At a construction site deep within the Yanshan Mountains, a massive "power bank" with a total investment of 8.059 billion yuan is taking shape. On June 23rd, a critical milestone was achieved at the State Grid Xinyuan Hebei Funing Pumped Storage Power Station project as the first turbine runner was successfully hoisted into place.

This operation lays a solid foundation for the subsequent overall equipment assembly, unit commissioning, and the project's on-schedule connection to the grid. "The runner is the core power component of a hydroelectric generating unit," explained Ma Chen, an engineer on the project. "It is responsible for the crucial conversion of water's potential energy into mechanical energy. Its manufacturing precision and installation accuracy directly impact the unit's operational efficiency, long-term stability, and service life."

The runner is a substantial component, weighing 33.8 tons, and required a highly precise hoisting operation. The project team meticulously organized the work, with personnel following a specialized plan to ensure the one-time success of the critical lift. The successful installation of the first runner marks the official entry of the power station's electromechanical installation into the core assembly phase for the turbines.

This giant "power bank" has a total installed capacity of 1.2 million kilowatts. It is designed to generate 1.606 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. The first unit is scheduled to begin operation in 2027, with full commercial operation targeted for 2028.

While the pumped storage station rises among the mountains, photovoltaic projects are also rapidly advancing along the coast. At 9:30 PM on June 30th, the Hebei Huadian Changli 500-megawatt offshore photovoltaic pilot project was officially connected to the grid. This marks a historic breakthrough for Hebei Province's offshore solar industry, achieving the leap from zero to one.

This pilot project is the first grid-connected sub-project within the larger Qinhuangdao 1,800-megawatt offshore photovoltaic demonstration project. It is projected to generate an average of 770 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, saving approximately 231,000 tons of standard coal, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 694,800 tons, and providing a carbon sequestration ecological benefit equivalent to planting 20,000 hectares of new forest.

"We've been working at sea for over half a year for this day," said Che Zengjie, the project's on-site manager, his voice hoarse yet filled with pride as he stood on the booster station platform looking out at the sprawling photovoltaic array. "The sea is not like land. We face salt spray corrosion and wave impacts. Every single pile foundation had to be precise down to the centimeter." The construction team started from scratch, overcoming numerous technical challenges including suction bucket-type pile stabilization and polyurethane anti-corrosion coatings.

As offshore solar shines, onshore wind and solar projects are also gaining momentum. In May of this year, the Jingneng Qinglong Phase II 80-megawatt wind power project received approval, planning to install 16 units of 5-megawatt wind turbines. Separately, China Shipbuilding Technology invested 1.704 billion yuan to build a 300,000-kilowatt wind power project in Qinglong and Funing.

Offshore, the Goldwind Technology 500-megawatt offshore wind power project plans to install 36 units of 14-megawatt wind turbines, with the first pile scheduled to be driven in August 2026. From the sea surface to mountain peaks, from wind turbine blades to photovoltaic panels, the city's installed capacity for new energy power generation is expanding rapidly.

As of May this year, the city's total installed capacity for new energy reached 3.849 million kilowatts, accounting for over 57.1% of the region's total power supply capacity. This includes 1.447 million kilowatts from wind power and 2.402 million kilowatts from solar PV. A historic moment occurred on April 22nd at 12:41 PM when the city's real-time new energy output, for the first time, exceeded 100% of the regional electricity load, reaching 106.32%.

This breakthrough signifies a critical step forward in the city's energy structure transformation and a comprehensive leap in its green, low-carbon development capacity. While power generation flourishes, the industrial chain is also extending. In the hydrogen energy sector, the city is focusing on a full-chain layout encompassing production, storage, transportation, research, and application.

Currently, six hydrogen production projects have been completed, with an annual production capacity of 9,000 tons. The Zhongqing Technology Hydrogen Equipment Industrial Park has achieved localized production of eight core components, including fuel cell stacks and air compressors. Furthermore, the Hengding Technology Shell-Mounted Digital Hydrogen Equipment Manufacturing Project has been established in the Qinhuangdao Economic and Technological Development Zone. From equipment manufacturing to full-chain extension, the hydrogen energy industry is accelerating its cluster development.

From chasing the sun at sea to harnessing the wind on land, from storing green energy in the mountains to linking the future with hydrogen, this coastal city is forging ahead with its energy transition, striding confidently on the path of clean, low-carbon industrial upgrading.