Beijing, China — A feature length television documentary, The Infinite Road V – Wisdom for the Boundless Journey, concluded recently, offering international audiences a detailed look at China’s rapid adoption of advanced green energy technologies—a system dubbed the “Super Energy Trident.” Hosted by Janis Chan (陳貝兒), the final episode showcased massive wind farms, cutting-edge solar thermal plants, and strides in domestic semiconductor manufacturing, highlighting how these interconnected sectors are reshaping global climate and industrial landscapes.
Powering the Future: Inside the Wind Kingdom
The journey began in Gansu province, home to Guazhou, often referred to as China’s “Wind Power Kingdom.” Chan and the production crew traversed landscapes dotted with countless massive turbines, visual evidence of the nation’s dominance in wind technology manufacturing. Globally, China accounts for approximately 70% of all wind power equipment production. This scale, combined with technological refinement over the last decade, has contributed to a 60% reduction in the global cost per kilowatt-hour of wind energy.
The documentary crew visited a massive megawatt-scale testing facility. Yu Yunsheng, who oversees the turbine test site, explained the immense power output currently being achieved. “Each machine here can generate over 8,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per hour,” he stated.
The increase in generating capacity underscores a monumental technological leap. Early Chinese wind power development, established just 20 years ago, relied on basic 750-kilowatt turbines. Today, the industry standard has evolved to massive units exceeding 8,340 kilowatts. A single modern turbine can replace more than a dozen of the older models.
Solar Innovation and Climate Impact
The pursuit of sustainable power extended to Dunhuang, where Chan visited a 100-megawatt molten salt tower solar thermal power station. This facility utilizes thousands of heliostats—mirrors that automatically track the sun—to concentrate solar energy onto a central receiver. This focus on concentrated solar power (CSP) technology allows for energy storage, enabling electricity generation after sunset. The sheer scale of the installation prompted Chan to jokingly compare the setting to an “alien base.”
The coupling of solar and wind capacity has yielded significant results. As of 2025, the country’s combined installed capacity for wind and solar power surpassed 1.7 billion kilowatts. When combined with other clean power sources, renewables now account for nearly 40% of the entire nation’s electricity consumption. This shift is estimated to contribute to an annual reduction of approximately 2.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, representing 41% of the global total reduction from renewable sources, solidifying China’s crucial role in addressing global climate change.
Securing the Grid: Domestic Chip Production
The third leg of the “Super Trident” focused on industrial self-reliance, specifically in semiconductors, which are critical for controlling and stabilizing smart energy grids. In Chongqing, Chan toured CR Microelectronics, a leading domestic semiconductor manufacturer.
Historically, mainland Chinese companies relied heavily on foreign suppliers for high-end chip design software and core intellectual property. However, many domestic enterprises are now adopting the Integrated Device Manufacturing (IDM) model. This strategy involves internalizing the full production cycle: independent design, construction of wafer fabrication plants (fabs), and establishing self-sufficient packaging and testing lines.
This vertical integration allows companies to control core manufacturing capabilities, rapidly accumulating patents and technical expertise essential for both advanced computing and the reliable operation of the massive new renewable energy infrastructure. The success of this domestication effort is considered vital for the nation’s technological and energy independence, ensuring the resilience and continued expansion of its colossal wind and solar assets.
The advancements detailed in the program showcase a concerted, multifaceted government and industrial effort to meet escalating energy demands while simultaneously achieving ambitious decarbonization targets, setting a precedent for how large economies can rapidly pivot toward a sustainable future.
