In 2024, electricity consumption in the People's Republic of China is predominantly powered by fossil fuels. More than half of the country's electricity, approximately 62%, comes from fossil sources, with coal being the major contributor at around 58%, followed by a smaller portion from natural gas at 3%. On the cleaner side, low-carbon sources accounted for roughly 38% of China's electricity generation. Among these low-carbon options, hydropower leads with about 13%, followed by wind at nearly 10% and solar at about 8%. Nuclear energy contributes around 4% to the low-carbon mix, while biofuels add another 2%. The shift towards these greener sources is commendable, but there's ample room for growth, particularly in solar and nuclear sectors, to further mitigate the impacts of fossil fuels, which are known for their negative environmental effects, including climate change and air pollution.
Is Electricity Growing in People's Republic of China?
Electricity consumption in China is on the rise. In 2024, the average electricity usage per person reached 7076 kWh. This marks an increase from the previous record in 2023, where consumption was at 6647 kWh per person, showing a significant uptick of 429 kWh per person. Low-carbon electricity generation has also seen remarkable growth, climbing to 2693 kWh per person from the 2023 record of 2340 kWh per person, with an increase of 353 kWh per person. This growth in both overall and clean electricity consumption is a positive indicator of China's commitment to meeting the rising energy demands sustainably and paving the way for a cleaner energy future.
Suggestions
To further bolster its low-carbon electricity generation, China can draw lessons from successful regions worldwide. Accelerating solar energy projects could see inspiration from Greece and Spain, where solar contributes a significant portion, approximately 21% each, to their electricity generation. Meanwhile, in developing nuclear energy, China could look towards France, where over two-thirds of the electricity comes from nuclear power, and Slovakia, with a similar contribution. By tapping into these successful strategies, China can diversify its low-carbon portfolio, reduce its reliance on coal, and make substantive strides toward securing a cleaner, sustainable energy future for its growing population.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity generation in China paints a picture of substantial progress. Throughout the early 2000s and 2010s, hydropower saw considerable annual increases, notably in 2008, where it surged by nearly 100 TWh, and 2012 with an impressive hike of 173 TWh. Wind and solar energy began gaining momentum around 2017 and exploded in growth from 2021 onwards, with significant annual increases in both 2022 and 2023. Solar energy alone jumped by over 250 TWh in 2024, while wind energy maintained a robust expansion. Despite a minor setback in hydropower in 2023, the following year saw a strong recovery. The rapid advancement in wind and solar energy represents China's commitment to clean power, though continuous innovation and investment, particularly in nuclear and solar energy, will be pivotal as China progresses towards a low-carbon future.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.