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Integrating Distributed Energy Resources in China
Lessons from international experience Like no other country in the world, the People’s Republic of China (hereafter, “China”) is witnessing rapid growth in distributed energy resources (DERs), including rooftop solar photovoltaics, battery storage and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. As China advances towards its carbon peaking and neutrality goals, these resources offer a unique opportunity to support a more flexible, efficient and resilient power system, provided their integration is well-managed.This report analyses recent trends in DER deployment across China and highlights the emerging challenges their growth poses for power system planning and operation, calling for renewed attention to…
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China’s Official Energy Finance in Emerging and Developing Economies
…linked to uneven availability of concessional or long-tenor finance.This report maps and analyses these changes through an energy sector-level dataset covering 2015 to 2024. It explores how China’s evolving financing model is reshaping instruments, institutions and regional allocation patterns, and also considers the strategic and practical implications for EMDE energy transitions.The analysis is complemented by case studies covering a range of technologies and financial structures – from large-scale renewables and electricity distribution to green industrial projects, waste-to-energy and upstream developments – which show how China’s official actors operate in practice across contrasting markets…
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Cost of Capital Observatory
…into three sections:A Dashboard that provides free data on the cost of capital for energy projects in emerging and developing economies, updated with 2023 and 2024 data in July and September 2025.A section with Tools and Analysis to help governments understand and quantify the main underlying risks perceived by investors and financiers in each country.Case Studies with lessons learnt of how policymakers, together with the private sector, development finance institutions and other entities managed to mitigate risks and mobilise capital for clean energy sectors across the emerging and developing world.We hope these resources will help drive…
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Energy Efficiency in China’s Buildings Sector
…progress in achieving them. Regulation for new buildings in China, such as building codes, is relatively strong. However, as the rate of construction is slowing, policy priorities are shifting towards retrofitting existing buildings. Here, the IEA estimates that through strong policy action and best-in-class technology, China could reduce energy consumption by up to 65% in buildings constructed between 1995 and 2010, representing energy savings of over 8 000 Petajoules.The report includes examples from across China and the world on leading regulatory instruments, financial incentives, and information-based tools that can drive energy efficiency in the buildings sector.
