Policies

First: Regulations of the few large energy users, which includes the Top 1,000 Energy-Consuming Enterprises, as well as companies in more energy-intensive sectors such as steel and cement. These are the kinds of industries that were targeted when the Chinese government shut down more than 2,000 factories in 2010. It also is where carbon-trading likely will focus if and when it further develops.

Second: Government support for clean-tech growth industries. Many people know about subsidies for renewable energy manufacturing, but there are also incentives for energy service companies, known as ESCOs. One example is the 2011 law that provides tax and other financial incentives to providers of energy efficiency services.

Third: Incentives and mechanisms that apply to large numbers of smaller-sized factories. There are not many instances of these policies to date, but the most significant examples are tax breaks for energy use reductions (Shanghai, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Chengdu). In some regions (Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Shenzhen), the Chinese government also offers incentives for factories that phase out old and inefficient technology. Additionally, there are subsidies for energy audits in the Pearl River Delta (including Shenzhen and Hong Kong).

Below is a collection of energy conservation-related policies and regulations (most are in Chinese):

1. Law of the People's Republic of China on Energy Conservation (2008) – China State Council

   Link: English

2. Circular Economy Promotion Law of the People's Republic of China (2008) – China State Council

   Link: English

3. Renewable Energy Law of People's Republic of China (2005) – China State Council

   Link: 中文

4. China's National Climate Change Program (2007) – China State Council

   Link: English

5. Energy Conservation Regulation for State-funded Institutions (2008) – China State Council

   Link: 中文

6. Opinions on Encouraging and Guiding the Development of Emerging Strategic Industry for Private Enterprises (2011) – China National Development and Reform Commission

   Link: English

7. Ordinance on Civil-building Energy Conservation (2008) – China State Council

   Link: 中文

8. Regulations on Electricity Demand Side Management (2010) – China National Development and Reform Commission

   Link: 中文

9. Comprehensive Work Plan for Energy Conservation and Emission Reductions During the ‘12th Five-year Plan’ (2011) – China State Council

   Link: 中文

10. Instructive Opinions on Speeding up Implementation of Energy Management Contracts to Promote the Development of Energy Service Industry (2010) – China National Development and Reform Commission

    Link: 中文

11. Interim Management Measures on Financial Incentive Fund for Energy Management Contracting (2010) – China National Development and Reform Commission

    Link: 中文

1. Ordinance on Energy Conservation of Guangdong Province (2010) – Guangdong Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee

   Link: 中文

2. Measures on Rewarding Energy Conservation of Guangdong Province (On Trial) (2009) – Guangdong Provincial Economic and Trade Commission

   Link: 中文

3. Opinions on Enhancing the Efforts of Completion of the ‘12th Five-year Plan’ Energy Saving Targets of Guangdong Province (2010) – Guangdong Provincial People's Government Office

   Link: 中文

4. Interim Management Measures on Special Fund for Energy Conservation and Cleaner Production of Dongguan Municipality (2009) – Dongguan Municipal Economic and Trade Bureau

   Link: 中文

5. Management Measures on Special Fund for Resources Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization of Shenzhen Municipality (2009) – Shenzhen Trade and Industry and Information Technology Committee

   Link: 中文

6. Implementation Details for Management Measures on Financial Incentive Fund for Energy Management Contracting of Guangdong Province (2011) – Department of Finance of Guangdong Province

   Link: 中文

1. Ordinance on Energy Conservation of Shanghai Municipality (2009) – Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress

   Link: 中文

2. Implementation Measures on Special Fund for Energy Conservation Retrofit Project of Shanghai Municipality (2008) – Shanghai Municipal Economic Commission & Shanghai Municipal Finance Bureau

   Link: 中文

3. Ideas and Institutional Measures on the ‘12th Five-year Plan’ Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction Tasks of Shanghai Municipality (2011) – Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress

   Link: 中文

4. Ordinance on Energy Conservation of Zhejiang Province – Zhejiang Provincial People’s Congress

   Link: 中文

5. Implementation Details for Management Measures on Financial Incentive Fund for Energy Management Contracting of Zhejiang Province (2010) – Zhejiang Provincial Department of Finance

   Link: 中文

6. Ordinance on Energy Conservation of Jiangsu Province (2010) – Jiangsu Provincial Economic and Information Commission

   Link: 中文

7. Measures on Rewarding Energy Conservation of Hangzhou Municipality (2008) – Hangzhou Municipal People’s Congress

   Link: 中文

8. Management Measures on Financial Incentive Fund for Energy Management Contracting of Shanghai Municipality (2010) – Shanghai Municipal Economic and Information Commission

   Link: 中文

1. Interim Management Measures on Financial Incentive Fund for Energy Management Contracting of Beijing Municipality – Beijing Municipal Department of Finance

   Link: 中文