As China tries to battle an unprecedented heatwave this summer of 2025, power demand has hit all time highs for the entire country. Jiangxi province, for example, has averaged 21.7 days per year over the last four years where the daily maximum temperature is above 28 degrees Celsius. That’s an extreme increase from only five to seven days at the start of the century. The unbroken heat quickly moves off Jiangxi, further impacting even hotter southwestern cities like Chongqing and Chengdu. It even extends as far south as Guangzhou.
As the heat continues to roast the province, provincial temperature records have been broken 36 times since the start of this summer alone. On one particularly high–population scenario, China’s electricity load reached 1.5 billion kilowatts, which would be an all–time record for electricity use under any circumstances. Against this backdrop of increasing challenges, the government is increasing the pressure to ensure sustainable supply of energy is maintained.
Surge in Power Demand
The ongoing heatwave has precipitated a significant surge in power demand, prompting authorities to closely monitor the electricity grid’s capacity. Solar in particular has had an outsized impact on this increasing demand. Just a month later, it played a key role in the largest collocation electricity generation increase on record. Compared to early 2023, production from hydropower has jumped significantly. Even with that, it doesn’t measure up to the levels we experienced in 2022.
Chim Lee, a senior energy and climate change specialist at the Economist Intelligence Unit, cautioned that the development was not yet a new paradigm.
“The power system is holding up so far, but the real test will come as the summer wears on, and there are still risks of potential power rationing.” – Chim Lee, a senior energy and climate change specialist at the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Extreme Weather Patterns
The extreme temperatures have been exacerbated by a subtropical high-pressure system that has caused eight weather stations to record their highest levels ever in mid-July. Chinese state media have extensively covered these unprecedented highs, detailing the outsize effect on daily life and energy use.
After two weeks of dangerous, extreme summer temperatures, forecasters are hoping for some relief as early as Monday, July 21. The outlook is wishy-washy at best. Meanwhile, a tropical depression located east of the Philippines is forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm, which will be given the name Wipha. Unfortunately, this storm is headed down a path that could make an already difficult energy situation worse. It’s currently crossing over Taiwan and on a direct path to southern China.
Broader Implications
The consequences of this unprecedented heatwave go far beyond short-term energy use. Rising energy needs could lead to governments implementing load-shedding or power rationing policies if the situation fails to improve. This crisis only further emphasizes the need for sustainable, resilient energy solutions that are able to endure increasingly chaotic, severe climate conditions.
It’s a challenging summer for China. As we move through these challenges, policymakers and energy experts are rightfully focused on both economic stability and public safety.