BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The December quarter of 2025 marked a milestone in Australia's energy transition. As electricity demand reached record highs, renewable energy supplied more power than fossil fuels nationwide for the first time over a three-month period, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator.
Behind this shift, Swatten, a subsidiary of Shanghai-headquartered Sieyuan Electric, stands out among the Chinese enterprises supporting Australia in pursuing a greener development path while keeping electricity affordable and reliable.
Swatten achieved notable success with its participation in the Smart Energy 2025 Expo in Sydney in April last year. Closely aligned with Australia's energy transition agenda, the company works in tandem with local subsidy schemes and the rapid uptake of photovoltaic systems.
By storing surplus solar power generated during daylight hours and releasing it during peak demand periods, its solutions lift overall energy utilization efficiency by more than 50 percent and reduce reliance on high-priced peak electricity for around 70 percent of households. As a result, residential users may cut total energy costs and electricity bills by over 80 percent.
Behind these projects is not only equipment and investment, but also a new generation of young Chinese engineers and service professionals. Working across diverse market environments, they are involved in everything from system integration to long-term operational support.
The Swatten team has a notably young profile, said Jin Zheng, general manager of Swatten's Asia-Pacific branch. Employees born in the 1980s account for about 40 percent of the team, those born in the 1990s roughly 30 percent, and those born after 1995 around 20 percent. These young professionals play a pivotal role in market expansion, client engagement, project delivery and localized operations, he added.
This blend of technical capability and youthful talent reflects a broader trend in China. A growing group of young professionals, increasingly recognized as the country's "green collars," is building their careers in renewable energy, environmental protection and low-carbon technologies, linking personal development with a sense of responsibility toward global climate challenges.
China has officially recognized 134 green professions in its national occupational classification system, covering areas such as renewable power, energy efficiency, environmental monitoring, ecological restoration and carbon management.
By the end of 2024, the number of practitioners in the ecological and environmental protection sector in China had exceeded 3.4 million, echoing the country's broader economic transformation with young people at the forefront. Research by Deloitte China suggests that through proactive green transformation, China could create 38 million jobs by 2050, many of them in low-carbon industries that combine traditional industrial strengths with new technologies. Young people have clearly sensed where the long-term opportunities lie.
In wind and solar bases, young engineers analyze massive streams of meteorological and operational data to optimize where turbines and panels should be installed and how systems perform over time. Their work blends digital modeling with on-site surveys, sometimes taking them to remote deserts, grasslands or mountainous regions that are far from the office towers traditionally associated with white-collar jobs.
In laboratories and testing facilities, other young professionals focus on next-generation energy technologies such as advanced batteries and hydrogen fuel cells. Their work often involves long testing cycles, strict safety protocols and constant learning across disciplines, from mechanical engineering to electrochemistry and data analysis. For them, the low-carbon transition is not an abstract slogan but a daily process of solving technical problems that could shape the future of transport and industry.
Along China's coasts and in rural areas, young technicians and operators are helping manage distributed renewable systems and energy storage facilities that support local communities. These projects reduce reliance on diesel generators and improve energy access for agriculture, fisheries and small businesses. Digital monitoring platforms allow teams to oversee operations remotely, blending traditional power engineering with modern information technology.
What stands out in these stories is not only technological progress, but a generational mindset. Many young Chinese professionals entering green fields say they are motivated by more than salary or job stability. They prefer their work to be connected to global responsibilities such as climate change, pollution control and sustainable development.
This shift reflects a broader change in career values. For a growing number of young people, work is not just a way to make a living, but also a way to make a difference. Green industries, by their nature, offer a direct link between individual effort and environmental outcomes, including cleaner air, lower emissions and more efficient use of resources.
Take Keith Zhou, Swatten's Asia-Pacific service director, as an example. Born in 1998, he chose to build his career in the green sector, proving that it offers long-term certainty and enduring values, and that Chinese companies bring strong industrial capabilities and technological advantages to the global green transition.
Policy and education have helped make these choices viable. China's medium- and long-term development planning, including preparations for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), continues to put green and low-carbon development high on the agenda, creating a favorable policy environment for young professionals entering these fields.
Some universities in China have expanded programs in renewable energy engineering, energy storage, environmental science and carbon management. Vocational institutions now train technicians in photovoltaic installation, electric vehicle maintenance and energy efficiency services. As green sectors grow, they are also becoming more professionalized, with clearer career pathways, higher technical standards and, of course, increased salaries.
For international partners, including countries like Australia that are also pursuing energy transitions, the rise of the "green collar" generation in China is becoming part of a wider global story. Through overseas projects, technology cooperation and knowledge exchanges, these youths are also beginning to take part in international programs, technology cooperation and know-how transfer.
Whether working with data models, complex testing equipment or distributed renewable facilities, they share a common vision -- professional growth and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand. Their confidence, adaptability and willingness to tackle new challenges reflect the spirit of a generation coming of age in a time defined by global challenges.
In this sense, the rise of China's "green collar" youth is about more than new types of jobs. It tells a story of a new generation stepping forward -- not only to build careers, but to take on responsibilities that reach beyond themselves, for the health of the planet and the well-being of future generations. ■
