China’s Monthly Power Use Matches Japan’s Annual Consumption

Chongqing—According to the National Energy Administration, China's electricity consumption surpassed 1 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in a single month for the first time, roughly equal to Japan's annual electricity use. This makes China the first nation globally to cross the trillion-kWh threshold in a single month.

Electricity demand is regarded as a key indicator of economic activity. Each summer, when extreme heat drives demand, ensuring a stable supply is a major challenge. China's power load hit four record highs in July, but authorities reported no rolling blackouts or forced rationing.

By comparison, several countries in Europe and the Americas have experienced outages during heatwaves in recent years, while China itself faced shortages in the past when energy prices surged and supply tightened. Officials said the latest performance showed the resilience of China's power system.

New generation capacity has played a key role. In eastern coastal regions, China's largest new coal-fired power units have come online, with each unit producing up to 6 billion kWh annually while using less coal per unit of electricity. On the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the country's largest high-altitude wind power project was connected to the grid.

China added 324.8 million kilowatts of new generation capacity between January and July - more than 14 Three Gorges Dams. The Three Gorges Dam is the world's largest hydroelectric power station on the Yangtze River in central China. By June 2025, total installed capacity reached 3.65 billion kilowatts, the world's largest.

Renewables have become the mainstay. Installed renewable capacity stood at 2.16 billion kilowatts, 59.2% of the national total, reflecting China's shift toward cleaner energy.

Beyond generation, the country has invested heavily in transmission infrastructure. China now operates the world's largest grid system, with ultra-high voltage lines that stretch more than 50,000 kilometers across 44 major cross-regional transmission corridors. These allow electricity generated in remote western regions to supply industrial and residential centers in the east. Despite record demand, the State Grid reported supply reliability of 99.92% in July.

China relied on coal and gas plants to stabilize supply during peak demand for backup generation, while hydro storage and new battery technologies helped regulate imbalances. Authorities also established four regional emergency power bases and expanded storage capacity to stabilize the system. A national electricity market is being developed to coordinate cross-regional transfers more efficiently.

The National Climate Center said July saw the highest average national temperature since 1961. Residential electricity use rose 18% year-on-year, fueled by air conditioning, modern appliances, and electric vehicle charging.

Industry consumed 593.6 billion kWh, up 4.7%; services used 208.1 billion kWh, up 10.7%; and agriculture rose 20.2% to 17 billion kWh.

The data highlight shifts in China’s industrial structure. Electricity use in high-tech and equipment manufacturing grew 4.6% in the first seven months, faster than the manufacturing average. New energy vehicle production stood out, with a 25.7% increase. In contrast, the four traditional energy-intensive industries - chemicals, building materials, steel, and non-ferrous metals - grew just 0.9%.

Official data showed industrial output grew by 5.7% in July, while the service sector grew by 5.8%, suggesting demand is being driven by advanced industries and consumption upgrades.

China has pledged to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. In March, wind and solar capacity exceeded coal for the first time, and by May, non-fossil fuels accounted for more than 60% of installed generation.

Officials say continued investment in renewables, nuclear power, storage, and grid upgrades will be key to meeting both rising demand and long-term climate targets.