China's power load hits record 1.518 TWh on July 10 amid AI data center surge

China's nationwide electricity load reached an all-time high on July 10, 2026, hitting 1.518 billion kilowatts, surpassing the previous record of 1.508 billion kilowatts set on July 17, 2025, according to the National Energy Administration. The increase of 150+ million kilowatts since the start of July is equivalent to Japan's entire power load. The regulator is now directing provincial authorities to implement supply plans for both routine and emergency scenarios to manage the growing demand.

The surge reflects AI data center deployment and EV charging competing for grid capacity in China. China's data center capacity is on track to reach roughly 40 gigawatts by end-of-year, up from 32 GW at end-2025, with projections reaching 60 GW by 2030. Between 2026 and 2030, data center electricity demand is projected to grow by 300–500 billion kilowatt-hours, representing 18% of China's total electricity demand growth—equivalent to the UK's annual power consumption at the low end.

For architects: China's peak-load record signals the infrastructure constraints intensifying globally. While China has added 400+ GW of generation capacity annually and enjoys cheaper renewable electricity than the US, even its aggressive grid expansion is struggling to keep pace with AI deployment. The record validates the broader market narrative: power has become the binding constraint on AI compute growth, not silicon. Enterprises deploying data centers must now view grid capacity as a primary site-selection factor, just as hyperscalers like Microsoft are signing 20-year direct power contracts.