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Portfolio of China's renewable energy legal measures: Conflicts in application and functional harmonization

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  • Fan, Mingming
  • Liu, Linlin

Abstract

As reforms to the Chinese green power market progress, renewable energy generation continues to increase. Specifically, it includes price safeguard measures represented by Renewable Energy Power Generation Subsidies (REPGS) and quantity safeguard measures represented by Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) and Renewable Electricity Consumption Quota (RECQ). However, a descriptive analysis was conducted on the extracted data revealed that such measures did not achieve the desired goals. Based on the legal perspective, this paper argues that there are three reasons for this gap: (1) Conflict of legal subjects between subsidies for renewable energy generation and subsidies for REC, (2) Mixed legal nature of diversified RECs, (3) conflict between the legal functions of REC and RECQ. A different strategy is required here. This includes clarifying the legal responsibility of grid companies, and defining the environmental benefit value and green financial attributes of REC. Hence, it will accelerate the development of renewable energy power generation, laying the foundation for realizing ‘carbon peaking and carbon neutrality’ and guaranteeing China's energy security and sustainable development.

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  • Fan, Mingming & Liu, Linlin, 2025. "Portfolio of China's renewable energy legal measures: Conflicts in application and functional harmonization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:320:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225010199
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.135377
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