Over the past year, from August 2024 to July 2025, the People's Republic of China's electricity consumption reveals a noticeable reliance on both fossil and low-carbon energy sources. Fossil fuels provide a little more than half of the electricity, standing at roughly 59%, with coal being the dominant fossil fuel source, contributing almost 56% on its own. Low-carbon energy accounts for about 41% of the electricity use, showcasing the nation's commitment to cleaner energy sources. Within this category, hydropower leads at around 13%, followed closely by wind and solar, each contributing approximately 11% and 10% respectively. Nuclear energy also plays a role, providing just under 5%, highlighting its potential for expansion as part of a diversified low-carbon strategy. Gas and biofuels make up smaller shares, with contributions of roughly 3% and 2%, respectively.
Is Electricity Growing in People's Republic of China?
Examining trends in electricity consumption reveals some recent changes in China. The latest figures indicate an annual electricity consumption of 6956 kWh per person, a slight decrease from the previous record of 7076 kWh per person set in 2024, reflecting a reduction of about 120 kWh per person. On a brighter note, the share of low-carbon electricity has grown significantly. The current low-carbon electricity generation has reached 2866 kWh per person, marking an increase of 173 kWh per person from the previous year's record. This shift demonstrates a clear and promising trajectory towards more sustainable energy practices, albeit the overall consumption has slightly declined, which is a matter of concern given the ever-growing demand for electricity driven by technological advances and environmental considerations.
Suggestions
There is substantial room for expansion in China's low-carbon electricity generation. Enhancing the capacity of existing wind and solar resources, both of which have already proven to be significant sources of clean energy, is essential. China can draw lessons from countries like Denmark and Iowa, which rely on wind power for over half of their electricity, underscoring the viability of expanding wind capacity. Additionally, harnessing nuclear energy offers great potential. Nations like France and Slovakia generate a significant majority of their electricity from nuclear power, demonstrating the technology's capability to provide reliable and substantial low-carbon electricity. By scaling up solar and nuclear energy infrastructure, China can further reduce its carbon footprint while meeting growing electricity demands.
History
Historically, China's development of low-carbon electricity has been characterized by notable advancements. Starting in the early 2000s, hydroelectric power saw substantial growth, with increases of around 70 to over 100 TWh from 2004 through 2010. This momentum continued into 2012 and 2014, with significant hydropower expansions, though there were fluctuations evident in some years like 2015. In recent years, wind and solar energy have seen impressive growth. 2021 alone recorded increases of over 189 TWh in wind and nearly 66 TWh in solar electricity. The years 2022 and 2023 saw continued growth, especially in solar generation, with impressive leaps of over 100 TWh annually. Despite some setbacks in hydropower in the last couple of years, the overall trend in expanding solar and wind capacity signals a robust commitment to a greener future. Looking ahead, maintaining this momentum and addressing any declines is vital for ensuring a sustainable and secure energy future for China.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.