Nation's green transition applauded

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An aerial image captures a solar power station in Lianyungang,泰安新闻网洼里 Jiangsu province, on April 19. WANG CHUN/FOR CHINA DAILY

China's indispensable role as the leader of the global green energy revolution is being further consolidated as the escalating fossil fuel crisis stemming from the US-Israel-Iran conflict accelerates the global green transition, said industry experts.

"The severe supply disruptions and soaring oil prices triggered by the crisis in the Middle East are undeniably accelerating the pace of the global energy transition," said Lin Boqiang, head of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University.

"This rapid strategic pivot relies heavily on China's world-leading clean technology, robust manufacturing prowess and critical materials, which will further cement the nation's core position in the future global energy architecture."

Lin noted that energy-reliant countries are issuing calls to expedite electrification processes, recognizing that remaining tethered to the volatile Middle Eastern oil market is an untenable economic risk.

The kinetic conflict in the region is accelerating a far more profound paradigm shift. German international broadcasting service Deutsche Welle said the current power play in the Persian Gulf will bring deep changes to the future global energy landscape.

China and the United States are charting drastically diverging paths. In the US, leadership has doubled down on a fossil-fuel-centric agenda, aiming to increase domestic petrochemical production, lower local energy prices, and insulate the US economy from foreign oil dependencies.

China's energy development, conversely, points resolutely toward a sustainable future. Driven by a long-term commitment to green development and ecological civilization, China has emerged as the world's largest investor in renewable energy and clean technology.

Official figures vividly illustrate the scale of this commitment. China's installed solar power capacity is expected to surpass that of coal power for the first time in 2026, as the country's transition toward green and low-carbon energy accelerates.

According to a report by the China Electricity Council (CEC), the power sector had a strong first quarter driven by rising electricity demand, a greener energy mix and increased investment in renewables.

By the end of March, the combined installed capacity of wind and solar power had reached around 1.9 billion kilowatts, up 28.1 percent year-on-year, the National Energy Administration said.

The green transition of the power sector continues to gain strong momentum. Combined newly installed wind and solar power capacity reached 57.16 million kW in the first three months, representing 68.2 percent of all new power generation capacity added nationwide.

From solar photovoltaics and wind turbines to cutting-edge battery storage and new energy vehicles, China currently holds a commanding lead in key technologies and manufacturing capabilities required to realize a global energy transition, said Lin.

As the world races to build a cleaner, more resilient energy architecture to avoid future energy crises, China's unwavering commitment to green technology has positioned it not just as a market leader, but as the indispensable partner for a sustainable global future, he said.