Coal to power China’s push for more electricity

Hydropower will come second.

China’s five-year plan ending in 2015 envisions adding 520 GW to its current power production, expanding its capacity by 54%. Coal will be the primary source of energy in this increase.

Coal-fired plants will contribute 58% of the increase in 2015 to remain the largest contributor to China’s power generation. The share of coal in China’s total installed generation capacity, however, will decrease slightly from 68% in 2010 to 65% by 2015.

Hydropower will maintain its position as the second largest source of energy in China with a 19% estimated share by 2015.

Nuclear power capacity will expand significantly to almost quadruple by 2015. Wind power is planned to triple while gas-based power production is to double over the next five years.

Other estimates suggest that China’s coal power capacity will expand to 1,166.5 GW by the end of 2020 from 655 GW in 2010. This means that a total of 511.5 GW will be added over a period of ten years.