On March 18, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced that five government agencies, including the NDRC, have jointly issued new guidelines to advance the renewable energy Green Power Certificate (GEC) market.
Source: Xinhua News Agency
China is stepping up efforts to promote green energy consumption. On March 18, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced that five government agencies, including the NDRC, have jointly issued new guidelines to advance the renewable energy Green Power Certificate (GEC) market. The document outlines 17 concrete measures to boost market supply, expand consumption demand, refine trading mechanisms, create more application scenarios, and promote international recognition of green certificates.
Building a well-functioning GEC market is a key step toward strengthening China’s green and low-carbon development framework and driving the country’s transition to a more sustainable economy. According to the guidelines, by 2027, a robust trading system will be in place, integrating both mandatory and voluntary green power consumption. A system for tracking, certifying, and labeling green electricity will be established, ensuring smoother coordination between green certificates and other regulatory mechanisms. The market’s potential will be further unlocked, and international applications of green certificates will steadily expand. By 2030, the GEC market will be fully mature, with a significant rise in voluntary green power consumption. The system will operate efficiently, facilitate global integration, and better reflect the environmental value of green electricity, providing strong support for the high-quality growth of renewable energy and a greener economy.
The guidelines call for accelerating the registration of renewable energy projects, with a target of processing all grid-connected projects from the previous month within the current month. To ensure free trade of green certificates across the country, local authorities are prohibited from imposing regional restrictions. The government also aims to refine the price formation mechanism, strengthen price monitoring, and develop a price index to guide the market toward sustainable growth.
To better meet diverse consumer demand for green energy, the policy proposes improvements to green certificate and power trading mechanisms, including enhanced pricing models, streamlined transactions, and a more efficient green power trading system.
A spokesperson from the National Energy Administration emphasized that the new policy will help unlock demand for green power, revitalize the GEC market, and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. It marks a significant step toward scaling up renewable energy and fostering a more sustainable future.
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