This Summer’s Power Freedom: A Strong National Commitment to Energy Security

Focus Interview: The “Freedom to Use Electricity” This Summer is Backed by the Nation’s “Strong Protection”

This National Day holiday is a perfect time to relax and unwind. With crisp autumn air and pleasant temperatures, it’s also an ideal season for travel. Speaking of temperatures, the oppressive heat this summer has been palpable, with some areas experiencing temperatures exceeding 40°C. Naturally, electricity consumption has surged. However, despite the record-breaking demand for electricity, there have been no power restrictions or outages. The extreme heat has put the stability and safety of the power supply system to the test. What are the “hardcore measures” behind this situation?

This summer, the high temperatures arrived early and lasted longer with great intensity. The heat map was a fiery red, presenting a true test of endurance.

With the soaring temperatures, many people preferred to stay in air-conditioned rooms, leading to a significant increase in electricity demand. The peak consumption on July 16 reached an unprecedented 1.5 billion kilowatts nationwide.

Han Chao, Director of the Energy Research Department at the China Electricity Council, explained, “For example, the peak load of 15.08 billion kilowatts is equivalent to lighting up nearly 38 billion 40-watt light bulbs simultaneously.”

Lighting up 38 billion bulbs simultaneously is comparable to each person in the country having 27 bulbs on at once, which is indeed a spectacular sight.

If one day’s figures seem insufficient, let’s extend the timeline to a month. According to data released by the National Energy Administration, July marked a historic record as China’s monthly electricity consumption surpassed 1 trillion kilowatt-hours for the first time, an increase of 8.6% year-on-year, setting a new world record. But what does this 1 trillion kilowatt-hours represent?

Han Chao elaborated, “For instance, Japan’s annual electricity consumption is approximately 950 billion kilowatt-hours, while the combined total for Germany and France is about 940 billion kilowatt-hours. This means that China’s monthly electricity consumption in July exceeded Japan’s entire annual consumption or the total of Germany and France’s annual usage.”

Consuming as much electricity in a month as others do in a year poses a significant challenge for any household. In the past, such high demand would have likely resulted in power restrictions. In 2021, several provinces and cities faced varying degrees of “power shortages.”

Looking globally, even countries with much lower electricity consumption than ours have faced widespread blackouts due to high demand. For instance, Spain and Portugal experienced significant power outages in April of this year.

This summer, how has our country managed to meet the soaring electricity demand? We traveled across the nation to find out what people had to say.

In northeastern Liaoning Province, temperatures also soared near 40°C, a remarkable feat for the region.

Despite the heat, residents who previously claimed they could go without air conditioning found themselves purchasing air conditioners in record numbers. During this time, installation workers like Kang Qiang were busy from dawn till dusk.

It was reported that local installation personnel were in such high demand that workers had to be sent from southern regions to assist. Remarkably, even with the unprecedented electricity load, there was never a concern about power shortages this summer.

Now let’s head to Chongqing, often referred to as a “furnace.” In July, temperatures here repeatedly surpassed 40°C, with peaks exceeding 43°C. The heat was intense, and both households and popular hotpot restaurants kept their air conditioning running.

Alongside air conditioning, electric water heaters and refrigerators were also working overtime. However, Chongqing’s power supply remained robust, with no disruptions.

With households enjoying seamless power supply, what about the electricity needs of industrial enterprises? At a new energy vehicle component production company, we learned that business was booming this summer with many foreign trade orders. The monthly electricity consumption exceeded 11 million kilowatt-hours, yet production lines operated efficiently without interruptions due to power restrictions.

“We can use electricity whenever we need it,” may seem trivial to many, as electricity often goes unnoticed in everyday life. However, the combination of “frequent extreme temperatures,” “peak electricity loads,” and “stable power supply” presents a significant challenge for any country. Perhaps only China can successfully navigate this issue.

This sparked our curiosity: how did China manage to achieve this?

After researching official data, news reports, and consulting AI models, we uncovered several “secret weapons.” The cornerstone of our power supply reliability lies in the country’s substantial generation capacity. Through data analysis, we found several impressive statistics: by 2024, national electricity generation will exceed 10 trillion kilowatt-hours, accounting for one-third of the global total. As of the end of July 2025, the cumulative installed power generation capacity will reach 3.67 billion kilowatts, equivalent to over 160 Three Gorges Power Stations. Additionally, solar and wind power installation capacities have ranked first globally for ten consecutive years, establishing the world’s largest clean energy generation system, with one-third of our electricity being green energy.

In recent years, the share of renewable energy, specifically wind and solar power, has been increasing. However, electricity demand fluctuates between peaks and troughs, necessitating a stable supply. This is where new energy storage technologies come into play. These “new” technologies, including lithium battery storage and compressed air storage, allow us to store surplus electricity for use during peak demand periods.

In Chongqing, we visited a new energy storage company. The small structures seen in the footage are lithium iron phosphate battery packs, functioning as rechargeable batteries.

He Liang, Director of the Science Valley Energy Storage Station of China Energy Construction, stated, “As a new type of electrochemical energy storage station, it acts like a large ‘power bank’ in the grid, charging during low-demand periods and discharging during peak times, with a single charge-discharge cycle capable of reaching 200,000 kilowatt-hours, enough to supply 20,000 households.”

This summer, Chongqing’s grid load frequently peaked, and new energy storage played a pivotal role.

Chen Li, Deputy Director of the Control Center at the State Grid Chongqing Electric Power Company, reported, “Chongqing has put into operation 12 centralized energy storage stations, with a total capacity of 1.4 million kilowatts. This summer, new energy storage was deployed for supply assurance on 84 days.”

In peak electricity periods, this “secret weapon” is ready to be deployed. However, achieving this level of preparedness takes time, foresight, and meticulous planning, ensuring we have the capability to succeed when it matters most.

A review of policy developments over the past few years reveals that numerous policies have been implemented to support the development of new energy storage. Last year, it was included for the first time in the government work report. In February of this year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and seven other departments released the “Action Plan for High-Quality Development of New Energy Storage Manufacturing Industry” to guide the sector.

In just a few years, China has achieved a world-leading scale in new energy storage, with an installed capacity of approximately 95 million kilowatts by mid-year, a nearly 30-fold increase in five years.

In addition to this “giant power bank,” we found another “secret weapon” crucial in winning the battle for power supply stability: interprovincial electricity transactions. This concept is akin to borrowing rice from a neighbor when you have guests but are short on supplies. By trading electricity across provinces, we ensure resources are not wasted and meet urgent needs.

What about the timing of delivering electricity from the northwest to the south? There’s no need for concern, as we have ultra-high voltage lines. These serve as highways for electricity, allowing for rapid transmission.

In 2024, the volume of electricity traded in China’s market exceeded 6 trillion kilowatt-hours, accounting for 63% of total consumption. This year, significant progress was made with the approval of the “Normal Electricity Trading Mechanism Across Power Grid Operating Areas” in July 2025, marking a historic step in cross-regional transactions between the State Grid and Southern Grid.

Electricity is an abstract commodity; how is it traded? In Zhejiang, which has relatively scarce energy resources, one-third of its electricity must be imported from other provinces. This summer, sustained high temperatures combined with economic recovery caused electricity loads to reach historical highs. The “external support” from other provinces played a crucial role in maintaining stability.

At the State Grid Zhejiang Ultra-High Voltage Company’s production command center, the real-time display showed red and green lines, indicating a continuous supply of electricity from provinces like Ningxia, Qinghai, and Sichuan.

With sufficient supplies, there’s a sense of calm. But in case of extreme heat or sudden spikes in demand, what should be done? Wang Qianying, an electricity procurement officer in Zhejiang, explained her role in addressing this issue.

Wang Qianying, Senior Engineer at the State Grid Zhejiang Marketing Service Center, stated, “We conduct advance forecasts based on weather and supply conditions. For instance, during several peak electricity periods this summer, we identified potential gaps and proactively purchased electricity on the spot market a day in advance or even on the same day, utilizing the national unified electricity market to ensure mutual support across provinces and meet everyone’s electricity needs.”

Electricity consumption has long been considered an economic “barometer.” A comparison of data from ten years ago, specifically the summer of 2015, reveals that electricity consumption in July this year has doubled compared to that same month a decade ago. Where is all this electricity being used?

From various electricity consumption metrics, we observed that China’s economy continues to recover, with production lines running steadily and an accelerated shift towards new and green industries. Advanced manufacturing and digital industries are rapidly growing, with electricity consumption in the internet and related services sector up 29% year-on-year from January to August.

Currently, more than half of the world’s electric vehicles are in China, with their annual charging needs expected to match the annual output of the Three Gorges Dam. As of the end of August this year, China has established 17.34 million charging infrastructure points, ten times the number at the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan.

This past summer, behind the surge in electricity consumption, there have been many small joys. From lounging on the sofa enjoying the cool air conditioning while scrolling through your phone to indulging in delicious street food during the vibrant “night economy,” attending lively music festivals, or cheering at the “Super” sports events—countless moments passed by without a thought of power outages. The stable power supply quietly illuminated our beautiful lives.

This sense of security stems from the nation’s continuous efforts to ensure energy safety from multiple angles. The consistently rising electricity consumption curve reflects stable economic growth, ongoing structural transformation, and the improved quality of life for everyone.