An implementation measure aimed at enforcing renewable energy utilization responsibilities from two dimensions has been compiled and issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration. The full title is the Implementation Measures for the Minimum Share Target of Renewable Energy Consumption and the Renewable Electricity Consumption Accountability Weight System, with an effective date of August 1, 2026.
The measures clearly divide assessment targets into provincial-level administrative regions and key energy-consuming industries, thus forming a dual-line responsibility framework. The renewable electricity consumption accountability weight system sets electricity consumption targets for each province-level region, ensuring priority consumption of green electricity through rigid constraints. An official from the National Energy Administration pointed out that the weight system has been optimized through regional tiering, strengthened medium- and long-term guidance, and reinforced mandatory requirements.
Unlike previous approaches that only assessed green electricity consumption, the new measures for the first time include non-electricity consumption in the assessment of the minimum share target for renewable energy consumption. This means that in addition to using green electricity, non-electricity utilization of renewable energy will also be part of measuring responsibility fulfillment.
The official explained that currently, pressure on new energy consumption is increasing, with limited local consumption capacity in resource-rich areas and growing constraints on large-scale long-distance transmission. Expanding non-electricity utilization pathways can both alleviate grid consumption pressure and break through electricity consumption bottlenecks, and is also an inherent requirement for promoting the safe and reliable substitution of renewable energy and achieving high-quality development. Including non-electricity consumption in assessments will help stimulate non-electricity consumption demand, promote large-scale development, and support the expansion of end-use decarbonization scenarios, the construction of a new energy system, and the building of an energy powerhouse.
Additionally, the new measures have removed outdated elements such as "excess consumption volumes" and "incentive indicators" that are no longer applicable in light of new circumstances and requirements.