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Why Has China Become an Electric Powerhouse, and Why Can't the West Catch Up?

Recently, the Financial Times announced that China has become the first "electric power kingdom" in human history! The news went viral globally, with netizens debating: How did China do it? In a field historically dominated by traditional industrial powers, how did China manage to overtake them and build a "power empire" that has stunned the world? Today, let's pull back the curtain on this mystery.

How China Forged a Power Miracle
First, let's look at some jaw-dropping figures. By the end of 2023, China’s coal-fired power capacity had surged to 1.18 billion kilowatts. To put that into perspective, it's more than double the combined capacity of the United States (236 million kW), India (229 million kW), and Russia (48 million kW), which totals 513 million kW.

When it comes to solar power, China stands alone. Out of the world's cumulative installed capacity of just over 425 GW, China accounts for 228 GW, a staggering 53.6% of the global total, making it the undisputed "solar leader." Wind power is another of China's strengths. After surpassing the U.S. in 2009, China has held the top spot for new installed capacity for 14 consecutive years. In 2023, it added 75.8 GW, an average of a million-kilowatt power plant built every four days—a speed faster than a rocket. Even in the highly sophisticated field of nuclear power, 28 of the 58 reactors under construction globally are in China, a remarkable 48.3%. And these numbers are being refreshed daily at a frantic pace.

This incredible scale has had a monumental impact. In 2024, China’s electricity generation soared to 10.09 trillion kilowatt-hours, 2.30 times that of the U.S. (4.39 trillion kWh) and 3.62 times the combined output of the 27 EU countries (2.79 trillion kWh). But what truly unnerves Western nations is China's technological dominance across all stages of the power industry.

From ultra-supercritical units with main steam temperatures as high as 630°C for coal-fired power to the world’s first million-kilowatt hydro-turbine at the Baihetan Hydropower Station; from fourth-generation nuclear technology at the Shidao Bay High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor to the heliostat control system at the Dunhuang Molten Salt Tower Power Station; and from CATL's solid-state batteries to the 1100 kV ultra-high-voltage (UHV) project spanning 3,300 kilometers in Changji—China has achieved comprehensive leadership in every corner of power technology, leaving the West far behind.

So, the question is: Why is China still building power infrastructure at a relentless pace? In 2024, China's new installed capacity reached 430 million kilowatts, a figure equivalent to the combined existing capacity of Japan, the UK, and Italy. Currently, 83% of the world's new coal-fired units, 76% of new solar installations, and 62% of wind turbine towers are being assembled in China. A U.S. Department of Energy report shows that China’s new renewable energy capacity in 2024 was 380 million kilowatts, 1.8 times the combined total of North America and Europe (210 million kW). What is the secret behind these numbers?

The True Ambition of the Industrial Cthulhu
The answer lies in the true ambition of the industrial Cthulhu. According to the International Energy Agency, electricity accounts for an average of only 19.7% of final energy consumption in developed nations. In contrast, China has set an ambitious goal to raise this figure to 36% by 2030. This isn't just a simple numerical increase; it represents a complete revolution of the energy system.