Although thermal power generation remains the primary source of electricity, it produces significant amounts of pollutants during combustion, severely polluting the environment and affecting health. In recent years, China has gradually reduced its share of thermal power generation. As of 2020, the share of thermal power generation has dropped to 72%, and it continues to decline year by year.

Although hydropower is a clean energy source, its development is constrained by various factors. By 2020, the proportion of hydropower in China's total electricity generation had decreased from 21.3% to 20% year by year.

The solar photovoltaic industry is currently one of the main sources of energy in the "low-carbon economy", with a high return on investment of 30-50 kWh for every 1 kWh invested in production. From 2019 to 2023, the global increase in solar photovoltaic power generation reduced carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1.1 billion tons annually, and China avoided emissions of over 600 million tons.

In recent years, the scale of China's photovoltaic industry has been continuously expanding. It has developed an industrial chain with certain independent intellectual property rights, with some reaching the international leading level, and occupying an important position in the international market. As of 2010, China had 16 photovoltaic enterprises listed overseas. Among them, China had 4 enterprises each in the top ten of global photovoltaic cell module and polysilicon production, making the world re-evaluate China's manufacturing industry.