Extreme heatwave breaks power demand records, China
Extreme heat affecting vast areas of China on July 16, 2025, pushed the national maximum electricity load above 1.5 billion kilowatts for the first time on record, marking the third new peak this month. Temperatures exceeded 46°C (114.8°F) at local stations in Xi’an and reached 42.2°C (108.0°F) on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In addition, widespread nighttime heat and record-high ground temperatures observed.
Image credit: Jim Yang
A prolonged and widespread heatwave affecting large parts of China led to a historic surge in electricity demand on July 16, with the maximum national load surpassing 1.506 billion kilowatts. This was the third time in July that the national grid recorded a new high, following records on July 4 and 7.
According to China’s National Energy Administration, the heat-driven surge in cooling demand caused 36 peak load records across 16 provincial grids. Power authorities confirmed that despite the unprecedented demand, national electricity supply remained stable, aided by interprovincial load balancing, flexible hydropower dispatch, and growing renewable output.
Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, experienced one of the country’s most intense heat episodes. The official weather station reported a maximum temperature of 42.3°C (108.1°F), while an automatic weather station (AWS) within the city recorded 46°C (114.8°F). Nighttime temperatures in urban districts remained between 32–34°C (89.6–93.2°F), and ground surface temperatures reached as high as 73.5°C (164.3°F).
Unusually high temperatures were also recorded across elevated regions of western China. An AWS at 1 925 m (6 316 feet) above sea level in western Sichuan Province recorded a temperature of 42.2°C (108°F), while an AWS at 2 400 m (7 874 feet) in Mangkang County, Tibet, reported 37.6°C (99.7°F). These readings set new historical benchmarks for their respective regions.
Local authorities in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces reported record-high provincial electricity loads as well. Jiangsu’s grid exceeded 1.52 billion kilowatts, with demand supported by newly commissioned high-efficiency coal units and long-distance interregional power imports exceeding 30 million kilowatts. In Zhejiang, the July 16 load reached 126 million kilowatts, with projections nearing 133 million kilowatts under continued high-temperature conditions.
Nationwide, the Chinese grid responded with increased solar and hydropower contributions, bolstered by over 100 million kilowatts of installed renewable capacity in certain provinces. Authorities deployed real-time flexible scheduling, including time-of-use pricing, industrial demand curtailment, and public energy-use guidance, to mitigate strain during peak hours.
References:
1 China’s record-breaking heat pushes power demand to new high – Reuters – July 17, 2025
I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.
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