Wider and effective adoption of renewable energy technologies (RETs), especially in developing countries, is critical for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. China is now the new leader in RETs and plays an increasingly important role in trans-boundary technology transfer. Likewise, Chinese non-governmental organizations (NGOs) become more active internationally. Through in-depth analysis of three cases, we investigate Chinese NGOs’ engagement in trans-boundary RET transfer and identify the needs and challenges. The results show that Chinese NGOs have played various roles, such as coordinating stakeholders, providing technical assistance and mitigating potential conflicts. However, barriers related to funding, policy and competency need to be removed before NGOs can play fuller roles. This study provides insights into the current dynamics and potentials of Chinese NGOs in technology transfer and has important implications for policy making, business strategies, and international NGOs community.