Analysis of the Development Process of China's Power Generation Equipment Industry
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In the field of major equipment in China, power generation technology currently has the smallest gap with global standards and was among the first to achieve significant breakthroughs. This assessment is not easily made, but it is well-deserved. Over the past three decades, China's power generation equipment manufacturing industry has evolved from technology introduction and digestion to independent innovation, optimization, and ultimately achieving remarkable leaps. It has witnessed a transformation that has placed it on par with international leaders.
Starting from raw material processing, blueprint manufacturing, joint design, and cooperative production, Chinese companies have now reached an equal footing with global giants. Leading firms like Harbin Electric, Shanghai Electric, and Dongfang Electric have adopted a unique path of "introduction, digestion, absorption, and self-innovation," driving a qualitative leap in the core competitiveness of China’s power generation sector.
In terms of thermal power equipment, China has made great strides toward clean and efficient power generation. Guided by national policies, the country has developed landmark projects that showcase its independent innovation capabilities. Since the late 1980s, China began focusing on supercritical thermal units, importing advanced technology and gradually building domestic expertise. The Shidongkou Second Plant in Shanghai became the site of China’s first 600 MW supercritical units in 1992, marking a critical step in technology transfer and local development.
By 2000, China included the development of 600 MW supercritical units in its National Key Technical Equipment Development Plan, leading to the Qinbei Power Plant as a key demonstration project. With the successful operation of these units, China significantly reduced reliance on foreign technology, increasing localization rates dramatically. Following this, companies like Harbin, Shanghai, and Dongfang imported ultra-supercritical technology from global leaders such as Mitsubishi and Siemens, and through collaborative efforts, achieved successful domestic production.
Today, China produces both supercritical and ultra-supercritical thermal units at scale, with performance metrics matching international standards. The country has become the world leader in the deployment of large-scale supercritical units. In addition, China has pioneered the use of air-cooled units, operating the world’s first million-kilowatt ultra-supercritical direct air-cooled units in 2010. As a result, China now leads the world in the number of air-cooled units deployed.
Experts have noted that China has made remarkable progress in developing both 600 MW supercritical and 1,000 MW ultra-supercritical thermal units, showcasing its technological prowess on the global stage.
In hydropower, China has also made impressive advancements. Over the past 30 years, the Three Gorges Project marked a major leap, elevating China’s hydropower equipment to world-class standards. The project featured 32 units of 700 MW each, totaling 22.4 GW, and posed one of the greatest challenges for global manufacturers. Through international bidding and technology transfer, Chinese companies successfully absorbed and improved upon foreign technologies, achieving a technological leap that broke foreign monopolies.
The right bank units of the Three Gorges Project, completed in 2008, demonstrated that domestically produced units were not only comparable but often superior in efficiency and stability. This success confirmed that China had entered the ranks of top hydropower equipment manufacturers.
China continues to dominate in the construction of large hydropower projects, with domestic units holding a strong position in both technical performance and market share.
In nuclear power, China started in the 1980s, with the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant marking the beginning of commercial nuclear energy. After the Daya Bay project, China focused on improving and customizing French-designed reactors, developing its own second-generation technology. Today, 90% of China’s nuclear power equipment is domestically produced, and the country has achieved full independence in design, manufacturing, and operation.
Looking ahead, China has launched third-generation nuclear projects, collaborating with international partners to develop advanced technologies. Plans are underway to establish a fully independent third-generation nuclear power system, while research into fourth-generation technologies is progressing rapidly.
Overall, China has made extraordinary progress across major equipment sectors, proving its ability to innovate, compete globally, and lead in key industrial fields.