Xinjiang sees surging power generation in 2020

URUMQI -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region generated about 403 billion kWh of electricity in 2020, up 11.8 percent year on year, local authorities said Wednesday.

The region's thermal power generation approached 326 billion kWh last year, a yearly increase of 14.2 percent, according to the region's development and reform commission.

The region's wind power generation reached 42.3 billion kWh after a year-on-year increase of 7.3 percent, while solar power generation rose 14.3 percent to 12.6 billion kWh, said the commission.

Hydropower generation dropped by 9.7 percent to 22.6 billion kWh.

Xinjiang transmits electricity to 19 other provincial-level regions in China, many of which purchase electricity from Xinjiang as a form of economic support for the region.

Rich in wind and solar power resources, it is also one of the leading regions across the country in terms of new energy development.

The northwestern region in 2020 connected a 10.84 GW installed power generating capacity to its grid, amid a construction boom for new energy-powered projects boosted by a government subsidy policy for wind and solar power projects.