At the end of 2016, POWERCHINA had 5 national R&D institutions, 64 provincial R&D institutions, 8 academician workstations and 6 post-doctoral workstations. Seventy-three enterprises and subsidiaries under POWERCHINA were also recognized as provincial high-tech enterprises, and four of them as key high-tech enterprises under the Torch Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

POWERCHINA gained 104 national awards for Progress in Science and Technology, 1,700 provincial awards for Progress in Science and Technology, 7,454 patents (including 1086 invention patents) and formulated or revised 474 national and industrial standards.

POWERCHINA have undertaken a great many research projects for the National Development and Reform Commission, National Energy Administration, and Ministry of Environment. As a leader in the hydropower industry, POWERCHINA has dealt with a large number of technological problems.

With continuous breakthroughs in technology, POWERCHINA has become a world leader in the hydropower, wind power, thermal power, power transmission and distribution, and new energy sectors.