National Energy Administration Clarifies New Energy Development Path for the "15th Five-Year Plan", Vigorously Promotes Renewable-Based Hydrogen, Ammonia, and Methanol Production
Release time:
Feb 27,2026
Recently, Li Chuangjun, Director of the New and Renewable Energy Department of the National Energy Administration (NEA), published a signed article outlining the blueprint for renewable energy development during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, explicitly stating the goal to promote a leap in the scale of non-electricity utilization, including renewable-based hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol production.
During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China achieved remarkable results in renewable energy. It established the world's largest and fastest-growing system and built the most complete new energy industrial chain. Development scale continued to surge, with wind and solar PV adding an average of 260 million kW annually. By the end of 2025, the total installed capacity reached 1.84 billion kW, accounting for 47% of the total power installed capacity, surpassing thermal power. The total installed capacity for renewable energy power generation exceeded 2.3 billion kW, with its share rising to 60%. Major projects progressed steadily, with the lower Yarlung Zangbo River hydropower project approved and commenced, and significant achievements made in the construction of "Gobi and desert areas" new energy bases and offshore wind power. The contribution to the energy transition was prominent, with renewable energy power generation accounting for 38.3% of total power generation in 2025, and wind and solar power generation combined accounting for 22%. Technological and industrial strength led globally, with multiple indicators setting world records, new energy patents accounting for over 40% globally, and strong export performance. The policy support system also improved continuously, safeguarding industry development.
During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the development of renewable energy will adhere to the main lines of expanding scale while improving quality and achieving reliable substitution. It will focus on electricity as the core, with non-electricity applications as a breakthrough, implementing requirements for integrated, coordinated, and efficient development, clarifying four major objectives. Regarding the installed capacity target, aligning with the 2035 goals, the share of new energy installation will exceed 50% during the "15th Five-Year Plan", making it the mainstay of power installation. The power generation target aims to vigorously expand supply, targeting new energy's share of total power generation to reach around 30% by 2030. The non-electricity utilization target focuses on promoting a leap in the scale of renewable-based hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol production. The reliable substitution target is dedicated to enhancing substitution capability and improving the firm output level of wind and solar PV.
In 2026, to ensure a good start for the "15th Five-Year Plan" development, the NEA will accelerate the revision of the "Renewable Energy Law of the People's Republic of China", formulate and implement the "15th Five-Year Plan for Renewable Energy Development", strengthen policy supply and implementation, advance the construction of major projects such as new energy bases in "Gobi and desert areas", offshore wind power, and major hydropower stations, expand the application of green electricity comprehensively and deeply, promote the international recognition of green electricity certificates (GECs), and take solid actions to support the construction of an energy powerhouse and a new energy system.