Photo courtesy of Yonhap News

 

 

[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] China’s electricity consumption exceeded 10 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) last year, marking the first time a single country has reached this milestone. The surge is attributed to rapid growth in energy-intensive advanced industries, including artificial intelligence (AI).

According to the National Energy Administration of China, total power consumption in 2025 reached 10.3682 trillion kWh, a 5% increase from the previous year. This figure is roughly twice the annual electricity consumption of the United States and exceeds the combined yearly consumption of the European Union, Russia, India, and Japan.

State-run Xinhua News Agency noted that electricity consumption—often regarded as a “barometer” of economic activity—reflects China’s robust economic resilience and underlying strength.

The sharp rise in power usage is partly linked to the expansion of AI data centers and other high-tech industries. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that by 2030, data centers alone will require 945 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, roughly double current levels and significantly exceeding South Korea’s annual consumption of 557 TWh in 2023.

 

 

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