China regularly releases data on its power generation capacity and its latest figures give pause for thought about Australia’s relative size in the global scale of power generation and thus carbon emissions.
China’s total generation capacity is 1,041 GW split between thermal (mostly coal) at 74%, hydro 19%, and nuclear 1.2% with renewable energy making up the balance. Total generation capacity grew by 8.9% over the last 12 months and is set to maintain that order of growth for the next decade and beyond. By the end of 2012, China is likely to have the largest installed electricity capacity in the world, ahead of the US.
Electricity consumption in China is likely to hit 5,130 billion kWh this year making it the second largest user of electricity in the world.
ROB Price at posting:
0.8¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
