd. developed integrated wind-solar-storage self-healing microgrids, ensuring stable renewable supply. In Lishui, clusters of smart distribution networks and microgrids now weave through the mountains, bringing reliable green power deep into rural areas.
Over the past 20 years, a resilient and greener energy structure is taking shape in Zhejiang. By June this year, the province’s total installed power capacity exceeded 170 gigawatts. For the first time in history, renewable energy capacity surpassed coal, accounting for over 50 percent of total generation — a 31.5 percentage point rise. Photovoltaic power has now overtaken coal as Zhejiang’s largest single energy source.
At the same time, energy efficiency has risen sharply. With an average annual energy consumption growth of 5.5 percent, Zhejiang sustained 8.2 percent average GDP growth, cutting energy intensity per unit of GDP by 38.4 percent — one of the fastest decline among China’s provinces. Coal consumption has dropped by nearly 20 percentage points, now representing less than 40 percent of total energy use.
Breakthroughs such as record-setting perovskite solar cells and pioneering tidal, hydrogen, and carbon capture projects further strengthen Zhejiang’s green innovation.
Zhejiang’s green transformation has not only reshaped its own landscape but also contributed to global sustainability. The State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power Co., Ltd.’s solutions have been showcased at UN climate conferences and recognized with the Paulson Prize, highlighting Zhejiang’s contribution to advancing ecological civilization and sustainable development on the international stage.
(Executive editor: Yuan Ting)
