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How much power does AI actually use? And why are there two official numbers?

Topic · data as_of 2026-10-13 · six topics, 2,415 records total

42 recordsstructured records in this topic
A-grade 92.9%confidence A share (39/42)
2026-10-12data updated (data.json exported_at)

Key figures

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NEA basisCAICT basis0 100m kWh462 100m kWh924 100m kWh1386 100m kWh1848 100m kWh2310 100m kWh17001960Compute-centre electricity use (2025)
How much power does AI use? Why there are two official numbers
The two official figures: NEA 170 bn kWh (1.6% of national electricity), CAICT about 196 bn kWh (+18.1% YoY) — roughly 15% apart. We present both, choose neither and average nothing: choosing one would make an unfounded call for the reader. The gap likely comes from scope (self-supply, edge facilities).
Source: National Energy Administration · CAICT · Trustbase Lab tbm-155 / tbm-156 · confidence A · as_of 2026-10
Anchor: #fig-en-compute-dual · trustbaselab.com/en/compute/
Two measured baselines; thresholds in the note belowChina's very large facilities (average)1.34EU database weighted average1.36Unit: PUE (lower is better)
What counts as a good PUE: two baselines, three thresholds
Measured: China's very large compute facilities average PUE 1.34 (end-2025, tbm-152); the EU data centre database's weighted average is 1.36 (tbm-180). Thresholds: EU rating PUE ≤1.15 = A, >1.9 = G (tbm-181); Singapore DC-CFA2 requires PUE ≤1.25 (tbm-183). Only ~1.8% of reported EU waste heat was recovered (tbm-182).
Source: NDRC/MIIT citations · EU data centre database · Trustbase Lab tbm-152 / tbm-180 ~ tbm-183 · confidence A · as_of 2026-10
Anchor: #fig-en-compute-pue · trustbaselab.com/en/compute/
2026-03 snapshot2026-08 snapshot0 CNY1 CNY2 CNY3 CNY4 CNY5 CNY6 CNY7 CNY8 CNY9 CNY1.510.612024 vintage5.713.212025 vintage7.766.322026 vintage
Green certificate prices rise with the production year
Certificates are priced by the vintage of the electricity: the 2026-03 snapshot gives 1.51 / 5.71 / 7.76 CNY for 2024/2025/2026 vintages; by 2026-08 these fell to 0.61 / 3.21 / 6.32. Both snapshots are declining — the premium on older vintages is narrowing.
Source: National Energy Administration · Trustbase Lab tbm-160 ~ tbm-163 · confidence A · as_of 2026-08
Anchor: #fig-en-compute-green · trustbaselab.com/en/compute/
Policy chain + demand growth: compute and power converge hereCompute-power c…first time, 2026 (…Four-ministry a…29 key tasks (tbm-…First 51 high-v…NEA 'AI + ene…Green power dir…certificates bundl…Ulanqab project…first green-power …Token calls up …100bn → 100tn → 14…
Compute-power coordination: from concept to rollout
The chain: written into the Government Work Report → 29 tasks across four ministries → 51 scenarios → green direct-connection framework → first integrated project online. Demand exploded along the way: daily token calls grew over 1,000-fold in two years.
Source: State Council · four-ministry plan · Trustbase Lab tbm-142 ~ tbm-147 / tbm-165 / tbm-168 · confidence A · as_of 2026-10
Anchor: #fig-en-compute-synergy · trustbaselab.com/en/compute/

Questions practitioners ask

Six real questions; every answer lands on specific records.

How much electricity does AI use?

Two official figures: 170 bn kWh (NEA basis) and about 196 bn kWh (CAICT basis).

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Why are there two official numbers?

Different statistical scopes (self-supply, edge facilities) — presented side by side, not averaged.

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What counts as a good PUE?

China's very large facilities average 1.34; the EU weighted average is 1.36; EU rating A requires ≤1.15.

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How is green power trading priced?

Certificates are priced by production vintage: 2026 vintage at 6.32 CNY (August 2026 snapshot).

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What is 'compute-power coordination'?

It entered China's Government Work Report in 2026; four ministries followed with 29 tasks.

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Where have data-centre policies landed?

See the policy milestones: eight hubs under 'East Data, West Computing', with green direct-connection spreading locally.

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Key numbers

All drawn from structured records; basis in parentheses.

42records in this topic
1,700compute electricity, NEA (100m kWh)
1,960compute electricity, CAICT (100m kWh)
1.34China very large facility average PUE
328.5 bngreen power traded in 2025 (kWh)
6.322026-vintage certificate price (CNY)
140 tndaily token calls
29tasks in the four-ministry plan

Records

Record IDNameJurisdictionIssuerEffectiveConfidence
tbm-142'Compute-power coordination' enters the Government WorChinaState Council (Government Work2026-03A
tbm-143Four-ministry action plan on mutual empowerment of AI ChinaNDRC, NEA, MIIT and National D2026-04-08A
tbm-144NEA releases first list of 51 high-value 'AI + energy'ChinaNational Energy Administration2026-05-26A
tbm-145'East Data, West Computing' launched in 2022: eight naChina—2023A
tbm-146Green data centre action plan: green power share aboveChina—2024A
tbm-147Green power direct connection framework: certificates China—2026A
tbm-148Over 13.73 million standard racks in use by end-2025ChinaNational Data Administration2025-12-31A
tbm-149Intelligent computing capacity at 1.59 million PFlops ChinaNational Data Administration2025-12-31A
tbm-150Eight hubs hold 1.388m PFlops of intelligent computingChinaNational Data Administration2025-12-31A
tbm-151National integrated compute network platform monitors ChinaNational Data Administration2025-12-31A
tbm-152Average PUE of China's very large compute facilities fChinaNational Data Administration2025-12-31A
tbm-153Over 160 compute facilities reach 4A or above in greenChinaNational Data Administration2025-12-31A

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Trustbase Lab, Compute & energy (English site, batch E), records tbm-142 … tbm-185 (42 records), as_of 2026-10-13
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Trustbase Lab, 'Compute-power coordination' enters the Government Work Report for the first time (2026), record ID tbm-142, as_of 2026-03, confidence A, source: State Council (Government Work Report)
State Council (Government Work Report) · Policy milestone · Published
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Trustbase Lab, Four-ministry action plan on mutual empowerment of AI and energy: 29 tasks, record ID tbm-143, as_of 2026-04-08, confidence A, source: NDRC, NEA, MIIT and National Data Administration
NDRC, NEA, MIIT and National Data Administration · Policy document · Published
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Trustbase Lab, NEA releases first list of 51 high-value 'AI + energy' scenarios, record ID tbm-144, as_of 2026-05-26, confidence A, source: National Energy Administration
National Energy Administration · Policy document · Published
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