Evolution of Global Electricity Markets

Chapter 18

Reform Postponed

The Evolution of China’s Electricity Markets

Philip Andrews-Speed,    Principal Fellow, Energy Studies Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119620, Singapore

1 Introduction

China now has the world’s largest electrical power sector in terms of total capacity (more than 1000 GW) and annual output (nearly 5000 TWh). This arises from the size of the economy and of the population (1.4 billion) and from the rapid electrification, which has accompanied modernization (Figure 18.1). Coal has consistently provided 70–80% of the feedstock for power generation (Tables 18.1 and 18.2), and most of the coal production takes place in the north of the country, to the north and west of the capital, Beijing (Figure 18.2 ...