China's power use hits historic high in July

China's total power consumption reached a historic high in July, reaching 1.02 trillion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 8.6 percent, the National Energy Administration said on Thursday.

This marks the first time China's monthly nationwide electricity usage has surpassed the 1 trillion kWh threshold, a milestone unmatched globally.

The surge in power demand, often viewed as a key indicator of economic activity, reflects the combined impact of a prolonged heatwave and steady growth in industrial production.

The administration's data also revealed a significant increase in the contribution of renewable energy sources. Wind, solar, and biomass power generation accounted for nearly a quarter of total electricity production in July, underscoring China's accelerating transition toward a greener energy mix.