人民日报丨去年中国用了超10万亿度电，意味着什么？

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights China's unprecedented electricity consumption, projected to exceed 10 trillion kilowatt-hours by 2025, which is more than double the annual electricity consumption of the United States and surpasses the total consumption of the EU, Russia, India, and Japan combined [2][6]. Group 1: Electricity Consumption Growth - China's electricity consumption is expected to grow from approximately 5.5 trillion kilowatt-hours in 2015 to over 10 trillion kilowatt-hours in 2025, indicating nearly a doubling in a decade [6]. - The rapid increase in electricity demand is exemplified by a recent surge of 150 million kilowatts over three days due to a cold wave, equivalent to Japan's maximum annual electricity load [6]. Group 2: Energy Self-Sufficiency and Infrastructure - Since the 14th Five-Year Plan, China's energy self-sufficiency rate has increased from around 80% to over 84%, establishing the world's largest renewable energy system [6]. - The article describes China's electricity infrastructure as a "powerful moat," built on strong foundational facilities and strategic planning, which has led to its recognition as a "power nation" [6]. Group 3: Planning and Coordination - China's electricity development model emphasizes "appropriate foresight," with planning cycles typically spanning 5-10 years, as evidenced by the State Grid's projected fixed asset investment of 4 trillion yuan for the 15th Five-Year Plan [7]. - The unified dispatch capability across a national electricity market allows for efficient energy resource allocation, addressing the challenge of energy distribution [9]. Group 4: Comparison with the U.S. and Europe - The U.S. faces significant challenges with aging infrastructure, where 70% of transformers are beyond their expected lifespan, leading to difficulties in updating facilities due to lengthy approval processes and high costs [11]. - The fragmented nature of the U.S. electricity grid, divided into three independent systems, hampers inter-regional electricity distribution [13]. - Europe also struggles with aging infrastructure, as highlighted by a major blackout affecting over 50 million people, revealing deep-seated issues within the European grid [14]. Group 5: Future of Electricity and AI - The article posits that electricity is becoming a strategic resource, essential for the development of artificial intelligence, with the competition for energy resources reflecting broader national capabilities [18]. - China's advancements in ultra-high voltage technology and renewable energy sources position it favorably in the global energy landscape, with over one-third of its electricity coming from green sources by 2025 [22]. Group 6: Challenges Ahead - Despite significant achievements, challenges remain for China's electricity sector, including insufficient profitability, ongoing structural optimization needs, and the necessity for sustained innovation investment [23].