China Ramping Up Renewable Power

China will ramp up electricity generated by renewable energy this summer and give priority to residential use as some regions are due to experience power shortages, a spokesman for the nation's central policy planner said at a news briefing.

"The maximum load on the power grid has increased from last summer, leading to tight electricity supplies in some regions. Utilities will increase power output. We will also improve long-distance transmission of electricity to support provinces that report shortages," said Meng Wei, spokesman for the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), on Friday.

"We will give priority to residents when there are power shortages," he said.

Some industrial plants in China are facing power rationing this year as more than 30 cities in central and northern parts of the country issue heat alerts, and the supply cannot meet surging demand.

China's May power consumption rose 11.4 percent from a year ago to 553.4 billion kilowatt hours (kWh), while power output grew 9.8 percent to 544.3 billion kWh. Two of China's main industrial provinces, Shandong and Guangdong, face power shortages this summer, authorities and grid officials warned at the end of May.

(Reporting by Meng Meng and Aizhu Chen; Editing by Tom Hogue)