Reliable Power and Clean Energy Keep Chinese Citizens Cool
As summer heat becomes increasingly scorching across many parts of the world, the term “air-conditioning freedom” has become popular in China.
The term refers to the simple pleasure of stepping into a room, picking up the remote control, and enjoying a blast of cool air. Comfort, delivered precisely when you need it.
One of the real stories behind that freedom is the ease with which the public can access reliable electricity. Such modern comfort in the form of air conditioning would be impossible without China’s stable power supply, underpinned by a large-scale, well-planned and increasingly environmentally friendly electricity system.
Amid this summer’s heat, China’s peak electricity load broke a new record on 7 August, reaching 1.56 billion kilowatts.
The country’s power system is operating in a stable and well-coordinated manner. By utilising diversified power generation capacity and interconnected cross-regional transmission corridors, the grid works efficiently to meet surging household and industrial demand, ensuring a consistent energy supply across the country.
Since 11 years ago, China has recorded a historic achievement by delivering electricity to every household, ensuring that no citizen is left behind without access to power. As of May 2026, China’s total installed power generation capacity has reached 4.01 billion kilowatts, ranking first in the world.
Meanwhile, China continues to actively increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix. Desert areas are now adorned with vast expanses of photovoltaic power plants, hydroelectric power stations harness the swift currents of major rivers, and large numbers of wind turbines capture the force of strong winds.
Tens of thousands of kilometres of ultra-high-voltage (UHV) transmission lines have been built to deliver electricity from generation sites to regions in need.
Currently, around 62 percent of China’s installed power generation capacity comes from non-fossil sources. This means air conditioning units in China are powered by more clean energy. You can continue to enjoy cool air while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions.
Not one or the other, but both. In its efforts to achieve “high-quality development”, China prioritises the welfare of its people while building a greener future.