National Energy Administration: Driven by AI computing power, China's annual new electricity consumption is about 600 billion kWh, equivalent to 3 Shanghais
Ge Ju, Deputy Director of the Development Planning Department of the National Energy Administration, said at a press conference on November 6 that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, emerging industries such as computing power will develop rapidly, and China's annual new electricity consumption is expected to reach about 600 billion kWh, equivalent to the electricity consumption of 3 new Shanghais each year. The National Energy Administration proposes that by 2030, the power supply adequacy ratio will be greater than 1.1; by then, wind power and photovoltaic power generation during summer and winter evening peak periods must account for more than 20%, the regulation capacity of virtual power plants must reach more than 50 million kilowatts, pumped storage installed capacity will be about 160 million kilowatts, and new-type energy storage installed capacity will be 300 million kilowatts.
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How much electricity does AI computing power consume? China is expected to add 600 billion kWh of electricity consumption each year: equivalent to 3 Shanghais. Kuai Technology Download the client for exclusive early access. November 08, 2026 13:52:02 From Henan Updated November 08, 2026 14:43:00
Kuai Technology, November 8 news: AI computing power is developing faster and faster, and the electricity demand behind it is also growing continuously.
At a press conference held by the National Development and Reform Commission on November 6, Ge Ju, deputy director of the Development Planning Department of the National Energy Administration, introduced that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, with the rapid development of emerging industries such as computing power, China's electricity demand will continue to grow.
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So, with future electricity consumption growing so fast, will there be a situation where electricity is insufficient?
In response, the National Energy Administration proposed that by 2030, China's power supply adequacy should be greater than 1.1. That is, even at the time of the highest national electricity load, the power system must still retain a supply capacity margin of more than 10%.
To achieve this goal, China will take action in multiple areas including power generation, power grids, electricity use, and energy storage.
In terms of power generation, traditional coal power will still play an important supporting role, while advancing the upgrading and transformation of coal-fired power units, and developing gas power, hydropower, and nuclear power according to actual demand.
New energy sources such as wind power and photovoltaics will also take on more power supply tasks. According to the plan, by 2030, during key periods such as the summer and winter evening electricity peaks, the share of power generation contributed by wind power and photovoltaics should reach more than 20%, an increase of about 10 percentage points from the current level.
In terms of power grids, efforts will continue to strengthen the west-to-east power transmission capacity, making it easier to allocate electricity among different provinces. It is expected that by 2030, the inter-provincial power mutual complementarity and mutual assistance capacity will increase by 40 million kilowatts.
In addition to increasing power generation capacity, electric vehicles will also become an important part of power regulation in the future. For example, charging cars during low-demand periods and, during peak demand periods, through vehicle-grid interaction, allowing eligible vehicles to send power back to the grid.
Equipment such as air conditioners and charging piles can also help the grid relieve peak pressure through intelligent adjustment.
The National Energy Administration proposed that by 2030, the regulation capacity of virtual power plants should reach more than 50 million kilowatts.
In terms of energy storage, more large-scale energy storage facilities will be built in the future, equivalent to preparing a larger "power bank" for the power system.
By 2030, China plans for the installed scale of pumped storage to reach about 160 million kilowatts, and the installed scale of new-type energy storage to reach 300 million kilowatts.
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