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As subsidies continue to fall, the technology and cost performance of distributed photovoltaic (PV) determines the progress of its grid parity. Based on the discussion of technology and cost, this paper analyzed the economic performance of China's distributed PV industry by utilizing the two indicators of levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and internal rate of return (IRR). The results show that: firstly, the current external environment is generally conducive to the development of distributed PV, but there are still some constraints. Secondly, with the decrease of unit investment cost, distributed PV can achieve the goal of parity before 2025. Thirdly, distributed PV projects in the three types of solar energy resources all have high IRR, and the economic performance is better for the projects with high proportion of spontaneous self-use. At the end of the paper, policy recommendations are offered as references for the government. • We comprehensively analyzed the technology and cost performance of China's distributed PV. • We focused on the trend and decline path of China's distributed PV costs. • The LCOE of distributed PV in China is expected to achieve full parity in 2025. • Except 100% grid-connected mode, the IRR of distributed PV power plants in three areas is higher than 8% which has shown good economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to find out the driving factors that affect the performance of PV industry in China, this article analyzes the panel data of 17 photovoltaic cells enterprise from 2008 to 2014. The total factor productivity growth is decomposed to test the performance of the photovoltaic industry and the level of technological progress. The empirical results show that the growth in output of Chinese PV industry mainly relies on technological progress, while the relative frontier technology efficiency does not change with time, and the allocation efficiency and scale economy function contributes little to the change of total factor productivity. Analysis shows that the way to obtain the future development of China PV industry is to rely on technological progress and market competition mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the upgrading of urbanization and improvement of living standards, the volume of municipal solid waste (MSW) is increasing in China. The waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration industry promotes the harmless disposal and recycling of MSW. It is an important part of the energy conservation and emission reduction tasks of “12th Five-Year Plan” period (2011–2015). Based on the development status of WTE plants in China, this paper makes an analysis of the WTE incineration industry from two aspects. The one is the analysis of political, economic, social and technological factors that influence the external environment of this industry. The other one is the discussion of technologies, costs and performances of some WTE plants in China, including a detailed cost-benefit analysis. It proves that the external environment is conducive to the development of WTE incineration industry and this industry is faced with good market prospects. Also, the net profit margin and return on investment (ROI) of WTE plants is attractive, up to 25% and 18% respectively. The pay back period is 12.73 years and the internal rate of return (IRR) is 10.94%. Thus, WTE plant has good profitability and economic benefit. Besides, WTE incineration has significant environmental benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oil crisis and the successful commercial exploitation of shale gas in America have made shale gas become the focus of global energy industry. Shale gas industry will be developed mainly in the future. Sichuan has natural geographical advantages and becomes the main battlefield of shale gas in China. So it is necessary and urgent to analyze the current situation of Sichuan shale gas. This paper introduces the status quo of shale gas in Sichuan, and systematically analyzes the industrial environment for developing Sichuan shale gas from four aspects of policy, economy, society, technology. Then the issues facing Sichuan are discussed. Finally, the paper puts forward some corresponding recommendations to provide certain references to the development of shale gas industry in Sichuan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To adjust the energy structure, protect the environment and deal with climate change, China has proposed that non-fossil energy would constitute 15 percent of the total energy consumption at the end of the “13th Five-Year Plan” period (2016–2020), and the use of biomass would account for 4 percent of primary energy consumption. Firstly, the current situation, the internal environment and the external environment of the biomass direct combustion power generation are analyzed. Then, the financial model of biomass direct combustion power generation project is established, and contrasts with other major new energy projects are carried out in terms of operation models, opportunities and risks so as to explore the investment features of this project in depth. Finally, appropriate investment strategies are proposed with respect of the investors, and policy recommendations for the development of the industry are attempted as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Compared to the Feed-in tariff in China, the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) could not only help to change the driving force of renewable energy industry development, but also provide the renewable energy industry with incentives to achieve the governments' planned goal. This paper first compares the features of RPS of the major industrialized countries. Second the barriers of implementing the Renewable Portfolio Standard in China are analyzed from five aspects. Finally, based on the above analysis, this paper puts forward relative institutional arrangements for the implementation of Renewable Portfolio Standard in China making recommendations for the development of renewable energy industry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Renewable portfolio standards are essential means to promote the transition to low-carbon energy by encouraging obligated subjects to purchase tradable green certificates. However, the trade-off between Renewable portfolio standards' cost and effectiveness is a challenge for the government, because they want to support the development of renewable energy at the lowest cost. This paper constructs a coevolution model for a renewable energy system incorporating Renewable portfolio standards to explore how incentive mechanisms impact the cost and effectiveness of Renewable portfolio standards. The simulation results show that with the coevolution of the RE system, Renewable portfolio standards' effectiveness gradually rises; concurrently, its cost increases first before later decreasing. However, the path-dependence of the behavioural evolution of the tradable green certificate market players hinders further improvements in Renewable portfolio standards' cost-effectiveness. In addition, high quotas and price collars close to TGC value improve the cost-effectiveness, whilst the sloped penalty mechanisms, banking mechanisms with a valid period longer than one year, and borrowing mechanisms significantly reduce costs. On this basis, the government can design dynamic incentive mechanisms to guide the market players' behavioural evolution and decrease costs whilst also ensuring effectiveness. • The effectiveness of Renewable portfolio standards (RPS)gradually rises. • The cost of RPS first increases and then decreases. • Higher quota and price collars close to value improve the cost-effectiveness of RPS. • Penalty, banking and borrowing mechanisms can reduce the cost of RPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable portfolio standards are essential means to promote the transition to low-carbon energy by encouraging obligated subjects to purchase tradable green certificates. However, the trade-off between Renewable portfolio standards' cost and effectiveness is a challenge for the government, because they want to support the development of renewable energy at the lowest cost. This paper constructs a coevolution model for a renewable energy system incorporating Renewable portfolio standards to explore how incentive mechanisms impact the cost and effectiveness of Renewable portfolio standards. The simulation results show that with the coevolution of the RE system, Renewable portfolio standards' effectiveness gradually rises; concurrently, its cost increases first before later decreasing. However, the path-dependence of the behavioural evolution of the tradable green certificate market players hinders further improvements in Renewable portfolio standards' cost-effectiveness. In addition, high quotas and price collars close to TGC value improve the cost-effectiveness, whilst the sloped penalty mechanisms, banking mechanisms with a valid period longer than one year, and borrowing mechanisms significantly reduce costs. On this basis, the government can design dynamic incentive mechanisms to guide the market players' behavioural evolution and decrease costs whilst also ensuring effectiveness. • The effectiveness of Renewable portfolio standards (RPS)gradually rises. • The cost of RPS first increases and then decreases. • Higher quota and price collars close to value improve the cost-effectiveness of RPS. • Penalty, banking and borrowing mechanisms can reduce the cost of RPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the decline in the intensity of subsidy policies, technological progress has become a critical factor in promoting the renewable energy industry's sustainable development. This paper estimates the direction and extent of biased technological progress in China's renewable energy industry from 2009 to 2018. On this basis, by constructing an accounting model for the growth rate of total factor productivity (TFP), this paper empirically analyzes the effects of different factors on TFP growth. The research results indicate that: (1) The TFP of China's renewable energy industry has dropped by 4.60% annually, and the growth of industrial output mainly relied on factor input rather than technological progress. (2) The technological progress and factor allocation of China's renewable energy industry generally show a bias towards the capital. At different stages of the industry's development, it presents different degrees of bias. (3) Technological progress is biased towards capital factor with a lower growth rate of factor efficiency, which hinders the growth of TFP in the renewable energy industry. • This paper reveals the driving mechanism for the development of China's renewable energy industry. • The technological progress and factor allocation of China's renewable energy industry are biased towards the capital. • Capital inefficiency is the fundamental reason for the reduction of TFP in the renewable energy industry. • Improving the level of independent R&D is the key to achieving China's renewable energy industry's sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]