Beijing: The National Bureau of Statistics has reported that China has made remarkable advancements in energy development over the past 75 years. The achievements significantly accelerated its transition towards green, low-carbon energy and improve efficient energy utilisation.
The report declared by China Central Television (CCTV) has highlighted that China’s total primary energy output reached 4.83 billion tonnes of standard coal, marking a 202.6-fold increase since 1949. The country has seen an average annual growth rate of 7.4 per cent in energy output over this period.
Power production capacity has seen notable improvements, with electricity generation skyrocketing from 4.3 billion kWh in 1949 to 9.5 trillion kWh in 2023. This reflects an appreciative average annual growth rate of 11 percent.
A notable change towards clean energy has been observed. Clean power generation, including hydropower, nuclear, wind, and solar energy, surged from 44.6 billion kWh in 1978 to 3.2 trillion kWh in 2023, registering an average annual growth rate of 10 percent. As a result, the percent of clean energy in China’s total power generation increased from 17.4 percent to 33.7 percent during this time.
Energy consumption has steadily grown as well. In 1953, China absorbed 50 million tonnes of standard coal, while in 2023, the figure soared to 5.72 billion tonnes, an average annual growth rate of 6.9 percent.
Per capita energy consumption has also experienced a significant rise, from 93 kg of standard coal in 1953 to 4,053 kg in 2023, marking a 42.6-fold increase and an annual growth rate of 5.5 percent.
This data highlights China’s efforts to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability, solidifying its role as a global pioneer in energy transformation.