Business
China’s Electricity Consumption Hits Record 1.04 Trillion kWh in July
China’s electricity consumption climbed to a record 1.04 trillion kilowatt-hours in July, driven by growing demand from high-tech manufacturing, inter...
By Wavers News
The latest figures from the National Energy Administration show that the country’s total installed power generation capacity had reached 4.08 billion kilowatts by the end of July, representing an 11 percent increase from the same period last year.
The surge in electricity demand comes as newer areas of the economy increasingly contribute to overall power consumption, particularly industries linked to digital services, advanced manufacturing and clean-energy technologies.
High-tech manufacturing drives demand
Electricity use in high-tech and equipment manufacturing increased 8.9 percent year-on-year in July.
The electrical machinery and equipment manufacturing sector, together with computers, communications and other electronic equipment manufacturing, recorded strong growth during the month.
Combined, the two industries accounted for 33 percent of the country's increase in electricity consumption in July, highlighting the growing power needs of advanced manufacturing.
By comparison, electricity consumption among four major energy-intensive industries remained relatively sluggish.
Internet data services and EV charging surge
The service sector recorded the fastest electricity consumption growth among the major sectors, rising 4.8 percent year-on-year in July.
Electric vehicle charging and battery-swapping services were among the strongest contributors, with electricity use in the sector increasing 50.3 percent.
Internet data services also recorded significant growth, with electricity consumption rising 40.1 percent during the month.
Together, EV charging and battery-swapping services and internet data services accounted for more than 80 percent of the increase in electricity consumption within the tertiary sector in July.
Renewable energy capacity continues to expand
The growth in electricity demand has coincided with continued expansion of China's renewable energy capacity.
By the end of July, the country's solar power capacity had increased 16.1 percent to 1.29 billion kilowatts, while wind power capacity rose 19.5 percent to 690 million kilowatts.
The expansion reflects the continued development of renewable energy alongside rising demand from emerging industries.
The latest figures also point to a changing structure in China's electricity consumption, with newer economic activities increasingly becoming major sources of additional power demand.
As advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure and electric mobility continue to expand, their contribution to the country's overall electricity needs is expected to remain significant.