Double Carbon Era: Energizing the Future – Launch of the 2025 Huaxia Double Carbon Energy Development Conference
In the vibrant month of March, as nature awakens, the “2025 Huaxia Double Carbon Energy Development Conference” is set to commence. Reflecting on the past, this conference has been held three times, where Huaxia Times and various industry associations, professional organizations, and leading clean energy companies have collaborated to contribute ideas for building a new power system and exploring high-quality energy development.
The conference will kick off on the afternoon of March 27 at the National Conference Center in Beijing. This event is part of the 15th China International Clean Energy Expo sub-forum, co-hosted by Huaxia Times and the Capital Science and Technology Development Strategy Research Institute (CISTDS), alongside the Huaxia Double Carbon Energy Research Institute and the Energy and Industry Working Committee of the China International Investment Promotion Association. Numerous leading companies, including Yunda Co., Ltd., Tongwei Co., Ltd., CHINT New Energy, JA Solar Technology, JinkoSolar, and LONGi Green Energy, are supporting this event.
The theme of the conference is “Double Carbon Era: Energizing the Future,” bringing together frontline energy experts, scholars, and leading enterprises to discuss vital topics such as breaking through internal competition and the role of AI in reshaping the new energy landscape, thereby analyzing new opportunities for the development of the clean energy industry.
Historical Opportunities in Clean Energy
The year 2025 marks the conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan. For clean energy, represented by wind, solar, storage, and hydrogen, this period has brought unprecedented historical opportunities, with new installed capacity for clean energy reaching record highs. As we approach the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan, 2025 may witness another peak in new clean energy installations. In 2024, China’s renewable energy installations are expected to reach 370 million kilowatts, maintaining a robust growth trajectory similar to that of 2023.
In recent years, clean energy has played an increasingly crucial role in China’s power system. Last year, the country promoted energy conservation and carbon reduction transformations in key industries while advancing the development and utilization of new energy. The share of non-fossil fuel energy generation approached 40% of the total power generation.
In the wind energy sector, both installed capacity and bidding scales are anticipated to grow in 2024. Large offshore wind power projects are reopening for turbine or construction bids, with significant offshore wind project competitions launching in regions like Zhejiang and Shanghai. Given that wind power bidding is expected to double in 2024, 2025 may see a surge in installations.
In photovoltaic (PV) energy, both installation scale and battery technology are advancing simultaneously. In 2024, nationwide new PV installations are projected to reach 278 million kilowatts, reflecting a 28% increase year-on-year, comprising 159 million kilowatts of centralized PV and 118 million kilowatts of distributed PV. The total PV generation is expected to reach 834.1 billion kilowatt-hours, a 44% increase, with a utilization rate of 96.8%. Additionally, technological advancements in TOPCon, HJT, and BC batteries are accelerating, particularly HJT and 0BB technologies, gradually replacing traditional PERC technology, while outdated capacities continue to be phased out.
In energy storage, by the end of 2024, China’s cumulative power storage installations are expected to surpass 100 gigawatts for the first time, reaching 137.9 gigawatts. New types of storage systems will exceed pumped storage, with significant contributions from new energy storage and independent storage in new installations.
In the hydrogen sector, costs for hydrogen production and storage are decreasing in 2024, and the technologies for hydrogen production, transportation, and application are maturing, emphasizing hydrogen’s role as a storage and chemical raw material.
Industry Self-Regulation is Imperative
However, with the concentrated release of production capacity, the wind and solar storage industry is experiencing “internal competition,” leading to significant price drops. Companies are competing aggressively, often bidding below cost. In response, the industry has initiated a self-regulation campaign. The PV Association and Wind Power Association have organized discussions among leading companies to address “anti-internal competition.” In mid-October 2024, the PV Association led 16 major PV companies to reach a consensus on strengthening industry self-regulation to prevent harmful competition.
Subsequently, the PV Association called for companies to “participate in market competition legally and compliantly, avoiding sales and bids below cost,” while also providing component cost references. On October 16, 2024, twelve wind turbine manufacturers signed an industry self-regulation initiative, and on November 15, during the sixth wind power enterprise leaders’ meeting, 40 companies proposed resisting low-price competition. The government is also guiding the market towards orderly competition to avoid vicious competition. Since May 2024, numerous policies have been released within the PV industry, addressing technology standard improvements, combating below-cost competition, and standardizing local investment attraction policies, thereby reasonably guiding the construction and release of upstream capacity and preventing inefficient capacity duplication.
The government’s work report for 2025 emphasizes overcoming barriers in market access and resource allocation that hinder economic circulation, with a comprehensive approach to address “internal competition.” This marks the first time the government has proposed a comprehensive approach to rectify internal competition.
Many industry insiders have indicated to Huaxia Times that the current PV industry exemplifies typical “internal competition.” The government’s work report accurately captures the industry’s pain points regarding comprehensive rectification, which will significantly promote the healthy development of the sector.
As 2025 begins, positive signals have emerged in new energy policies, particularly regarding the standardization of distributed PV development and management methods, along with the full marketization of new energy grid connection prices. The 2025 Huaxia Double Carbon Energy Development Conference will also unite leading enterprises across various clean energy sectors to jointly advocate for healthy and sustainable development by addressing internal competition, industry self-regulation, innovation enhancement, and quality improvement.
Discussing New Pathways for Industry Development
The “30-50” double carbon target is approaching, necessitating the industry to break free from internal competition and for companies to explore new opportunities. Technology continues to advance, and the construction of new power systems is accelerating. In this context, Huaxia Times is collaborating with professional organizations and leading enterprises to launch the 2025 Huaxia Double Carbon Energy Development Conference, providing insights for the industry’s healthy and sustainable development.
Participating organizations include the Capital Science and Technology Development Strategy Research Institute (CISTDS), Huaxia Double Carbon Energy Research Institute, and the Energy and Industry Working Committee of the China International Investment Promotion Association, along with prominent companies such as Yunda Co., Ltd., Tongwei Co., Ltd., CHINT New Energy, JA Solar Technology, JinkoSolar, and LONGi Green Energy. The conference will explore the latest industry trends, technological advancements, and pressing issues in the sector.
Key discussion points include how to support downstream power consumption, address upstream capacity surplus, the impact of the current rush for distributed PV on this year’s PV industry development, opportunities for offshore wind power in the concluding year of the 14th Five-Year Plan, how new energy can leverage AI to reshape the industry landscape, and the strategic goals of leading wind-solar-hydrogen enterprises.
While these discussions may not perfectly capture the past, present, and future of the clean energy industry, they are expected to spark new insights, clarifying the industry’s prospects. The conference will also feature the issuance of expert certificates from the Huaxia Double Carbon Energy Research Institute and the release of outstanding cases from the New Engine Index. The event will receive coverage from several mainstream media outlets and will be live-streamed on the “Huaxia Times WeChat Video Account,” with simultaneous dissemination across multiple media platforms.
