Beijing’s Green Electricity Market Trading Volume Exceeds Thermal Power for the First Time
According to the Capital Power Trading Center, from January to April this year, Beijing’s green electricity market direct trading reached 18.8 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 82.54%, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 15 million tons. Statistics show that in the first four months of this year, green electricity accounted for 63.63% of the total direct trading volume in the electricity market, surpassing thermal power trading for the first time.
Since the start of the year, the Capital Power Trading Center has continuously optimized the green electricity trading mechanism, expanded the scale of green electricity users, enhanced trading flexibility, and steadily broadened market-based green electricity supply channels. The supply structure of green electricity has been optimized, with cross-provincial and cross-regional market-based green electricity transactions accounting for about 99.97%. This includes consumption of wind and solar green electricity from regions such as the northwest, north, and northeast, involving 14 provinces and autonomous regions including Xinjiang, Tibet, Shanxi, and Jilin.
In March this year, market-based green electricity from four locations in Hebei Province—Shijiazhuang, Baoding, Hengshui, and Cangzhou—entered Beijing for the first time. This cross-regional green electricity transaction enabled 19 new energy enterprises from these four Hebei locations to supply green electricity to Beijing for the first time, with a total supply of 19.19 million kilowatt-hours. The green electricity types included solar and wind power. A total of 17 power users in Beijing participated in purchasing green electricity, covering key sectors such as urban public transportation, static transportation, high-end manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and ecological scenic area operations. This trading model achieved precise alignment between high-quality new energy from southern Hebei and Beijing’s green energy demand, accumulating valuable experience for the integrated development of the “source-grid-load-storage” system and market-based allocation of green electricity in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
Beijing
Beijing, the capital of China, is a historic city with over 3,000 years of history, serving as the nation’s political and cultural center for centuries. It was the imperial capital during the Ming and Qing dynasties, home to iconic landmarks like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. Today, Beijing blends ancient traditions with modern development, hosting major events like the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region in northwest China known for its diverse cultures and stunning landscapes, including the Tian Shan mountains and the Taklamakan Desert. Historically, it was a key hub on the ancient Silk Road, facilitating trade and cultural exchange between East and West for centuries. Today, it is home to various ethnic groups, most notably the Uyghur people, and continues to be a region of strategic and economic importance.
Tibet
Tibet, often called the “Roof of the World,” is a high-altitude region in Central Asia known for its stunning Himalayan landscapes and deep Buddhist culture. Historically, it was an independent kingdom with a unique theocratic government led by the Dalai Lama before being incorporated into the People’s Republic of China in the 1950s. Today, Tibet is an autonomous region of China, with Lhasa as its capital, and remains a significant spiritual center for Tibetan Buddhism.
Shanxi
Shanxi is a province in northern China renowned for its rich historical and cultural heritage, particularly as a cradle of ancient Chinese civilization. It is home to many well-preserved sites, including the Yungang Grottoes (a UNESCO World Heritage site with
Forbidden City
The Forbidden City, located in the heart of Beijing, China, served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties from 1420 to 1912. Construction began in 1406 under Emperor Yongle, and the complex is a masterpiece of Chinese architecture, featuring nearly 1,000 buildings. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and houses the Palace Museum, showcasing centuries of Chinese art and history.
Great Wall
The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications built across northern China to protect against invasions, with construction starting as early as the 7th century BC and major sections built during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Stretching over 13,000 miles, it is one of the world’s most iconic landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Today, it symbolizes China’s ancient engineering prowess and enduring cultural heritage.
Tian Shan mountains
The Tian Shan mountains are a vast mountain range in Central Asia, stretching across China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Known for their dramatic peaks, including the highest, Jengish Chokusu (Victory Peak), they have historically served as a natural barrier and a vital corridor along the ancient Silk Road. The range also holds cultural significance, with its glaciers and rivers supporting diverse ecosystems and nomadic herding traditions for centuries.
Taklamakan Desert
The Taklamakan Desert, located in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, is one of the world’s largest sandy deserts, covering approximately 337,000 square kilometers. Historically, it was a crucial part of the ancient Silk Road, with caravans skirting its edges despite its harsh, arid conditions and reputation as a place of no return. Archaeological discoveries, including the mummies of the Tarim Basin, reveal that the desert once hosted thriving civilizations and trade routes that eventually succumbed to the shifting sands.
Silk Road
The Silk Road was a network of ancient trade routes connecting East Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, flourishing primarily from the 2nd century BCE to the 15th century CE. It facilitated the exchange of goods such as silk, spices, and precious metals, as well as the spread of ideas, cultures, religions, and technologies like papermaking and gunpowder. While its use declined with the rise of maritime trade, its legacy endures as a symbol of cross-cultural connection and global history.
Himalayan
The Himalayan mountain range is a vast and geologically young system stretching across five countries, including India, Nepal, and China. It is home to the world’s highest peaks, such as Mount Everest, and has been a sacred landscape for millennia, deeply intertwined with Hindu and Buddhist traditions. The range has also served as a natural barrier and a site of ancient trade routes, shaping the cultural and historical development of South Asia.
Yungang Grottoes
The Yungang Grottoes, located near Datong in Shanxi Province, China, are a magnificent collection of ancient Buddhist cave temples carved into a sandstone cliff. Constructed primarily during the 5th and 6th centuries under the Northern Wei Dynasty, they feature over 51,000 statues and intricate carvings that blend Indian, Central Asian, and Chinese artistic styles. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the grottoes represent a peak of Buddhist cave art and provide crucial insight into early Chinese Buddhist history.
