China Touts Green Energy Manufacturing
State-owned Harbin Electric Corporation is highlighting its role in driving the global green energy transition through "intelligent manufacturing." The company is focusing on developing new power systems as part of China's push for a low-carbon economy.
Harbin Electric is a key player in massive hydropower projects, including the Baihetan station on the Jinsha River. The company developed and manufactured eight of the sixteen 1,000 MW turbine generator units for this project, which is the world's largest hydropower plant under construction. One of its units at the station was the first one-million kilowatt hydroelectric turbine generator in the world. The company's "intelligent manufacturing" leverages technologies like digital twins and AI-driven smart operations. This approach is part of a broader Chinese industrial strategy to upgrade its manufacturing sector. For Harbin Electric, this includes a hydropower cloud service platform for intelligent remote operation and maintenance of its power stations. Beyond China's borders, Harbin Electric has supplied clean energy solutions to over 50 countries. Notable projects include the Hassyan Clean Energy Project in Dubai, which will provide 20% of the city's power, and H-class gas turbine units in Pakistan that set global efficiency records. The company is also involved in projects in Ecuador, Peru, and Vietnam. This push is aligned with China's 14th Five-Year Plan, which aims for non-fossil fuels to constitute 20% of primary energy consumption by 2025. The broader national goal is to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. China is a dominant force in the global green energy supply chain, providing over 80% of the world's photovoltaic modules and more than two-thirds of its wind power equipment. In 2024, the country accounted for nearly 64% of the world's new renewable energy capacity additions. Harbin Electric's product line extends beyond hydropower to include nuclear power generation, clean coal-fired power, gas power, and solar thermal energy. The company is also investing in new energy storage technologies and recently developed the country's first homegrown 16-megawatt gas turbine to support renewable energy grids.
