context: After its first reading by the National People’s Congress, the draft Energy Law was issued for public comment in April 2024. This will mark the PRC’s first comprehensive legislation on energy.
The 11th meeting of the 14th NPC (National People’s Congress) Standing Committee, scheduled from 10–13 September, will review amendments to a draft Energy Law, explains Wang Xiang 王翔 NPC Legislative Affairs Commission spokesperson.
The new draft includes provisions aimed at increasing the proportion of non-fossil energy consumption, particularly focusing on the development of new energy sources like wind, solar and hydrogen.
Key revisions clarify several aspects, says Wang, by
- establishing a constitutional basis for the law
- shifting focus from dual control of energy consumption and intensity to carbon emissions control
- outlining users’ responsibilities to save energy and prioritise non-fossil energy use
- promoting new energy sources like wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, ocean and hydrogen
- aiming for the safe, reliable and orderly replacement of fossil energy
- accelerating the development of a new power system and coordinates power sources and grids
- supporting energy storage technology to enhance grid stability
- introducing a green energy consumption promotion mechanism, including green electricity certificates
- specifying legal responsibilities
- defining key terms such as fossil energy, renewable energy and hydrogen energy