Developments in Power Generation and Transmission Infrastructures in China

The China electricity industry started in 1882. By 1949, the country had a small electricity system with 1.85 GW installed capacity and 6,500 km transmission lines. The electricity system expanded rapidly over last five decades or so. By the late 1990s, the expansion fundamentally changed the nationwide electricity shortage. The China electricity system now is the world´s second largest with 338 GW installed capacity and generation was 1478 TWh in 2001. Official statistics show power consumption growth in China averaging 7.8% annually throughout the 1990s. Starting from the second half of 2002, China electricity supply was far short of demand because of dry spells that deceased hydroelectric supply, a generator shortage, and unexpected demand from energy-intensive industries. During this period, twenty-one provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China suffered large-scale electricity shortages. Some had to implement load shedding to limit electricity consumption to avoid blackouts. By the end of 2005, China accumulated a total installed capacity of 508 GW. China´s electricity output reached 2474.7 TWh.