China Urges Energy Saving as AI Adds 600 Billion kWh to Annual Power Demand
Updated
Updated · Hong Kong Standard · Jun 28
China Urges Energy Saving as AI Adds 600 Billion kWh to Annual Power Demand
2 articles · Updated · Hong Kong Standard · Jun 28
Summary
China’s energy regulator warned AI-driven demand is straining the power system, with total electricity use and peak load both hitting record highs by the end of 2025.
A five-second high-definition AI video can consume as much electricity as charging 10 mobile phones, underscoring why Beijing says it will speed up policies to boost energy saving and carbon reduction.
About 600 billion kilowatt-hours of annual new electricity demand is projected during the 15th Five-Year Plan period—roughly the power use of a medium-sized economy.
China also stressed supply security, saying it will keep diversified oil and gas imports as production remains concentrated in the west while consumption is centered in the east.