Focusing on green and low-carbon development, power solutions are driving high-quality growth in the new energy and rail transit sectors.

Driven by both global warming and the transition of the energy mix, green and low‑carbon development has become a central imperative across all sectors. As key areas of energy consumption and carbon emissions, the sustainable advancement of the new‑energy industry and rail transit not only underpins the achievement of the nation’s “dual carbon” goals but also directly shapes the broader green transformation of the economy and society. As a critical link in energy utilization, power‑supply solutions are leveraging technological innovation and tailored application scenarios to inject strong momentum into the high‑quality development of these two domains.

New Energy Industry: Power‑source technologies overcome bottlenecks in energy storage and conversion.

The intermittency and variability of new‑energy generation pose the core challenge to its large‑scale grid integration. Renewable sources, such as photovoltaic and wind power, are heavily influenced by natural conditions, with output fluctuating dynamically over time and in response to weather changes. Without an efficient power‑management system, this can readily undermine grid stability and even lead to curtailment of wind and solar resources. To address this critical issue, smart power‑supply solutions leverage a dual‑pronged approach—energy storage combined with peak‑shaving—to establish a flexible energy‑regulation network.

In the energy storage segment, emerging technologies such as lithium-ion batteries and flow batteries, when integrated with smart power controllers, enable precise storage and release of electrical energy. For instance, in photovoltaic power plants, the power management system can dynamically adjust the charging and discharging strategies of energy storage devices based on real-time solar irradiance—storing excess electricity during the day and releasing it at night or during cloudy or rainy periods to supplement the grid, thereby transforming a generation model that was once heavily dependent on weather conditions into one with controllable, stable output. Moreover, breakthroughs in long-duration storage technologies like hydrogen‑based storage and compressed air energy storage have further extended the duration of energy storage, paving the way for cross‑seasonal and cross‑regional energy dispatch.

At the energy conversion level, the deployment of high-efficiency power converters has significantly boosted the utilization rate of new energy sources. Conventional power conversion equipment suffers from high energy losses and slow response times, whereas the widespread adoption of next-generation silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) power devices has pushed conversion efficiency beyond 98% while reducing device size by more than 50%. Taking offshore wind power as an example, the integration of high‑power‑density power modules can increase the annual electricity output of a single turbine by 3% to 5%, equivalent to cutting carbon dioxide emissions by several thousand tons.

Rail Transit: Green Power Fuels the Smart Mobility Revolution

As the backbone of urban public transportation, rail transit accounts for nearly 20% of total emissions in the transport sector. Conventional rail systems rely on fossil fuels for power, resulting in high operating costs and persistently high carbon emissions. The adoption of green energy solutions is driving the transformation of rail transit toward “low-carbon throughout the entire lifecycle.”

On the power supply side, regenerative braking energy recovery systems have become a key factor in reducing energy consumption. When a train brakes, conventional systems dissipate the energy as heat through resistors, whereas the new-generation power units convert braking energy into electrical energy and feed it back into the overhead contact system for use by other trains. According to estimates, after implementing this technology on subway lines, annual energy savings per line can reach several million kilowatt-hours, equivalent to avoiding the combustion of over 1,000 tons of standard coal. Furthermore, the integrated deployment of distributed photovoltaic systems and energy storage enables ancillary facilities such as stations and vehicle depots to achieve “self‑generation and self‑consumption, with surplus power fed back to the grid,” thereby further reducing reliance on the conventional power grid.

On the power‑train side, a hybrid solution combining hydrogen fuel cells with supercapacitors offers a zero‑emission alternative for rail transit. Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity through the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, emitting only water vapor, making them well suited for long‑distance, heavy‑load operations. Meanwhile, supercapacitors, with their ability to charge and discharge in seconds, meet the train’s instantaneous high‑power demands during start-up and acceleration. Working in tandem, this combination alleviates range anxiety associated with all‑electric trains while eliminating the pollution caused by diesel locomotives. To date, several countries worldwide have launched pilot projects for hydrogen‑powered trams, which achieve a lifecycle carbon footprint more than 80% lower than that of conventional diesel‑powered vehicles.

Collaborative Innovation: Building a Green Energy Ecosystem

The decarbonization of new energy and rail transit is not the result of a single technological breakthrough, but rather the outcome of collaborative innovation across the entire industry chain. Power‑solution providers are working closely with equipment manufacturers, grid operators, research institutions, and other stakeholders to co‑develop standardized, modular green‑energy products. For example, they are designing customized power modules tailored to diverse climatic conditions and geographic environments—capable of operating in extreme heat, frigid cold, and high‑altitude settings. By leveraging digital‑twin technology to simulate energy flows, they optimize system‑operation strategies. Moreover, they have established a full‑lifecycle carbon‑footprint tracking system that spans design, manufacturing, and operations, ensuring that the “green” attributes of every kilowatt‑hour of electricity can be traced.

Conclusion

From serving as a “stabilizer” for new‑energy generation to becoming the “power core” of rail transit, power‑supply solutions are reshaping how energy is harnessed through technological innovation. Guided by the dual‑carbon goals, green power is not only a tool for reducing emissions and conserving energy but also a strategic cornerstone for upgrading industries and building a new‑type energy system. Looking ahead, as materials science, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and other technologies converge, power‑supply solutions will grow even smarter, more efficient, and more reliable, paving a broader, greener pathway for the high‑quality development of new energy and rail transit.