China's electricity demand hits record as heat wave and industry surge, new climate plan unveiled

China’s power grid recorded a historic peak demand of 1.518 billion kilowatts on 10 July, surpassing the previous high by 10 million kilowatts. The surge was driven by strong industrial activity, rapid growth in high‑tech manufacturing and electric‑vehicle production, expanded services consumption and unusually high temperatures that pushed air‑conditioning use. More than 20 provinces, including Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Ningxia, Gansu, Fujian and Shaanxi, set new demand records. Renewable generation supplied over 40 % of the peak, exceeding 600 million kilowatts.

In parallel, the Chinese State Council issued a climate‑action plan targeting a peak in carbon emissions by 2030. The plan calls for new‑energy vehicles to make up 30 % of the national fleet, a 17 % reduction in carbon‑intensity relative to 2025, and non‑fossil sources to provide 25 % of total energy consumption by the end of the decade. It emphasizes expanding solar, wind and hydropower, tighter coal controls and investment in low‑carbon industry and energy‑efficiency technologies, aiming to meet the country’s 2060 carbon‑neutrality goal.