Metalnewsnet 13 May ：

Reuters quoted official data showed that China power generation in April increased 21.4%YoY from a year earlier to 331.64 billion kilowatt hours extending recent rapid growth as demand from industries especially power intensive sectors was strong.

The rate, however, could have been moderately distorted by a comparatively low base figure a year earlier when the world third largest economy had yet to fully recover from the global slowdown. In addition chillier than usual weather in April also drove up power use by electric heaters and air conditioners in parts of China.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics acceleration in heavy industry growth, drought in southwest China and cooler weather all contributed to fast power output increase.

The data showed output from thermal power plants mostly coal fired surged 25.6% from a year earlier while production by hydropower stations dropped 1.1%.

Electricity output from wind farms, which is a minor source, compared with thermal and hydro plants soared 103.2% to 3.13 billion kWh amounting to near 60 percent of the generation levels of nuclear plants.

Wind power capacity installation has been growing rapidly in recent years.

In the first four months, overall power production increased 21.5% on year but wind power output soared 101.4% to 11.56 billion kWh.

( from Reuters)