China launches its first renewable requirements for steel, cement and polysilicon

China has introduced its first renewable energy consumption targets for key industrial sectors and data centres.

According to a notice from the National Development and Reform Commission on Friday, the new renewable portfolio standards (RPS) apply to the steel, cement, and polysilicon industries, as well as newly built data centres in national hub regions. These sectors must now meet specific renewable electricity quotas that vary by province.

For example, new data centres must source at least 80% of their power from renewables, while industrial targets range from 10.8% in mountainous Chongqing to 70% in hydropower-rich Yunnan. Wind and solar-heavy regions like Inner Mongolia, Gansu, and Qinghai face non-hydro renewable targets of up to 30%.

These standards are linked to China’s new contract-for-difference mechanism, which supports renewable energy pricing by compensating generators when market rates fall below a set benchmark. Targets for 2026 were also released as part of the plan; the targets typically rise a few percentage points each year.

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