China Energy Outlook 2020 - Flipbook - Page 44
Figure 1-24. China’s Electricity Production by Source (1980-2019)
Sources: China Energy Group, 2016; NBS, various years (b).
Note: Other Renewables includes biomass, geothermal, and others.
During the past three decades, China’s electricity production has grown rapidly, increasing from
300 TWh in 1980 to 7325 TWh in 2019 (Figure 1-24). The period of the fastest growth in
electricity production was from 2002 – 2007, with continuous annual average growth of more
than 10%. By the end of 2007, total electricity production was 3,270 TWh, almost 11 times the
1980 level.
Fossil fuel still dominates China’s electricity production, accounting for slightly more than 70%
of total electricity production in 2018. Fossil fuels are dominated by the use of coal (91%),
followed by natural gas (4%), followed by biomass (2%), and oil (0.03%). The share of non-fossil
fuel generated electricity in China increased from 19% in 1980 to the current level of roughly
30%, comprised of almost 18% hydroelectric, and roughly 5% wind, 4% nuclear, and 3% solar.
With the commercial operation of China’s first nuclear power plant, the Qinshan Nuclear Power
Station, in 1994, the share of nuclear generated electricity has gradually increased from 1.6% in
1994 to 4.8% in 2019, as China continues to lead the world in deployment of new nuclear
capacity. Wind generated electricity has surpassed electricity generated by nuclear power since
2013.
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