China plans blockchain certification for green energy tracing

China’s State Council, the country’s central executive authority, has proposed integrating blockchain technology to enable full-chain verification of green electricity across its production and consumption lifecycle. The policy forms part of a broader effort to build a unified national power market by 2030.

The directive has called for full-chain certification of renewable energy using distributed ledger systems, strengthening traceability for green power usage. Officials are also examining pathways to incorporate green certificates into carbon emission accounting, potentially tightening the link between clean energy consumption and climate targets.

Under the plan, market-based electricity transactions would account for roughly 70% of total consumption by the end of the decade. The government aims for all power sources and most users to participate directly in trading by that date, with spot markets reaching full operation by 2027.

The initiative expands an existing green certificate framework that recognizes renewable generation and consumption. Authorities intend to establish both mandatory and voluntary mechanisms for certificate purchases, while monitoring prices to keep them within reasonable bounds.

The State Council has outlined additional market integration measures, including unified trading rules across provinces and the eventual consolidation of regional power exchanges. By 2035, officials expect electricity resources to achieve optimized allocation nationwide, with price signals fully reflecting energy’s environmental and capacity values.