China's power use poised to hit record high in 2025

BEIJING - China's electricity consumption is expected to reach a record high in 2025, with total power use projected to surpass 10 trillion kilowatt-hours nationwide, underscoring the strong momentum of the world's second-largest economy.

The projection was revealed at a national energy work conference on Monday. The milestone would further cement China's position as the world's largest electricity consumer, with its total power usage exceeding the combined consumption of the European Union, Russia, India and Japan in 2024.

Rising demand has been driven in large part by high-tech and advanced manufacturing industries. Forecasts show that from January to November this year, power use in sectors such as new energy vehicle manufacturing and wind power equipment manufacturing jumped more than 20 percent and 30 percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, electricity consumption in the internet and related services sector surged more than 30 percent.

China's record-breaking power demand has also become increasingly green, with clean energy playing a growing role in meeting consumption needs.

Wang Hongzhi, head of the National Energy Administration, said at the conference that China is set to overfulfill its target of having non-fossil energy account for 20 percent of its total energy consumption in 2025.

Wang noted that the country's green and low-carbon energy transition accelerated this year, underpinned by robust green investment, the leapfrog development of the new energy sector, and the accelerated construction of major hydropower and nuclear power projects.

Official projections show that newly installed wind and solar power capacity will hit about 370 million kilowatts in 2025, with the utilization rate remaining above 94 percent. Wind and solar power will account for about 22 percent of the nation's total electricity consumption.

Looking ahead to 2026, Wang said that China will further increase the new energy supply share, with the goal of adding more than 200 million kilowatts of new wind and solar power capacity.

At the same time, China will promote the construction of major hydropower projects and actively, safely develop nuclear power in an orderly manner, and strengthen the clean and efficient use of fossil fuels, Wang said.

According to the meeting, China's crude oil and natural gas production also reached new highs in 2025, hitting about 215 million tons and 260 billion cubic meters respectively.