China Hits Record 10.4 Trillion kWh Electricity Consumption in 2025 Driven by AI and EVs
China's total electricity consumption hit a record 10.4 trillion kWh in 2025, driven by a 48.8% spike in EV charging and 17% growth in AI services. This doubles the US power usage.
China's thirst for power is widening the gap with the rest of the world. In 2025, the nation's total electricity consumption soared to a record 10.4 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh)—more than double that of the United States. This milestone marks the first time in China's history that annual usage has surpassed the 10 trillion mark.
China 2025 Record Electricity Consumption: The AI and EV Power Surge
The National Energy Administration (NEA) reported that the 5% overall jump was primarily fueled by the tertiary sector and residential use. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) cloud services and data centers expand, IT service power demand spiked by 17%. Even more striking is the 48.8% surge in electricity for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging and battery swapping, highlighting a massive shift in transport infrastructure.
| Sector | 2025 Consumption (kWh) | YoY Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Primary (Agri/Forestry) | 149.4 Billion | +9.9% |
| Secondary (Mfg/Mining) | 6.64 Trillion | +3.7% |
| Tertiary (Services/AI) | 1.99 Trillion | +8.2% |
| Residential | 1.59 Trillion | +6.3% |
Climate Impacts and Industrial Heavyweights
While tech drives the future, manufacturing remains the bulk of consumption at 6.64 trillion kWh. Meanwhile, residential demand reached 1.59 trillion kWh as intense heatwaves across provinces like Henan and Hubei forced air conditioning units to run at maximum capacity. According to Reuters, this combination of industrial ambition and climate volatility is putting China's power grid to the ultimate test.
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