From capacity transition to intelligent integration: Emerging trends and systemic risks in the global energy transformation
The global energy system is undergoing a profound structural transition, characterized by an unprecedented acceleration in the deployment of renewable power and the convergence of digital intelligence with energy infrastructures. Recent developments across major economies suggest that the transformation is no longer incremental but systemic, reshaping both the supply composition and the governance logic of modern power systems. A landmark shift can be observed in China’s power sector, where the combined installed capacity of solar and wind energy has, for the first time, surpassed that of coal-fired power. This transition signifies that non-fossil energy sources have evolved from supplementary contributors to dominant pillars of electricity supply. With projections indicating that non-fossil generation could account for approximately 63% of total electricity production, the Chinese case exemplifies a large-scale, rapid transition toward a low-carbon energy structure. ...