China's thermal power output surges, outpacing overall energy growth
Chinaʼs thermal power generation jumped 8.9% in September reaching 545.1 billion kWh‚ surpassing the 6% overall power increase. Hydropower saw a 14.6% decline‚ while year-to-date thermal output rose 1.9%
Chinas thermal power production saw a notable uptick last month‚ according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) last friday. The output reached 5451 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) marking an 89% increase compared to the same period last year
This growth outpaced the overall power generation which rose by 6% to 8024 billion kWh. Its worth noting that the NBS data encompasses industrial enterprises with yearly earnings of at least 20 million yuan (roughly $28 million)
Thermal power in China primarily stems from coal with a smaller portion coming from natural gas-fired facilities. In contrast hydropower experienced a decline‚ dropping 146% year-on-year to 1199 billion kWh
Looking at the broader picture‚ the first three quarters of the year showed a different trend:
- Thermal power output increased by 19%
- Overall power generation rose by 54%
These figures highlight the complex dynamics at play in Chinas energy sector – thermal power is growing faster in the short term but lagging behind overall generation in the longer view
Xi Jinpings government faces the challenge of balancing economic growth with environmental concerns as it navigates the countrys energy future
