China's electricity use topped 10 trillion kWh in 2025, a new record. Behind the surge? A booming AI industry hungry for computing power, and the electricity to fuel it.

At this year's Two Sessions, a deputy of the National People's Congress – China's top legislature – is calling for stronger "power–computing coordination" to ensure the grid can keep up.

She proposes coordinating planning at the national level, boosting tech for reliable data center power, scaling up green energy + storage + computing projects in western China, and training more talent skilled in both power systems and digital tech.