National Energy Administration: For the first time, non-electric consumption will be included in the assessment of the minimum proportion of renewable energy consumption.

On June 22nd, relevant officials from the National Energy Administration answered questions from reporters regarding the "Implementation Measures for the Minimum Proportion Target of Renewable Energy Consumption and the Responsibility Weight System for Renewable Energy Electricity Consumption". It was mentioned that, compared to the previous assessment solely focusing on green electricity consumption, the "measures" for the first time include non-electric consumption in the assessment of the minimum proportion target for renewable energy consumption. This is also an important innovative measure in the "measures", with three main considerations: First, the Energy Law clearly puts forward relevant requirements. Second, it helps to solve the problem of electricity grid integration and promote better utilization of renewable energy. Third, it addresses the current challenge of non-electric utilization development and supports non-electric utilization as a core measure for development. It was mentioned that in recent years, emerging industries such as computing facilities, 5G base stations, and charging infrastructure have rapidly developed, with their electricity demand showing explosive growth, making them an important part of future electricity consumption growth. It is expected that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the annual average increase in national electricity consumption due to computing power will exceed 100 billion kilowatt-hours. Including these industries in the assessment will help accelerate the coverage of clean energy electricity in the total electricity consumption, injecting new momentum into the overall green and low-carbon development. The original text states: "Implementation Measures for the Minimum Proportion Target of Renewable Energy Consumption and the Responsibility Weight System for Renewable Energy Electricity Consumption" Order No. 42 for 2026 National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China Order Number 42 The "Implementation Measures for the Minimum Proportion Target of Renewable Energy Consumption and the Responsibility Weight System for Renewable Energy Electricity Consumption" have been approved by the 26th National Development and Reform Commission's Executive Meeting on December 26, 2025, and signed by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and the Ministry of Transport. They are hereby announced and will be implemented from August 1, 2026. Director of the National Development and Reform Commission: Zheng Zhejie Minister of Industry and Information Technology: Li Lecheng Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development: Ni Hong Minister of Transport: Liu Wei June 5, 2026 Relevant officials from the National Energy Administration answer questions from reporters on the "Implementation Measures for the Minimum Proportion Target of Renewable Energy Consumption and the Responsibility Weight System for Renewable Energy Electricity Consumption" Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration formulated and issued the "Implementation Measures for the Minimum Proportion Target of Renewable Energy Consumption and the Responsibility Weight System for Renewable Energy Electricity Consumption" (Order No. 42 of the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Transport), which will be implemented from August 1, 2026. In order to ensure the accurate understanding and implementation of the policy content by all relevant parties, the relevant officials of the National Energy Administration answered questions from reporters on the "measures". Question 1: What is the background and significance of the promulgation of the "measures"? Expanding renewable energy consumption and promoting renewable energy integration are key measures to promote the large-scale development and high-quality integration of renewable energy, as well as essential support for advancing the energy consumption revolution and helping achieve the peak carbon emissions target as scheduled. Since 2025, the Energy Law of the People's Republic of China has clearly stated that "the country shall set and decompose the minimum proportion target of renewable energy in energy consumption, improve the guarantee mechanism for renewable energy electricity consumption, and monitor, evaluate and assess the implementation of consumption and integration." To promote the high-quality development of renewable energy, it is necessary to guide and promote the optimal allocation of renewable energy nationwide, achieve high-quality integration while achieving a high proportion of access. In order to implement the requirements of the Energy Law, summarize the implementation experience of the renewable energy electricity integration responsibility weight system in the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, we have prepared and issued the "measures" to strengthen the integration of renewable energy integration and consumption responsibilities at the provincial level and in key energy-consuming industries. The "measures" are the top-level institutional design to implement the peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality targets in the field of energy. The "14th Five-Year Plan" period is the key period for achieving the peak carbon emissions target before 2030. The "measures" establish a new pattern of "rigid obligation on the consumption side + regional responsibility on the integration side", breaking down the macro requirements of the peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality targets into quantifiable and assessable rigid constraints, laying a solid institutional foundation for the energy green and low-carbon transformation in the "14th Five-Year Plan" and beyond. The "measures" are also an important leverage to promote integration and consumption. The integration weight responsibilities strengthen regional responsibilities, promote the optimal allocation of green electricity resources nationwide, and effectively promote the expansion of integration capacity; the minimum proportion targets of consumption responsibilities in key energy-consuming industries support the growth of the green consumption market, effectively promoting consumption level improvements. The "measures" are the core tool for promoting the high-quality development of renewable energy under market conditions. Establishing and improving the system of consumption and integration of renewable energy will help drive renewable energy development and construction from the demand side, guide the expectations of all sectors of society, further solve external development constraints, solidify the endogenous dynamic of market development, and promote the high-quality development of renewable energy. Question 2: How can we accurately understand the relationship between the minimum proportion target of renewable energy consumption and the responsibility weight for renewable energy electricity consumption? Renewable energy consumption is mainly achieved by users and is the ultimate goal of integration; renewable energy integration is mainly achieved through provincial-level coordination of renewable energy project development and grid construction to achieve physical electricity integration, laying the foundation for consumption. To ensure the completion of the minimum proportion target of renewable energy in energy consumption nationwide, it is necessary to comprehensively coordinate consumption and integration, pressing key energy-consuming industries to fulfill the minimum proportion targets of consumption, and pressing provincial-level coordination to fulfill the integration responsibilities. On the one hand, the minimum proportion target of renewable energy consumption is divided into electricity and non-electricity categories. The completion of the minimum proportion target for electricity consumption is calculated using the annual production electricity equivalent green certificates, as stipulated in the relevant regulations for non-fossil energy electricity consumption accounting; the completion of the minimum proportion target for non-electricity consumption is mainly calculated using heat, with specific accounting methods specified in the "measures". The "measures" specify that the State Energy Authority shall, together with relevant departments, identify key energy-consuming industries, establish specific renewable energy electricity or non-electricity consumption minimum proportion targets and transition periods, and monitor, evaluate and assess their implementation in relation to energy-saving and carbon reduction requirements and progress in their respective sectors, as outlined in the annual policy. In particular, for the minimum proportion target of non-electricity consumption, a comprehensive consideration of the development of non-electricity utilization industries and the construction of statistical accounting systems needs to be taken into account in order to conduct assessments at the appropriate time. On the other hand, the responsibility weight of renewable energy electricity integration is divided into total amount and non-hydropower weight categories, both using physical electricity accounting for integration. The national government monitors, evaluates and assesses the completion of electricity integration responsibilities for each provincial-level administrative region. Question 3: What are the main considerations for setting the minimum proportion target for renewable energy electricity consumption in key energy-consuming industries? In order to better implement the minimum proportion target for renewable energy electricity consumption, the "measures" adhere to the concept of combining overall and key aspects, specifying the monitoring and assessment of the minimum proportion target for consumption in key energy-consuming industries. Currently, we have already imposed green electricity consumption requirements on industries such as aluminum smelting, steel, cement, polysilicon, and nationally important hub data centers. The National Energy Administration, together with the relevant industry regulatory departments, will jointly determine the specific scope, indicator setting, and assessment requirements for key energy-consuming industries, focusing on industrial, building, and transportation sectors in the consumption-oriented areas. Firstly, focusing on key industries. In April of this year, the General Office and the State Council issued the "Comprehensive Evaluation and Assessment Measures for Achieving Peak Carbon Emissions and Carbon Neutrality", providing specific deployment for the comprehensive evaluation and assessment of peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality. Last May, the "Opinions on Promoting Green and Low-Carbon Transformation and Strengthening the Construction of a National Carbon Market" clearly stated the need to orderly expand the coverage of the national carbon emission trading market. Key energy-consuming industries will mainly cover industries with large energy consumption and high carbon emission intensity, better serving the comprehensive green transformation of the economy and society. Secondly, focusing on emerging fields. In recent years, emerging industries such as computing facilities, 5G base stations, charging infrastructure, and others have rapidly grown, with their electricity consumption showing explosive growth and becoming an important part of future electricity consumption growth. It is estimated that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the annual average increase in the national electricity consumption of computing power will exceed 100 billion kilowatt-hours. Including these industries in the assessment will help accelerate the coverage of clean energy electricity in total electricity consumption for the entire society, injecting new energy into the overall comprehensive green and low-carbon development. Thirdly, focusing on "Green Manufacturing Green". The manufacturing sectors of new energy industries such as polysilicon, lithium-ion battery production, etc., are key links and important support for building a green energy industrial chain. Including these industries in the assessment is primarily about implementing the requirements of integrated development, further promoting "Green Manufacturing Green", specifying the green energy consumption requirements for enterprises producing clean energy equipment, and gradually establishing a green industry supply chain with upstream-downstream carbon reduction synergy. Question 4: What are the main considerations for including non-electric utilization of renewable energy in the assessment? Compared to the previous assessment solely focusing on green electricity consumption, the "measures" for the first time include non-electric consumption in the assessment of the minimum proportion target of renewable energy consumption. This is also an important innovative measure in the "measures", with three main considerations: Firstly, the Energy Law clearly stipulates relevant requirements. The Energy Law implemented since 2025 specifically states that "the State Council, together with relevant departments, shall establish and organize the implementation of the minimum proportion target of renewable energy in energy consumption", which includes both renewable energy electricity consumption and non-electric consumption. Secondly, it helps solve the problem of electricity grid integration and promotes better utilization of renewable energy. Currently, grid integration pressure continues to increase, facing contradictions such as limited local integration capacity in resource-rich regions, growing constraints on large-scale long-distance external integration. Expanding the utilization pathways of non-electric renewable energy is necessary to alleviate grid integration pressure, solve electricity integration bottlenecks, and promote reliable substitution of renewable energy, opening up a new era of high-quality development. Thirdly, it addresses the current challenges of non-electric utilization development, supporting key measures for supporting non-electric utilization development. After many years of cultivation, industries such as green hydrogen and ammonia production in China have rapidly developed and now have the basis for large-scale development and utilization. By the first quarter of 2026, the annual production capacity of green hydrogen, green ammonia, green methanol, and sustainable aviation fuel in China is approximately 250,000 tons, 700,000 tons, 380,000 tons, and 1.7 million tons respectively. However, the competitive ability of non-electric renewable energy utilization markets is still weak, and the lack of effective transmission of green values and market expression requires further policy guidance to create stable demand. Including non-electric consumption in the assessment will help accelerate the stimulation of non-electric consumption demand, promote the rapid achievement of large-scale development, and provide strong support for expanding end-point decarbonization scenarios, building a new energy system, and constructing an energy-powerful country. In addition, in terms of specific implementation, we will proceed prudently in coordinating the actual development of non-electric renewable energy industries and the construction of statistical accounting systems. For those industries with relatively mature conditions, such as the production of renewable energy hydrogen and ammonia, they can be included in the monitoring and assessment scope earlier; for those industries still needing improvements in statistical accounting systems, such as renewable energy heating (cooling), they can be considered for inclusion in monitoring and assessment when conditions are suitable. In consideration of industry development requirements, assessments can initially be carried out based on the category of non-electric consumption, such as conducting separate assessments on the consumption of renewable energy hydrogen and ammonia by enterprises. Question 5: What optimizations and adjustments are made to the responsibility weight system for renewable energy electricity consumption in the "measures" compared to the current system? The core of the responsibility weight system for renewable energy integration is to set clear renewable energy electricity integration targets for each provincial-level administrative region to ensure the priority integration of green electricity through rigid constraints. In order to continue promoting the large-scale development and high-quality integration of renewable energy during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, it is necessary to further improve the weight system to better achieve development goals, enhance integration responsibilities, and promote resource allocation efficiency. In comparison to the previous system, the "measures" make three main optimizations to the weight system. Firstly, implementing zoning and classification methods. Considering the new situation and requirements faced by the overall development of renewable energy, the "measures" propose to establish a "zonal weight growth mechanism" and set incremental weights for different provinces. In principle, for regions with a low current weight level and a large future weight growth space, the annual increase in weight indicators should be appropriately raised; for regions with a high current weight level and a small future weight growth space, the annual increase in weight indicators should be appropriately lowered; for other regions, the annual increase in weight indicators should be maintained the same as the national average level. By setting differentiated weight indicators, it effectively promotes the optimal configuration and efficient integration of green electricity nationwide. Secondly, strengthening medium and long-term guidance. Cross-provincial and cross-regional power transmission channels, pumped storage power, and other facilities are important supports for ensuring the integration of wind and solar power, but these construction projects have relatively long construction cycles, requiring advance planning. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the integration responsibility weights were mainly allocated to current and subsequent year indicators, lacking sufficient guidance for the mid-to-long term development of renewable energy. The "measures" propose to "strengthen medium and long-term weight guidance". When allocating integration responsibility weights to provinces this year, we will also issue weight indicators for 2030 simultaneously with the 2026 weight indicators. Provinces can use this information to coordinate the arrangement of renewable energy generation projects, grid construction efforts, and energy storage construction, optimize the sequencing, strengthen coordination, and ensure the achievement of China's national renewable energy development goals for the "14th Five-Year Plan" period. Thirdly, reinforcing rigid requirements. In setting weight indicators, each province is required to meet the rigid annual growth requirements; in the accounting methods, actual electricity consumption completion is required, and if the actual integration electricity consumption cannot be completed, it can be supplemented through green certificate trading; in the evaluation methods, the assessment requirements are strengthened. For provinces that fail to meet their weight indicators, the national government may hold talks, issue notifications, and any uncompleted weight indicators will need to be transferred to the following year. Moreover, in consideration of the new situation and requirements, the "measures" have removed content such as "excess integration volume" and "incentive indicators" that are no longer applicable. Question 6: What specific measures are proposed in the "measures" to ensure effective implementation of the system? The "measures" mainly propose specific requirements in the following three areas. Firstly, clarification of work responsibilities. The "measures" state that the State Energy Authority, together with relevant departments, shall establish and implement the minimum proportion target for renewable energy consumption and the responsibility weight for renewable energy electricity consumption, and organizing implementation; Provincial energy authorities, under the leadership of the provincial party committee and government, together with relevant departments, are responsible for organizing implementation. Secondly, strengthening assessment rewards and punishments. Regarding penalty measures, key energy-consuming industry enterprises that fail to meet the minimum proportion target for renewable energy consumption are required to supplement it within three months of the target announcement through green certificate transactions, and if they still fail to meet it after the deadline, they should be subjected to talks, notifications, and lawful inclusion in their credit records. Provinces and regions that fail to meet the responsibility weight of renewable energy electricity integration should supplement it within three months of the announcement through trading green certificates corresponding to the annual production electricity, and if they still fail to meet it after the time period, they should be subject to talks, notifications, and the targets should be transferred to the next year accordingly. In terms of incentive measures, enterprises and provinces/regions with outstanding performance will be commended and praised by the State Energy Authority together with relevant departments, and policy support will be prioritized in subsequent work. Thirdly, strengthening process monitoring and supervision. The "measures" stipulate that the national government shall monitor the completion of indicators quarterly and evaluate them annually, explicitly stating that provinces shall not restrict the participation of new energy in inter-provincial power market transactions or cross-regional green certificate trading. In addition, the "measures" require the national Energy Administration and its subordinate agencies to strengthen supervision of the completion status in the regions under their supervision, and promptly report any major issues found during the supervision process. This text was selected from the National Development and Reform Commission, and edited by Chen Wenfang.