Electricity in People's Republic of China in 2023

As of 2023, the People's Republic of China relies predominantly on fossil fuels for its electricity consumption, with more than 64% sourced from fossil fuels, including approximately 61% from coal alone. Low-carbon electricity generation, comprising about 35% of the total, is made up of 13% hydropower, 9% wind, 6% solar, and just under 5% nuclear energy. A small fraction, close to 3%, is supported by gas-powered electricity, and around 2% comes from geothermal and biofuels. The heavy reliance on fossil fuels, especially coal, is a significant contributor to air pollution and climate change, highlighting the urgent need for a transition to cleaner, low-carbon energy sources.

Suggestions

To increase its share of low-carbon electricity generation, China can invest in technologies and policies that have proven successful in other countries. For example, France generates nearly two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear energy, demonstrating the potential for high nuclear penetration. Similarly, Slovakia and Ukraine also derive more than half of their electricity from nuclear. On the wind front, Denmark leads with over half of its electricity from this clean source, providing a model for leveraging wind energy. By learning from these examples, China can expand its nuclear infrastructure and enhance wind and solar capacities, thereby reducing its dependence on fossil fuels and fostering a greener electricity mix.

History

Historically, China's low-carbon electricity generation has seen significant growth, particularly in the 21st century. Early in the 2000s, hydropower witnessed substantial increments with notable peaks in 2004 and 2012, increasing by almost 70 TWh and over 170 TWh, respectively. The late 2010s and early 2020s marked a surge in wind and solar energy, with 2017 and subsequent years showing impressive gains. For instance, in 2021, wind energy grew by almost 190 TWh, followed by increases of more than 120 TWh each in wind and solar in 2023. Despite a notable decline in hydropower by 72 TWh in 2023, the overall trend underscores China's upward trajectory in adopting cleaner, low-carbon electricity sources to meet its growing energy demands.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources