China generated approximately 444 terawatt hours of electricity using nuclear power in 2024. Although thermal energy sources such as coal remain the largest contributor to China's energy mix, the use of non-fossil sources notably increased in the past few years. Renewable energy in China In the last two decades, China has raised the capacity and hence the generation volume of electricity from all sources in order to meet ever-growing energy demand. Most of this growth came from thermal sources, nevertheless, renewable energy consumption in China has increased more than tenfold since the early 2000s. In 2024, clean electricity sources accounted for a third of power. This may be evidenced by the significant growth rate of renewable capacity. China's role in the global renewable energy industry In 2021, China's government announced that it was striving towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Already, China has become one of the leading players in the renewable energy arena, housing multiple major manufacturers. In fact, China accounts for nearly 86 percent of solar PV module production worldwide.

China sources most of its electricity from coal. In 2023, fossil fuels made up 61 percent of the total electricity in the country. Despite continuing to expand its coal power plant fleet, China has recently redirected its investment efforts towards clean energy initiatives with the aim of reducing pollution and emission levels. From fossil to the future As the largest global polluter, China has designated the development of renewable energy sources as a major objective of its economic policies. Already, the country produced the most renewable energy worldwide. However, as the second-largest economy, it was also the biggest energy consumer, attributed to its population numbers and a large manufacturing sector. (263455) According to the China Electricity Council, a national trade organization, the combined capacity of wind and solar power was going to exceed the projected coal power supply in 2024. Long-distance relationship One of the greatest obstacles to the green energy transition in the PRC is the distance between the green energy sources and its consumers. In general, the country has favorable conditions for the installation of wind and solar power, as the northwestern regions are not only abundant in wind and sun but also host China's hydroelectric dams. Nonetheless, most individuals and institutions lack awareness. However, most people and industry are in the country’s coastal provinces, many thousands of kilometers away. As a result, the country has built the world’s leading ultra-high-voltage electricity transmission system, which allows the transmission of energy over large distances. The longest transmission circuit in China exceeds two thousand kilometers.

CN: Energy Production: YoY: Crude Coal: Anthracite Coal data was reported at 16.300 % in Feb 2011. This records an increase from the previous number of 9.290 % for May 2010. CN: Energy Production: YoY: Crude Coal: Anthracite Coal data is updated monthly, averaging 12.300 % from Feb 2008 (Median) to Feb 2011, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 34.000 % in Dec 2009 and a record low of -3.000 % in Dec 2008. CN: Energy Production: YoY: Crude Coal: Anthracite Coal data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Energy Sector – Table CN.RBA: Energy Production.

In 2023, coal accounted for 66.6 percent of primary energy production in China. In the period of consideration, the share of energy generated from coal has decreased consistently, while the share of primary electricity has doubled.

CN: Energy Production: YoY: ytd: Lubricating Oil data was reported at -2.890 % in Dec 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of -3.210 % for Nov 2015. CN: Energy Production: YoY: ytd: Lubricating Oil data is updated monthly, averaging 5.450 % from Jan 1997 (Median) to Dec 2015, with 190 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 51.400 % in Jan 2002 and a record low of -32.000 % in Jan 2001. CN: Energy Production: YoY: ytd: Lubricating Oil data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Energy Sector – Table CN.RBA: Energy Production.

CN: Energy Production: ytd: Natural Gas: Coalbed Gas data was reported at 15,350.000 Cub m mn in Nov 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 14,060.000 Cub m mn for Oct 2024. CN: Energy Production: ytd: Natural Gas: Coalbed Gas data is updated monthly, averaging 4,130.000 Cub m mn from Jan 2012 (Median) to Nov 2024, with 143 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15,350.000 Cub m mn in Nov 2024 and a record low of 270.000 Cub m mn in Jan 2012. CN: Energy Production: ytd: Natural Gas: Coalbed Gas data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Energy Sector – Table CN.RBA: Energy Production.

China Energy Consumption: Electricity data was reported at 8,835.760 kWh bn in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 8,520.010 kWh bn for 2021. China Energy Consumption: Electricity data is updated yearly, averaging 1,472.346 kWh bn from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2022, with 43 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8,835.760 kWh bn in 2022 and a record low of 300.630 kWh bn in 1980. China Energy Consumption: Electricity data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by China Electricity Council. The data is categorized under Global Database’s China – Table CN.RCB: Electricity Consumption.

Coal is by far the major primary energy fuel used in China, with a consumption volume amounting to 91.9 exajoules in 2023. Ranking second that year was oil, accounting for less than 20 percent of the East Asian country's total consumption. By contrast, China's primary energy consumption from renewable sources amounted to 16.1 exajoules in 2023, up from 13.4 exajoules in the previous year.

Electricity Production in China increased to 846240 Gigawatt-hour in December from 749510 Gigawatt-hour in November of 2024. This dataset provides - China Electricity Production- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

China's renewable energy production reached nearly approximately 2,894 terawatt hours in 2023. This was the highest figure in the period of consideration and follows greater power generation capacity additions, particularly of solar and wind farms. Clean energy vanguard Building clean energy sources is not only a matter of fighting climate change; for the Chinese leadership, it is also of economic and strategic relevance. While the country is not rich in energy resources for its size, it has ideal conditions for renewable energy generation. Its vast steppe and desert regions along with an abundance of sunshine and wind in the northwest are ideal for solar and wind power generation. A vast network of rivers has also allowed for the expansion of its hydropower capacity. In the context of a climate crisis and a global scramble for resources, ensuring a high level of energy independence is crucial for the country's economy and national interest. A carbon past Despite progress in the renewable energy sector, China cannot easily shake its fossil fuel-based economy. Throughout its industrialization, coal was the only energy source that was available domestically. The rapid economic development that relied on heavy industry and manufacturing relied on coal, very much to the detriment of the environment and the population. Most cities in China’s industrial heartland suffered from severe air pollution, which garnered the country a global reputation for cities engulfed in heavy smog. Despite government efforts to address this issue, coal still accounts for the largest share of China’s energy mix.

China Energy Production: YoY: Electricity data was reported at 0.600 % in Dec 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.900 % for Nov 2024. China Energy Production: YoY: Electricity data is updated monthly, averaging 6.800 % from Jan 1997 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 311 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 42.200 % in Jan 2010 and a record low of -13.700 % in Feb 2013. China Energy Production: YoY: Electricity data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Energy Sector – Table CN.RBA: Energy Production.

Forecast: Primary Energy Consumption in China 2023 - 2027 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Contains data from the World Bank's data portal. There is also a consolidated country dataset on HDX.

The world economy needs ever-increasing amounts of energy to sustain economic growth, raise living standards, and reduce poverty. But today's trends in energy use are not sustainable. As the world's population grows and economies become more industrialized, nonrenewable energy sources will become scarcer and more costly. Data here on energy production, use, dependency, and efficiency are compiled by the World Bank from the International Energy Agency and the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center.

Thermal power plants accounted for the majority of installed power generating capacity in China. As of 2024, thermal power plants, most of which are coal-fired, had a combined capacity of 1,444 gigawatts. This was less than half of the total power generating capacity, which stood at roughly 3.3 terawatts. By comparison, hydropower facilities were the largest renewable energy source by operational capacity.

CN: Coal Production: YoY: Gansu data was reported at 4.600 % in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.100 % for Nov 2024. CN: Coal Production: YoY: Gansu data is updated monthly, averaging 5.800 % from Jan 1997 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 254 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 69.500 % in Jan 2002 and a record low of -72.300 % in Dec 1999. CN: Coal Production: YoY: Gansu data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Energy Sector – Table CN.RBA: Energy Production: Coal.

China Energy Production: YoY: Electricity: Solar data was reported at 28.500 % in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 10.300 % for Nov 2024. China Energy Production: YoY: Electricity: Solar data is updated monthly, averaging 13.907 % from May 2016 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 88 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 46.800 % in Dec 2017 and a record low of -6.400 % in Apr 2021. China Energy Production: YoY: Electricity: Solar data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Energy Sector – Table CN.RBA: Energy Production. The statistical scope of monthly data is the industrial enterprises above designated size.

Electricity Production: Year to Date: Hainan data was reported at 46.860 kWh bn in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 43.160 kWh bn for Nov 2024. Electricity Production: Year to Date: Hainan data is updated monthly, averaging 5.795 kWh bn from Feb 1993 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 342 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 46.860 kWh bn in Dec 2024 and a record low of 0.247 kWh bn in Jan 1998. Electricity Production: Year to Date: Hainan data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Energy Sector – Table CN.RBA: Energy Production: Electricity.

China Energy Production: YoY: Electricity: Thermal data was reported at -2.600 % in Dec 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.400 % for Nov 2024. China Energy Production: YoY: Electricity: Thermal data is updated monthly, averaging 6.550 % from Jan 1997 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 310 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 48.700 % in Jan 2010 and a record low of -16.900 % in Feb 2013. China Energy Production: YoY: Electricity: Thermal data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Energy Sector – Table CN.RBA: Energy Production.

China Electricity Production: Wind data was reported at 92.090 kWh bn in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 82.360 kWh bn for Nov 2024. China Electricity Production: Wind data is updated monthly, averaging 18.623 kWh bn from Sep 2009 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 166 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 92.090 kWh bn in Dec 2024 and a record low of 2.200 kWh bn in Sep 2009. China Electricity Production: Wind data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Energy Sector – Table CN.RBA: Energy Production: Electricity: Wind. The statistical scope of monthly data is the industrial enterprises above designated size. 月度数据的统计范围是规模以上工业企业。

CN: Coal Production: YoY: ytd: Xinjiang data was reported at 17.500 % in Dec 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 19.400 % for Nov 2024. CN: Coal Production: YoY: ytd: Xinjiang data is updated monthly, averaging 11.000 % from Jan 1993 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 289 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 84.800 % in Jan 2002 and a record low of -20.800 % in Jan 1998. CN: Coal Production: YoY: ytd: Xinjiang data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Energy Sector – Table CN.RBA: Energy Production: Coal.