CHINA
In 2015, the State Council released the “Opinions on Further Deepening the Reform of the Electric Power System”, emphasizing the improvement of the proportion of renewable energy and distributed energy in the electricity supply, to guarantee the full purchase of electricity generated by renewable energy. The supporting objects of the “Interim Management Measure for Renewable Energy Development Special Fund” released by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) enlarged from the utilization and development of renewable energy to both renewable energy and new energy.
The “Renewable Energy Technology Development Programme (2016-2020)” developed by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) has been reviewed by the National Advisory Committee, considering two key missions for Marine Renewable Energy (MRE). The National Energy Administration (NEA) is developing the “Renewable Energy Development Plan (2016-2020)”, including the “Ocean Energy Development Strategy” developed by the National Ocean Technology Centre (NOTC), and the State Oceanic Administration (SOA). The new round of the special funding programme for MRE (SFPMRE) sponsored by MOF and SOA initiate to support 3 projects.
SUPPORTING POLICIES FOR OCEAN ENERGY
NATIONAL STRATEGY
The “Renewable Energy Technology Development Programme (2016-2020)”, developed by MOST since 2014, was reviewed by the National Advisory Committee in September 2015, considering two key missions for MRE, that is, the fundamental study on MRE technologies and key technologies R,D&Demo, such as the design and manufacture of MWs tidal current energy turbine, modular design and manufacture of 100 kWs wave energy converters.
The “Renewable Energy Development Plan (2016-2020)”, developed by NEA in 2015, is in the support of China Renewable Energy Scale-up Programme (CRESP) funded by the World Bank, including the “Ocean Energy Development Strategy” developed by NOTC, SOA, laying emphasis on improving the MRE technology readiness level and enhancing the application of MRE in remote islands and offshore areas.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
In April 2015, the “Interim Management Measure for Renewable Energy Development Special Fund” was released by MOF, supporting the demonstration of key technologies and industrialization, public platform construction, scale development, and integrated utilization of renewable energy and new energy.
MARKET INCENTIVES
In March 2015, the “Opinions on Further Deepening the Reform of the Electric Power System” was released by the State Council, emphasizing the improvement of the proportion of renewable energy and distributed energy in the electricity supply, to guarantee the full purchase of electricity generated by renewable energy.
PUBLIC FUNDING PROGRAMMES
In June 2015, RMB 100 million financial funds of SFPMRE were granted to support the 3 projects, including the MWs Tidal Current Energy Demonstration Project in Zhoushan, Independent Tidal Current Energy Demonstration Project On Islands, and Construction of Floating Testing Platform for National MRE Test Site.
MARINE SPATIAL PLANNING POLICY
In March 2012, the “National Marine Functional Zoning (2011-2020)” was approved by the State Council. Marine renewable energy functional zones were demarcated in the provincial marine functional zoning systems.
PERMITTING AND LICENSING PROCESS FOR OCEAN ENERGY PROJECTS
The sea use for MRE projects in sea trial and demonstration should be consented by local oceanic agencies, maritime agencies and fishery agencies; sometimes it should also be negotiated with military sectors.
TEST SITES
For the national small scale test site in Weihai Shandong province, the 5 km2 sea area and 30,000 m2 land area were authorized in November 2014. In January 2015, to provide a foundational reference for the detailed design of the low speed tidal berth, a supplementary investigation was carried out. Additionally, a marine environmental monitoring buoy for the test site was deployed and has been in operation since May 2015.
For the national tidal energy full scale test site in Zhoushan Zhejiang, 3 test berths and 6 demonstration berths have been designed. In June 2015, the construction of demonstration project was initiated by China Three Gorges Corporation with the sponsorship of the new funding round by SFPMRE.
For the national wave energy full scale test site in Wanshan Guangdong, 3 test berths and 6 demonstration berths have been designed. The project feasibility study initiated in 2014 by China Southern Power Grid has been completed.
