IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v29y2014icp508-516.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A critical review of China's rapidly developing renewable energy and energy efficiency policies

Author

Listed:
  • Lo, Kevin

Abstract

Renewable energy and energy efficiency (REEE) policies have far-reaching implications for energy security, climate change, economic competitiveness, pollution, and human livelihood. For these reasons, REEE has become a national priority for the Chinese government, particularly since 2005. This paper aims to critically review China's REEE policies in six sectors: electricity, industry, transportation, buildings, and local government. In addition to examining the progress China has made in the development and implementation of REEE policies, this review also identifies limitations and room for improvement. Finally, five policy recommendations are presented.

Suggested Citation

  • Lo, Kevin, 2014. "A critical review of China's rapidly developing renewable energy and energy efficiency policies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 508-516.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:29:y:2014:i:c:p:508-516
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2013.09.006
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032113006655
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2013.09.006?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Démurger, Sylvie & Fournier, Martin, 2011. "Poverty and firewood consumption: A case study of rural households in northern China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 512-523.
    2. Zhao, Jing & Zhu, Neng & Wu, Yong, 2009. "Technology line and case analysis of heat metering and energy efficiency retrofit of existing residential buildings in Northern heating areas of China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 2106-2112, June.
    3. Huo, Hong & Yao, Zhiliang & He, Kebin & Yu, Xin, 2011. "Fuel consumption rates of passenger cars in China: Labels versus real-world," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(11), pages 7130-7135.
    4. Cai, Bofeng & Yang, Weishan & Cao, Dong & Liu, Lancui & Zhou, Ying & Zhang, Zhansheng, 2012. "Estimates of China's national and regional transport sector CO2 emissions in 2007," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 474-483.
    5. Lin, Boqiang & Jiang, Zhujun, 2011. "Estimates of energy subsidies in China and impact of energy subsidy reform," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 273-283, March.
    6. Hu, Junfeng & Kahrl, Fredrich & Yan, Qingyou & Wang, Xiaoya, 2012. "The impact of China's differential electricity pricing policy on power sector CO2 emissions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 412-419.
    7. Chen, Jinjin, 2011. "China's experiment on the differential electricity pricing policy and the struggle for energy conservation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(9), pages 5076-5085, September.
    8. Wang, Bing, 2007. "An imbalanced development of coal and electricity industries in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(10), pages 4959-4968, October.
    9. Zhao, Zhen-Yu & Zuo, Jian & Fan, Lei-Lei & Zillante, George, 2011. "Impacts of renewable energy regulations on the structure of power generation in China – A critical analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 24-30.
    10. Zhou, Nan & Fridley, David & McNeil, Michael & Zheng, Nina & Letschert, Virginie & Ke, Jing & Saheb, Yamina, 2011. "Analysis of potential energy saving and CO2 emission reduction of home appliances and commercial equipments in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(8), pages 4541-4550, August.
    11. Soren T. Anderson & Ian W. H. Parry & James M. Sallee & Carolyn Fischer, 2011. "Automobile Fuel Economy Standards: Impacts, Efficiency, and Alternatives," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 5(1), pages 89-108, Winter.
    12. Han, Jingyi & Mol, Arthur P.J. & Lu, Yonglong, 2010. "Solar water heaters in China: A new day dawning," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 383-391, January.
    13. Lo, Kevin & Wang, Mark Y., 2013. "Energy conservation in China’s Twelfth Five-Year Plan period: Continuation or paradigm shift?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 18(C), pages 499-507.
    14. Atabani, A.E. & Badruddin, Irfan Anjum & Mekhilef, S. & Silitonga, A.S., 2011. "A review on global fuel economy standards, labels and technologies in the transportation sector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(9), pages 4586-4610.
    15. Wagner, David Vance & An, Feng & Wang, Cheng, 2009. "Structure and impacts of fuel economy standards for passenger cars in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(10), pages 3803-3811, October.
    16. Lin, Boqiang & Jiang, Zhujun, 2012. "Designation and influence of household increasing block electricity tariffs in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 164-173.
    17. Wang, James J. & Rong, Chaohe & Xu, Jiang & Or, Sui Wai Oscar, 2012. "The funding of hierarchical railway development in China," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 26-33.
    18. Schuman, Sara & Lin, Alvin, 2012. "China's Renewable Energy Law and its impact on renewable power in China: Progress, challenges and recommendations for improving implementation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 89-109.
    19. Rigter, Jasper & Vidican, Georgeta, 2010. "Cost and optimal feed-in tariff for small scale photovoltaic systems in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(11), pages 6989-7000, November.
    20. Mabee, Warren E. & Mannion, Justine & Carpenter, Tom, 2012. "Comparing the feed-in tariff incentives for renewable electricity in Ontario and Germany," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 480-489.
    21. Runqing, Hu & Peijun, Sun & Zhongying, Wang, 2012. "An overview of the development of solar water heater industry in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 46-51.
    22. Austin, David & Dinan, Terry, 2005. "Clearing the air: The costs and consequences of higher CAFE standards and increased gasoline taxes," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 50(3), pages 562-582, November.
    23. Lin, Boqiang & Liu, Jianghua, 2011. "Principles, effects and problems of differential power pricing policy for energy intensive industries in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 111-118.
    24. Bertoldi, Paolo & Rezessy, Silvia & Anable, Jillian & Jochem, Patrick & Oikonomou, Vlasis, 2011. "Energy Saving Obligations and White Certificates: Ideas and Considerations for the Transport Sector," MPRA Paper 91624, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    25. Kostka, Genia & Shin, Kyoung, 2013. "Energy conservation through energy service companies: Empirical analysis from China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 748-759.
    26. Shen, Bo & Price, Lynn & Lu, Hongyou, 2012. "Energy audit practices in China: National and local experiences and issues," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 346-358.
    27. Leung, Guy C.K., 2011. "China's energy security: Perception and reality," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 1330-1337, March.
    28. Dong, C.G., 2012. "Feed-in tariff vs. renewable portfolio standard: An empirical test of their relative effectiveness in promoting wind capacity development," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 476-485.
    29. Wang, Zhongying & Qin, Haiyan & Lewis, Joanna I., 2012. "China's wind power industry: Policy support, technological achievements, and emerging challenges," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 80-88.
    30. de Jong, Martin & Mu, Rui & Stead, Dominic & Ma, Yongchi & Xi, Bao, 2010. "Introducing public–private partnerships for metropolitan subways in China: what is the evidence?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 18(2), pages 301-313.
    31. Price, Lynn & Wang, Xuejun & Yun, Jiang, 2010. "The challenge of reducing energy consumption of the Top-1000 largest industrial enterprises in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(11), pages 6485-6498, November.
    32. AfDB AfDB, . "Annual Report 2012," Annual Report, African Development Bank, number 461.
    33. Li, Li & Tan, Zhongfu & Wang, Jianhui & Xu, Jun & Cai, Chengkai & Hou, Yong, 2011. "Energy conservation and emission reduction policies for the electric power industry in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 3669-3679, June.
    34. Liu, Lanbin & Fu, Lin & Jiang, Yi & Guo, Shan, 2011. "Major issues and solutions in the heat-metering reform in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 673-680, January.
    35. Price, Lynn & Levine, Mark D. & Zhou, Nan & Fridley, David & Aden, Nathaniel & Lu, Hongyou & McNeil, Michael & Zheng, Nina & Qin, Yining & Yowargana, Ping, 2011. "Assessment of China's energy-saving and emission-reduction accomplishments and opportunities during the 11th Five Year Plan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 2165-2178, April.
    36. Chua, Shing Chyi & Oh, Tick Hui & Goh, Wei Wei, 2011. "Feed-in tariff outlook in Malaysia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 705-712, January.
    37. Marino, Angelica & Bertoldi, Paolo & Rezessy, Silvia & Boza-Kiss, Benigna, 2011. "A snapshot of the European energy service market in 2010 and policy recommendations to foster a further market development," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(10), pages 6190-6198, October.
    38. Trypolska, Galyna, 2012. "Feed-in tariff in Ukraine: The only driver of renewables' industry growth?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 645-653.
    39. Michael T. Rock, 2012. "What can Indonesia learn from China's industrial energy saving programs?," Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(1), pages 33-55, April.
    40. Chester, Lynne, 2010. "Conceptualising energy security and making explicit its polysemic nature," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 887-895, February.
    41. Rosenow, Jan, 2012. "Energy savings obligations in the UK—A history of change," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 373-382.
    42. Wang, Zhao & Jin, Yuefu & Wang, Michael & Wei, Wu, 2010. "New fuel consumption standards for Chinese passenger vehicles and their effects on reductions of oil use and CO2 emissions of the Chinese passenger vehicle fleet," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(9), pages 5242-5250, September.
    43. Zhang, Sufang & He, Yongxiu, 2013. "Analysis on the development and policy of solar PV power in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 393-401.
    44. Zhou, Nan & Levine, Mark D. & Price, Lynn, 2010. "Overview of current energy-efficiency policies in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(11), pages 6439-6452, November.
    45. Oliver, Hongyan H. & Gallagher, Kelly Sims & Tian, Donglian & Zhang, Jinhua, 2009. "China's fuel economy standards for passenger vehicles: Rationale, policy process, and impacts," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(11), pages 4720-4729, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mian Yang & Zheng Hu & Jiahai Yuan, 2016. "The recent history and successes of China's energy efficiency policy," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(6), pages 715-730, November.
    2. Zhao, Xiaofan & Li, Huimin & Wu, Liang & Qi, Ye, 2014. "Implementation of energy-saving policies in China: How local governments assisted industrial enterprises in achieving energy-saving targets," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 170-184.
    3. Zhang, Chuanguo & Nian, Jiang, 2013. "Panel estimation for transport sector CO2 emissions and its affecting factors: A regional analysis in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 918-926.
    4. Flavio Menezes & Xuemei Zhang, 2016. "Regulatory Incentives for a Low-Carbon Electricity Sector in China," Discussion Papers Series 562, School of Economics, University of Queensland, Australia.
    5. Lijun Zeng & Laijun Zhao & Qin Wang & Bingcheng Wang & Yuan Ma & Wei Cui & Yujing Xie, 2018. "Modeling Interprovincial Cooperative Energy Saving in China: An Electricity Utilization Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-25, January.
    6. He, Xiaoping & Reiner, David, 2016. "Electricity demand and basic needs: Empirical evidence from China's households," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 212-221.
    7. Ben Dror, Maya & Qin, Lanzhi & An, Feng, 2019. "The gap between certified and real-world passenger vehicle fuel consumption in China measured using a mobile phone application data," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 8-16.
    8. Ramli, Makbul A.M. & Twaha, Ssennoga, 2015. "Analysis of renewable energy feed-in tariffs in selected regions of the globe: Lessons for Saudi Arabia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 649-661.
    9. Zhou, Kaile & Yang, Shanlin & Shen, Chao & Ding, Shuai & Sun, Chaoping, 2015. "Energy conservation and emission reduction of China’s electric power industry," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 10-19.
    10. Wu, Libo & Huo, Hong, 2014. "Energy efficiency achievements in China׳s industrial and transport sectors: How do they rate?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 38-46.
    11. Lo, Kevin & Wang, Mark Y., 2013. "Energy conservation in China’s Twelfth Five-Year Plan period: Continuation or paradigm shift?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 18(C), pages 499-507.
    12. Atabani, A.E. & Badruddin, Irfan Anjum & Mekhilef, S. & Silitonga, A.S., 2011. "A review on global fuel economy standards, labels and technologies in the transportation sector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(9), pages 4586-4610.
    13. Liu, Yang & Wang, Yu & Huo, Hong, 2013. "Temporal and spatial variations in on-road energy use and CO2 emissions in China, 1978–2008," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 544-550.
    14. Zhao, Zhen-Yu & Chen, Yu-Long & Li, Heng, 2019. "What affects the development of renewable energy power generation projects in China: ISM analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 506-517.
    15. Azadian, Farshad & Radzi, M.A.M., 2013. "A general approach toward building integrated photovoltaic systems and its implementation barriers: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 527-538.
    16. Ming, Zeng & Ximei, Liu & Na, Li & Song, Xue, 2013. "Overall review of renewable energy tariff policy in China: Evolution, implementation, problems and countermeasures," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 260-271.
    17. Lo, Kevin, 2013. "Energy conservation in China's higher educationinstitutions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 703-710.
    18. Safarzadeh, Soroush & Rasti-Barzoki, Morteza & Hejazi, Seyed Reza, 2020. "A review of optimal energy policy instruments on industrial energy efficiency programs, rebound effects, and government policies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    19. Huo, Hong & He, Kebin & Wang, Michael & Yao, Zhiliang, 2012. "Vehicle technologies, fuel-economy policies, and fuel-consumption rates of Chinese vehicles," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 30-36.
    20. Ma, Ben & Zheng, Xinye, 2018. "Biased data revisions: Unintended consequences of China's energy-saving mandates," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 102-113.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:29:y:2014:i:c:p:508-516. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.