Xizang hits milestone in power use, clean energy

Xizang autonomous region's power sector reached a historic milestone in 2024, with total electricity consumption soaring to 15.41 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year surge of 13.93 percent, according to State Grid Xizang Electric Power Co.

Positioning itself as the fastest-growing region in China in terms of electricity consumption, Xizang's growth trajectory has been nothing short of impressive.

Notably, the primary industry witnessed a substantial 31.06 percent surge in electricity usage, while the secondary and tertiary industries experienced robust growth rates of 11.84 percent and 16.74 percent, respectively.

Concurrently, residential electricity consumption surged by 13.28 percent, all achieving double-digit growth figures, it said.

Hua Ming, deputy director of the company's development and planning department, said that by the end of 2024, Xizang had surpassed another significant milestone, with clean energy generation exceeding 99 percent in its total.

This remarkable feat virtually translates to full clean power supply, making Xizang the regional grid with the highest ratio of clean energy generation nationwide.

Furthermore, in a bid to contribute to environmental sustainability, Xizang successfully exported 15.81 billion kWh of clean energy in 2024, leading to a reduction of approximately 4.85 million metric tons of standard coal use, 13.58 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and 360,000 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions.

The region is poised for even greater accomplishments. "By 2050, Xizang will boast over 10 ultrahigh voltage transmission lines dedicated to clean energy exports, with an annual export volume exceeding a staggering 500 billion kWh," said Hua.

This ambitious vision underscores Xizang's unwavering commitment to sustainable energy practices and technological advancement.

Moreover, State Grid Xizang remains at the forefront of driving high-quality development in clean energy through cutting-edge technological innovations.

Key projects such as the expansion of the Qinghai-Xizang DC phase II project are being accelerated to further solidify Xizang's position as a trailblazer in the realm of clean energy and power grid development.

By optimizing the business environment and power supply services, the company has extended its reach to benefit 9,755 households and small enterprises, resulting in savings exceeding 29.45 million yuan ($4.05 million) in power application investments in recent years.

Furthermore, the company's "ease of getting power" indicator surged to second place in the region in 2024, reflecting its unwavering dedication to customer-centric services.

Xizang's outstanding achievements in clean energy and power grid development have not only set a new benchmark for sustainable development within China but have also served as a testament to the region's unwavering commitment to technological innovation and environmental stewardship.