China's National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration have jointly released the "15th Five-Year Plan for Renewable Energy Development." This blueprint is designed to support the nation's carbon peak objectives and accelerate the establishment of a modern energy system.

The Plan outlines four primary targets across different areas. The first is a total consumption goal, aiming for renewable energy consumption to reach approximately 1.8 billion tonnes of standard coal equivalent by 2030.

The second target focuses on power generation. By 2030, the plan aims for total installed renewable power capacity to reach about 3.5 billion kilowatts, with annual electricity generation hitting around 6 trillion kilowatt-hours. Specifically, the combined installed capacity for wind and solar power is targeted to exceed 2.8 billion kilowatts, representing over 50% of total installed capacity. Their annual power generation is projected to surpass 4 trillion kilowatt-hours, accounting for 30% of total generation.

The third objective is for non-electric utilization. The plan targets the scale of renewable energy used for non-electric purposes to increase by 1.5 times compared to 2025 levels, equivalent to roughly 150 million tonnes of standard coal.

The fourth target is for reliable substitution. By 2030, the national average credible output for wind and solar power should reach 8%. During peak summer and winter demand periods, the share of electricity from wind and solar should exceed 20%. Furthermore, the plan calls for adding over 300 million kilowatts of reliable peak-shaving renewable power generation capacity during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

To advance high-quality development in the renewable energy sector, the Plan delineates seven key task areas. The first is to actively expand the supply of renewable electricity, optimizing the layout of wind and solar bases in northern regions, offshore wind power, integrated hydro-wind-solar systems, and distributed new energy. It also promotes the development of biomass, solar thermal, and marine energy power generation.

The second task is to accelerate the enhancement of reliable electricity substitution capabilities. This involves advancing system-friendly wind and solar power stations, integrated multi-energy new energy projects, and pumped storage hydropower construction to improve the coordinated operation of load and new energy sources.

The third area focuses on achieving breakthroughs in non-electric uses of renewable energy. This includes actively developing green hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol production, as well as wind and solar heating. It also promotes the diversified, efficient use of biomass energy and geothermal heating/cooling based on local conditions.

The fourth task is to comprehensively elevate the level of renewable energy consumption by implementing minimum consumption share targets and carrying out renewable energy substitution initiatives.

The fifth is to consolidate and expand technological and industrial advantages in renewables. This entails strengthening technological innovation and R&D, building robust industrial and supply chains, and enhancing the market-oriented operational capabilities of new energy power stations.

The sixth task is to improve the policy system and long-term mechanisms that guarantee high-quality sector development. This involves continuously refining laws and regulations, market trading, pricing mechanisms, green certificate/green electricity systems, and factor supply guarantees.

The seventh area is to deepen high-level international cooperation in renewable energy projects, industries, standards, and certification.

For key sectors, the Plan proposes vigorously implementing renewable energy substitution actions with specific measures. In the industrial sector, it calls for promoting technological upgrades in production processes and energy use within key energy-consuming industries, orderly guiding an increase in the application of electric furnaces, and expanding the use of green electricity in industry.

It aims to accelerate the replacement of fossil fuel energy used in coal, oil, and gas exploration and development with renewables. It also seeks to promote the "green manufacturing with green energy" concept within the renewable energy equipment manufacturing industry itself.

The plan advocates expanding scenarios for industrial heating using renewable energy and promoting the large-scale application of green hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol in industrial processes. Furthermore, it encourages the construction of zero-carbon factories according to local conditions and the coordinated development and application of industrial green microgrids.