China's Power Generation Growth Slows in October

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources China (Beijing, China)--Power generation growth in China slowed in October after rising in September, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Power generation in October totaled 444.6 billion kilowatt hours (kWh), or a daily average output of 14.34 billion kWh, a 1.9% increase over the same month last year, according to the bureau. Power generation in September had grown by 4.1% from a year earlier. With the exception of September, China's growth in power generation has slowed during the second half of 2014.

Thermal power output in October fell 5.8% from a year earlier to 320.6 billion kWh, while hydropower generation reached 96.7 billion kWh, a jump of 34.7% from a year earlier.

China's electricity output for the first 10 months of the year reached 4.52 trillion kWh, an increase of 4.2% over the same period in 2013.Thermal power totaled 3.46 trillion kWh, an increase of 0.1% year over year; and hydropower reached 812.7 billion kWh, a jump of 22.3%.

Power generation growth has remained relatively low since July. Output even fell 2.2% in August from a year earlier.

Insiders believe that the current low growth in power generation reflects the current economic growth.

The China Electricity Council (CEC) predicted in late 2013 that power generation in China would grow by 7% to 7.5% this year. However, a recent report by the CEC said the economic development had entered into a "new constant state." A combination of the current macro-economic environment, and more pressure to conserve energy and reduce air pollution, is expected to restrain growth in electric power consumption, the report said. The CEC predicts that the weak demand in power consumption will extend into the fourth quarter.

It is expected that the national growth in power consumption will be about 3% in the fourth quarter, and full-year growth will be about 3.5% to 4% over 2013. National utilization of power generation equipment will be about 4,300 hours this year.

Industrial Info Resources is tracking more than 5,200 active power projects in China, and more than 2,200 operational power plants, including more than 1,600 active wind power projects and 600 operational windfarms.

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