China’s generation capacity approaches 1 Terawatt

• 14 years ago (2010-09-21)
• Junior Isles

Asia 897 Nuclear 665 Renewables 780

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The start up of the second phase of Guangdong’s Ling’ao nuclear power plant means China’s installed power generation capacity now exceeds 900 GW; this is nearly double its 2005 capacity.

It took nearly 40 years for China to hit 100 GW in 1987, but this accelerated quickly to reach 500 GW by 2005. The country’s total generating capacity has continued to grow at a tremendous rate and is now nearing 1 Terawatt (TW) only five years since breaking the 500 GW barrier.

“Starting from a weak basis, we have explored a path of healthy development for the country’s electricity industry,” said Zhang Ping, director of the National Development and Reform Commission, during a nuclear power development forum in Beijing.

While the growth is impressive, China admits that it still relies too heavily on highly polluting coal-fired power stations to generate its electricity. About 675 GW of the country’s 900 GW of power generation capacity comes from coal, but Zhang said that China will continue to transform the growth pattern of the electricity industry and further facilitate its restructuring by producing more clean energy.

China’s generating capacity is additionally made up of hydro power, contributing 200 GW. The rest comes from wind and nuclear power, producing 22 GW and 10 GW respectively. Though China aims to raise its nuclear generation to 60 GW by 2020.