China’s economic recovery expected to drive rising demand for power
- China Electricity Council forecasts growth but warns of uncertainties in consumption and supply, including extreme weather
- Power crunches are likely to continue to occur in some areas at peak periods, as supply-demand balance remains tight
Electricity consumption in China is set to rise by 6 per cent this year, according to a power trade association which is also predicting the country’s swift economic return after its reopening from Covid-19 restrictions.
“In 2023, China’s economic operation as a whole is expected to recover, driving the growth rate of electricity consumption higher than in 2022,” the China Electricity Council said in a report last week.
“Under normal weather conditions, it is estimated that electricity consumption in 2023 will be 9.15 trillion kilowatt-hours, an increase of about 6 per cent compared with 2022.”
In terms of power supply, there are uncertainties in precipitation, wind and solar resources, and fuel supply
Electricity consumption in China grew by 3.6 per cent in 2022 to 8.6 trillion kilowatt-hour compared to a year earlier, while power supply increased 7.8 per cent to 2.56 billion kilowatts compared to 2021.