Renewable Energy Development In China Research Articles

One region's gain is another's loss: The impact of market segmentation on renewable energy development in China

Current research has focused on the effects of policy and economic factors on renewable energy (RE) development but has ignored the effects of market segmentation. We developed a two-stage Cournot equilibrium model to explore the relationship between the market segmentation behaviors of local governments and their effects on RE development. We empirically tested the spatial effects of market segmentation by using a spatial Durbin model based on panel data of Chinese provinces from 2006 to 2020. The results are as follows. (1) There are positive spatial dependences among the RE development in the provinces. Most provinces show a “high-high” or “low-low” spatial agglomeration pattern. (2) Market segmentation caused by local protection can promote local RE development but significantly inhibits the development of RE in neighboring regions, i.e., one region's gain is another's loss. The inhibition is much greater than the local development, thus hindering overall RE development. (3) Regions with more stringent environmental regulations have greater incentives to adopt the market segmentation strategy in order to promote local RE development. (4) Market segmentation can increase the degree of local capital and labor mismatch, thereby promoting local RE development and hindering RE development in neighboring regions.

A comparative well-to-wheel analysis of renewable energy pathways for hydrogen and battery electric vehicles

Renewable hydrogen and batteries are pivotal not only for promoting renewable energy adoption but also for serving as key components in electric vehicles. While multiple hydrogen-based and battery-based pathways exist for linking renewable energy to automotive powertrains, comprehensive evaluations of them are lacking, especially in the context of long-distance energy transmission in China. This study aims to fill this gap by offering an in-depth well-to-wheel (WTW) analysis of costs and CO2 emissions across various pathways. The pathways involve two energy storage mediums - hydrogen and battery, five transport options, and three automotive powertrains - Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle (ICEV), Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), and Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV). How the electricity price, storage duration, and transport distance influence these pathways is also examined. The results show that the battery-based pathway offers the lowest WTW cost and CO2 emissions in BEV applications. Hydrogen-based pathways are not economically feasible for ICEVs. Importantly, the indirect use of hydrogen in BEVs - H2 for power generation - outperforms its direct use in FCEVs and ICEVs in both cost and emissions. The battery-based pathway is significantly affected by storage duration and becomes less feasible for durations exceeding one day. The most cost-efficient hydrogen transport methods are identified for different transport distances and electricity prices. This research may provide valuable insights for the planning of the hydrogen industry, automotive decarbonization and renewable energy development in China.

Peak-shaving cost of power system in the key scenarios of renewable energy development in China: Ningxia case study

Renewable energy has developed rapidly in Ningxia, and it has become the first provincial power system in China whose renewable energy power generation output exceeds the power load of the whole region. The access of a high proportion of renewable energy puts forward higher requirements for the peak-shaving capacity of the Ningxia power system. In order to solve the problem of calculating the peak-shaving cost in the key scenarios of renewable energy development in Ningxia, a quantitative model of the peak-shaving cost of the power system considering time-of-use price is proposed. We take Ningxia power system as an example to study. First, the key scenarios of the Ningxia power system peak-shaving are obtained, and the technical cost characteristic boundaries of various peak-shaving resources are determined. Second, according to the characteristics of typical daily renewable energy and load in Ningxia, the quantification model of the power system peak-shaving cost is established. The model takes the minimum total cost of the power system as the objective function and considers the constraints such as technical output of thermal power units, charge-discharge characteristics of energy storage and time-of-use price mechanism. Finally, the model is solved and the peak-shaving cost and unit output under the optimal scheme are obtained. This example shows that the model can effectively evaluate the peak-shaving cost and unit output of the Ningxia power system under the key scenarios of peak-shaving.

How does green finance promote renewable energy technology innovation? A quasi-natural experiment perspective

The importance of green finance policies, particularly in the realm of innovation in renewable energy technologies, should not be overlooked while assessing the advancement of renewable energy development in China. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of green finance reform initiatives on the promotion of renewable energy technology innovation (RETI) within cities of China. To accomplish this objective, this study employs the 2017 Green Finance Reform and Innovation Pilot Zones (GFRIPZ) policy as a quasi-natural experiment. A difference-in-differences (DID) model is employed to construct the study framework. The research findings highlight that the implementation of pilot zones has resulted in a substantial and favorable influence on RETI. Moreover, the observable effectiveness of this phenomenon in fostering RETI is predominantly observed in the eastern region of China, small-scale cities, and locations characterized by stringent environmental restrictions. Additionally, our findings demonstrate that this particular policy has an indirect impact on promoting RETI. This is achieved through the improvement of the allocation of financial resources dedicated to green initiatives. These insights offer valuable guidance for policymakers aiming to promote sustainable energy innovation and green development.

The rising role of artificial intelligence in renewable energy development in China

Exploring the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in renewable energy (RE) development is pivotal for seizing technological opportunities and achieving climate objectives. This study uses wavelet analysis to examine the correlation between AI and RE in China. Our findings indicate a co-movement between AI and RE from 2014 to 2016 and a positive influence from AI to RE emerging from late 2018 to 2022. This suggests that AI acts as a facilitator for China's energy transition. Nevertheless, this effect is not constant; it becomes more pronounced with advancements in AI technology. These outcomes align with the techno-economic paradigms framework, implying that China can benefit from AI breakthroughs to accelerate its energy transition. Future policy efforts may focus on fostering collaboration among the government, businesses, and universities to promote AI and RE development.

An Empirical Study of Economic Growth Target on Renewable Energy Development in China

Countries may improve renewable energy support policies in the context of economic growth aims and supporting renewable energy development by examining the link between economic growth target(EGT)and renewable energy development(RED). This study explores the effects of economic growth objectives on the development of renewable energy sources and the moderating function of government-market interactions using panel data collected from 30 provinces between 2003 and 2019. The results show that the economic growth objective has an inverted U-shaped effect on the expansion of renewable energy, and all of these findings pass the significance test at the 1% level. The endogeneity and robustness tests are conducted using the one-stage lag approach for explanatory factors, replacement of explained variables, and instrumental variables. The findings indicate that the "inverted U-shaped" relationship between the goal of economic growth and the advancement of renewable energy is steady and that the lag will eventually shorten. Additionally, excessive economic growth can harm interactions between the government and the market, which would hinder the advancement of renewable energy.

Studying the nexus of green financing and sustainable development in China: Role of socioeconomic influences

The paper explores the concept of “green finance” and its role in addressing environmental issues through diverse funding strategies in China. It analyzes the factors driving renewable energy development in China from 2005 to 2022 using a unique method called “christened plate cointegration” and connectedness modeling. The study highlights the significance of encouraging environmentally responsible financing and involving private sector businesses in regional and global growth for long-term sustainability. The paper emphasizes the importance of cross-country dependence (CD) as a metric for analyzing interconnectedness between studied countries and suggests isolating the pass dependence for an impartial CD analysis. The study demonstrates that an increase in renewable energy usage leads to a rise in trademark registrations and financial development applications, and private sector involvement corresponds to the rise in trademarks and patents. Overall, the study emphasizes the significance of green financing in mitigating climate change and advancing sustainable growth, as well as the role played by private enterprises in local, national, and global development.

Not all are alike: Assessing the effect of geopolitical risk on regional renewable energy development in China

Frequent recent episodes of geopolitical risk have spurred scholarly interest in its economic and environmental implications. Compared with previous research, this study constructed a panel data set of China's 30 provinces/municipalities to assess how geopolitical risk affects the development of renewable energy. The results of both linear and nonlinear analysis reveal that the effect of geopolitical uncertainty is not alike and is region- and state-dependent. Compared to its effect in China's eastern and central regions, geopolitical risk exerts a negative effect on renewable energy development in the western region. This negative effect tends to be more pronounced in areas characterized by relatively weak economic and social conditions. We also observe a threshold effect between them, as geopolitical risk typically weakens (enhances) renewable energy development when the economic condition is at a lower (higher) level. Finally, a sound financial system oriented toward “going green” and a stronger environment of technological innovation lessen the harmful effect of geopolitical risk. These findings provide targeted insights for policymakers seeking to improve local economic conditions, promote energy transition, balance regional energy inequality, and realize sustainable development.

Development and Prospects of China's Renewable Energy Export Trade under the Belt and Road Policy

Under the trend of economic globalization, the cost of renewable energy development has been decreasing globally, and renewable energy development has become the focus. But since 2018 the trade war between China and the United States has been escalating, and China's renewable energy development has been hindered by the United States because China's core technology is still not fully mastered. How to deal with related issues is crucial for China's development. The article uses literature analysis to analyze the impact of the US-China trade war and China's own overcapacity problem on China's renewable energy development, and to provide countermeasures to address the corresponding problems. This paper argues that the sustainable development of China's renewable energy industry faces three basic problems, which are restricted by the trade barriers of the US-China trade war, the lack of some core technologies, and the potential overcapacity problem in the future. In order to achieve sustainable development of renewable energy in China, it is suggested seizing the opportunity of the Belt and Road policy development with energy cooperation as the key area of development. By analyzing the various factors affecting the development of China's renewable energy industry, and by giving suggestions and countermeasures, this paper hopes to give a comprehensive understanding of the development history and prospects of the renewable energy industry in China and provide reliable suggestions for the development of related industries in China.

Trends and Status of Renewable Energy Power Generation in China

Energy is an essential and critical material foundation for economic development, contributing to the rapid growth of the economy and playing an integral role. In today's world, the revolution of energy resources is an imperative task. This is due to the continuous decline in the reserves of traditional energy resources worldwide, such as the urgent need for reserves of fossil energy resources, and the worsening global greenhouse effect and excessive greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, energy resources need to undergo a restructuring, with the key focus on diversification, efficiency, and cleanliness. Currently, several countries, including China, are either planning or actively developing a low-carbon or even zero-carbon energy system. Furthermore, they are accelerating the revolution of energy consumption and production.China is becoming an essential contributor and guide to the transformation of the world's energy revolution, alongside the realization and improvement of this new energy system.Given this context, the inadequacies in China's ability to support renewable energy are identified by examining China's development objectives. The discussion covers the quantity of renewable power produced, the extent of its consumption and restrictions placed upon it. The present state of renewable energy development in China is viewed through a market-oriented approach. Additionally, the current state and future Development plans of renewable energy generation in China are assessed by considering the legal framework and policy instruments involved.

The impact of environmental regulation on renewable energy development in China from the perspective of spatial effects.

From a spatial perspective, this paper constructs a spatial Durbin model based on the adjacent weight matrix to analyze the impact of environmental regulation on the development of renewable energy in 30 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government) in China from 2007 to 2020. The results show that (1) both environmental regulation and renewable energy development have positive spatial autocorrelation and form relatively similar spatial agglomeration areas, specifically showing the characteristics of "high-high" agglomeration in resource-rich areas and "low-low" agglomeration in resource-scarce areas. (2) Environmental regulation significantly promotes the development of local renewable energy and has a significant spatial spillover effect on the development of renewable energy in neighboring provinces. (3) The moderating effect results show that renewable energy installed capacity and electricity demand play an inverse moderating role between environmental regulation and renewable energy development. (4) From the perspective of different regions, the impact of environmental regulation on the development of renewable energy is heterogeneous. Based on the research conclusions, this paper finally provides corresponding policy suggestions from three aspects: regional cooperation, technical support, and differentiation.

Regional sustainable and renewable energy development in China: A comprehensive assessment and influencing factors

In order to address regional energy imbalances, it is necessary to assess Sustainable and Renewable Energy (SRE) development and to explore its influencing factors. However, existing literature only focused on one part of the aforementioned solutions, and remained controversial, especially in China. Based on provincial panel data from 2005 to 2020 in China, this study utilized the information entropy method to construct a comprehensive evaluation system for regional SRE development, and a panel model with fixed effects was established, with this composite score as the dependent variable, and with economic, demographic, environmental, and technological factors as independent variables. The results showed regional SRE development deepened from the western to the eastern part of China, and over time. The empirical evidence indicated that the significant positive predictors of SRE development were disposable income per capita, dependency ratio, urbanization rate, railroad mileage, and technology market turnover while the value added of secondary sectors had a significant negative impact on SRE development. No empirical evidence supported the significant association between chemical oxygen demand emissions and SRE development. The founding can provide data support and theory references for policymakers of energy sectors.

The impact of digital economy on renewable energy development in China

Digital economy has been the essential driving force for green development and energy transition, while the role of digital economy in the development of renewable energy remains limited. This paper explores how digital economy development alters renewable energy in China. Based on the panel data of 31 provinces and the fixed effects model, this paper finds a positive association between digital economy and renewable energy development. The digital economy exhibits a stronger positive impact on hydro energy compared to wind energy and solar energy. Local government intervention can enhance the positive association between digital economy and hydro energy development, while reducing the positive effect of digital economy on wind energy and solar energy development. We also find that digital economy produces larger promoting effects on renewable energy development in the central and western provinces compared with the eastern provinces.

Large-scale renewable energy brings regionally disproportional air quality and health co-benefits in China

Developing renewable energy could jointly reduce air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and bring air pollution-related health co-benefits. However, the temporal and sub-national distributions of investment costs and human health co-benefits from renewable energy deployment remain unclear. To investigate this gap, we linked multiple models for a more comprehensive assessment of the economic-environmental-health co-benefits of renewable energy development in China. The results show that developing renewable energy can avoid 0.6 million premature mortalities, 151 million morbidities, and 111 million work-loss days in 2050. Meanwhile, the human health and economic co-benefits vary substantially across regions in China. Renewable energy can undoubtedly bring health and economic co-benefits. Nevertheless, the economic benefits lag considerably behind the high initial investment cost, first negative in 2030 (-0.6 trillion Yuan) and then positive in 2050 (2.9 trillion Yuan). Hence, renewable energy deployment strategy must be carefully designed considering the regional disparities.

Current Status of Renewable Energy Development in China and its Environmental Impact

Based on the “double carbon” proposal, the application area of renewable energy is becoming more and more extensive. The development of renewable energy sources inevitably has some drawbacks and even environmental impacts. In this paper, we analyze solar, hydro, geothermal and wind energy, and further explore their applications and impacts on the environment. The current renewable energy sources include solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, hydrogen and many others. These energy sources are frequently used to generate electricity in order to reduce the pollution caused by fossil fuels. At present, solar-related industries can pollute water and soil during production. The use of water energy requires the construction of power stations or dams, causing disruptions to fish migration and damaging watershed ecosystems. Wind power generation relies mainly on wind turbines, which generate noise that affects human life and hinders the survival of birds due to their large size. The application of geothermal energy has the potential to produce thermal and air pollution, and even lead to geological disasters. There is no denying that these energies pose many problems that cannot be ignored, so this paper intends to attract more scholars to pay attention to renewable energy and its drawbacks, and to further improve the use of renewable energy and reduce its environmental impacts by exploring. During China's energy development, hydrogen energy should be given priority since it has different advantages over other renewable energy in aerospace, electricity, and new energy vehicles, etc.

Carbon neutrality and renewable energy development in China

ABSTRACT Building a new type of power system with wind and solar as the dominant body of sources is expected to play the key role for China to achieve carbon neutrality. Transiting from the fossil fuel dominating power system to a renewable dominating system requires both the technology progress and the institutional changes. The total direct investment cost of China’s power system decarbonization is estimated to be about 67.6 trillion yuan, which consists of new wind and solar power capacity, energy storage facilities, and transmission lines. The electricity storage technology is the key factor to affect the transitional costs. Meanwhile, institutional changes are needed to adapt to the high penetration of wind and solar to cope with the new challenges the renewable brings, namely the flexibility, adequacy and affordability. China’s market-oriented reform should move to the direction of establishing a real unified national market system to achieve the integration of high percentage of renewables.

How to optimize allocation of renewable portfolio standards for renewable energy development in China?

A renewable portfolio standard is implemented to promote the development of renewable energy at a minimum cost through tradable green certificate market mechanism. Formulating a scientific and feasible renewable energy quota allocation scheme helps RPS function smoothly and optimize resource allocation. This paper proposed a bi-level programming model combined with entropy weight method to allocate renewable portfolio standard quotas with provincial heterogeneity and stakeholders' behavior, and an optimized quota allocation scheme among China's 30 provinces in 2020 was obtained. By comparing with the government's issued scheme, the following were the results under the optimized scheme: (1) Quotas in most provinces have increased, and the responsibility for renewable electricity generation is shared with the provinces with developed economy and well-constructed transmission facilities, where electricity producers can meet the quotas by purchasing tradable green certificate. (2) Quota allocation has positive effects on energy, economy, and environment. Specifically, the non-hydro renewable electricity generation increased by 43.8%, the non-hydro renewable electricity producers' profit increased by 18.4%, and the environmental pollution cost reduced by 27.9%. (3) Quota allocation equity measured by the environmental Gini coefficient increased by 14.3%. Based on these findings, some policy implications related to quota allocation and renewable portfolio standard's institutional arrangement have been put forward.

Regional differences, distribution dynamics, and convergence of renewable energy development in China

Regional differences, distribution dynamics, and convergence of renewable energy development in China

ВОЗОБНОВЛЯЕМАЯ ЭНЕРГЕТИКА КИТАЯ: ТЕНДЕНЦИИ, НОВАЦИИ, ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ

The article examines the main trends and specifics of renewable energy development in China in the context of the current transformation of the global energy economy. The author identifies the factors promoting rapid growth of key sectors of green energy, describes the priority areas of R&D and innovative technological transformations in this field in China, and provides data on the volume and structure of their financing. A comparative analysis of the capacity factor and LCOE of various generation technologies in China and a number of other countries was carried out, and the prospects and problems of further development of China’s renewable energy on the way to carbon neutrality were considered.

A Review on Renewable Energy Transition under China’s Carbon Neutrality Target

To achieve their carbon peak and carbon neutrality target, China’s energy transition is seen as the most important instrument. Despite the rapid growth of renewable energy in China, there are still many challenges. Based on the review of the contemporary literature, this paper seeks to present an updated depiction of renewable energy in the Chinese context. The potential, status quo, and related policy of China’s renewable energy are thoroughly investigated. The challenges facing renewable energy development under the carbon neutrality target are analyzed, including enormous transition urgency and pressure, technology, and policy issues. Then, coping strategies are proposed to guide the direction of renewable energy development. Technology paths and policy recommendations are presented. This paper contributes to technology developing and policymaking by providing a comprehensive, thorough, and reliable review of renewable energy development in China.