Interfax-China quoted the State Electricity Regulatory Commission said China hydropower output surged in July and August on higher than normal rainfall over the period.

According to the SERC, July hydropower output jumped 33.9%YoY to 91.6 terawatt hours while output in August rose 45.1% on an annual basis to 89.6 TWh. Output in the first eight months topped 468.5 TWh, up 20.9 percent from a year earlier.

Mr Liu Liye a hydropower researcher said “Hydropower is the biggest renewable energy source in China and will remain a key priority as the government focuses on reducing the use of fossil fuels in the energy mix.”

He said that “Nevertheless, hydropower is not a stable power source and production fluctuates with rainfall levels. Hydropower output in 2011 declined 5%YoY amid the biggest drought in decades which contributed to the major power shortages last year.

He added that “As a result China will continue to rely on stable thermal power as the main power supply source.”

China aims to raise installed hydropower capacity from 230 gigawatts at the end of 2011 to 290 GW by 2015.

Source - Interfax-China

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