China Energy Information

Total Energy Consumption

Total energy consumption per capita is increasing regularly, reaching 2.6 toe/cap in 2021 (nearly 4 times that for India). Electricity consumption per capita increased by over 9% to 5 500 kWh in 2021, twice the 2010 levels.

Graph: CONSUMPTION TRENDS BY ENERGY SOURCE (Mtoe)

Interactive Chart China Total Energy Consumption

Crude Oil Production

Oil production has been increasing since 2018 (+2%/year), reaching 208 Mt in 2021. It increased by an average of 2%/year between 2000 and 2015 but declined by 3.2%/year between 2015 and 2018. Most of the production is onshore and located in the fields close to the north-eastern coast. Offshore production is in full development, with the Bohai basin being one of the most active areas.

Interactive Chart China Crude Oil Production

Oil Products Consumption

The consumption of oil products is increasing rapidly (+4%/year on average since 2010) reaching 693 Mt in 2021 (+6.6% in 2021).

In 2021, the share of the transport sector returned to its pre-pandemic level (44% in 2021 vs. 42% in 2020); the second largest energy consuming sector is industry (including non-energy uses) with around 34%.

Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION (Mt)

Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2021, %)

Interactive Chart China Refined Oil Products Production

Natural Gas Consumption

Natural gas consumption grew by more than 12% in 2021 to 362 bcm, i.e. in line with its 2010-2019 trend. Despite the effects of the pandemic, gas consumption grew by 6% in 2020.

Industry represents 41% of gas demand, followed by the residential and services sector (22%), the power sector (18%), and transport (9%).

Graph: NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION (bcm)

Graph: GAS CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2021, %)

Interactive Chart China Natural Gas Domestic Consumption

Coal Consumption

After moderate growth between 2017 and 2019 (+0.9%/year) and a 1.3% hike in 2020, coal and lignite consumption recovered noticeably in 2021 (+4.6%), reaching 4.1 Gt. Coal consumption had increased very rapidly between 2000 and 2013 (+9%/year) and then decreased between 2014 and 2016 (-1.9%/year).

The power sector is the largest user of coal and lignite, with 65%, followed by industry (26%). The share of the power sector has been increasing continually (45% in 2000 and 49% in 2010).

Graph: COAL CONSUMPTION (Mt)

Interactive Chart China Coal and Lignite Domestic Consumption

Power Consumption

Electricity consumption rose by 10% in 2021 to 7 826 TWh after slower growth in 2020 (+4%). Previously, it had increased by 7%/year over 2010-2019.

Industry is the main consumer (57% in 2021), followed by services and residential (19% and 16%, respectively).

Graph: ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION (TWh)

Graph: ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2021,%)

Renewable in % Electricity Production

With the 14^th FYP, the country intends to get 20% of its total energy consumption from non-fossil fuels in 2025 (16% in 2020). The target of 15% of renewables in total energy consumption in 2020 was not reached (only 10%) ("Guiding Opinions on Establishing Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards", NEA, 2016). In 2018, the NDRC also set a target of a 9% share of non-hydro renewables in electricity consumption for 2020 and 35% in 2030 (11% reached in 2020 and 13% in 2021).

Interactive Chart China Share of Renewables in Electricity Production (incl hydro)

CO₂ Fuel Combustion/CO₂ Emissions

China ratified the Paris Climate Agreement in 2016. Its updated NDC (2021) set more ambitious targets for 2030: reaching a CO₂ emission peak before 2030, lowering its CO₂ intensity by over 65% (from 2005 levels), and eventually reaching carbon neutrality before 2060. It aims to cut the average coal consumption rate in power plants to 300g/kWh between 2020 and 2025.