BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- While summer heat can be unforgiving in many parts of the world, "air-conditioning (AC) freedom" has become a trending phrase in China. It refers to the simple pleasure of stepping inside, grabbing the remote, and letting cool air wash over you. Comfort, right when you need it.
The real story behind this freedom partly lies in people's easy access to reliable power. It would be impossible to enjoy such modern cooling comfort without China's dependable electricity supply, underpinned by a large-scale, well-engineered and increasingly green power system.
In this muggy summer, China's peak power load hit a new record high on Aug. 7, reaching 1.56 billion kilowatts.
The country's power system operates in a stable and well-coordinated order. Leveraging diversified power generation capacities and interconnected cross-regional transmission corridors, the grid works efficiently to meet surging household and industrial needs, safeguarding consistent energy supply across the country.
As early as 11 years ago, China achieved a milestone by bringing electricity to every household, leaving nobody without access to power. By May 2026, China's total installed power generation capacity had reached 4.01 billion kilowatts, ranking first globally.
Meanwhile, China works actively to raise the share of renewables in its energy mix. Deserts now host sprawling photovoltaic power plants, hydropower stations harness torrents of major rivers, and numerous wind turbines capture the power of gales. Tens of thousands of kilometers of ultra-high-voltage transmission lines have been built to deliver electricity from where it is generated to where it is needed.
Today, about 62 percent of China's installed power generation capacity comes from non-fossil sources. This means that Chinese AC units are powered by more clean energy. You can stay cool and cut carbon emissions at the same time. It's not either-or, but both. Pursuing "high-quality development," the country prioritizes people's livelihoods while building a greener future. ■
