China’s electricity consumption in 2009 grew 5.96 percent year on year to 3.643 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWhs), according to China’s National Energy Administration (NEA). The growth rate was 0.47 percentage points higher than that in 2008.
- Primary industry sector was 94.7 billion kWh, +7.86% percent year on year.
- Secondary industry consumption +4.15% to 2.7 trillion kWh
- Residential power use +11.87% to 457.1 billion kWh.
Investment in power construction projects increased by 20% to 755.84 billion yuan (110.7 billion U.S. dollars).
Interestingly investment in coal-fired power projects declined by 11% while that in nuclear projects rose 75% and in wind power by 44%, according to an NEA statement.
These are some pretty impressive statistics. No one understands pollution better then the Chinese. Despite great criticizm it will likely be China that makes the most drastic changes to reducing pollution and green house gas emissions while meeting energy needs. Like France did in the 70s, a good portion of this change is coming through Nuclear power generation (something Canadians and Americans need to take seriously and consider for their own energy needs). Natural gas statistics were not available, but one can estimate that natural gas is also likely increasing in China which creates further demand for future natural gas exports from Canada.
