As the world's largest developing country, coal consumer, and green house gas emitter, China is confronted with challenges that are more urgent and arduous as its transforms toward a clean and low-carbon energy system. The China 2050 High Renewable Energy Penetration Scenario and Roadmap Study set out to analyze the technical and economic feasibility of having high renewable energy penetration by 2050 based on economic, environment, and carbon emission constraints, and backcast the policies and programs needed at different points in time to make this a reality. The main goals of the study were to build a common vision among China’s key stakeholders for an energy system centered on renewables, and to design a strong model for a national energy strategy that could guide China’s future energy planning and policy development.

The study results show that it is both technically and economically feasible for renewable energy to satisfy over 60 percent of China’s primary energy consumption and 85 percent of electricity consumption by 2050; and under the high renewable energy penetration scenario, China will be able to peak fossil energy consumption and carbon emission by 2025.