Offshore Wind Worldwide 2022 edition - Flipbook - Page 31
Offshore Wind Worldwide 2022
II. The Offshore Wind
Promotion system
A. Regulatory framework
The legal framework governing offshore
wind power projects in China comprises a
large number of laws and regulations issued
over time at the national and local level.
These laws and regulations intertwine with
each other creating a somewhat puzzling and
incomplete picture.
The Renewable Energy Law of the People’s
Republic of China (Renewable Energy Law),
the latest version of which was issued on 26
December 2009, provides the overall
framework governing the development of the
renewable energy sector and projects,
including in relation to wind power.
More specific details are provided by lower
level legislation issued to supplement the
Renewable Energy Law. In particular, as
regards wind power projects:
1.the Interim Measures for the
Administration of the Development and
Construction of Wind Power Projects
(Wind Power Interim Measures) issued
on 25 August 2011, regulate the
development and construction of both
onshore and offshore projects; and
2.the Measures for the Administration of
the Development and Construction of
Offshore Wind Power Projects (Offshore
Wind Power Measures) issued on 29
December 2016, provide a framework
regulation on development plans, project
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approval, business licence, site selection,
environmental protection standards and
construction and operation of offshore
wind power projects.
Several other laws and regulations, not fully
co-ordinated with each other, provide the
remaining regulatory elements in areas such
as grid operation, grid connection, purchase
of electricity by the grid, selection and award
of projects, availability of subsidies and
exploration and use of sea areas.
On 3 April 2020, the Energy Law of the
People’s Republic of China was published in
draft form. It provides guidelines and
imposes high standards on the energy
development, and emphasises the role of the
market in allocating energy resources and
giving priority to renewable energy
development. When issued in final form, the
Energy Law will serve as the overall
framework legislation governing the entire
energy sector, including renewable energy.
Offshore wind power projects involve many
different authorities at various levels. The
main authorities are the following:
1. t he NEA (a bureau administered by the
NDRC) is the Chinese authority overseeing
the energy sector. At the central level, the
NEA is responsible for issuing a
nationwide offshore wind power
development plan (Offshore Wind Power
Plan), while its branches at the provincial
level (Local NEA) are entitled to formulate
their own local Offshore Wind Power
Plans. Taking the Offshore Wind Power