TLDR:
- China mandates blockchain technology for full-chain green electricity certification by 2030.
- Market-based electricity trading will reach 70% of national consumption under unified system.
- Green certificates will integrate with carbon emission accounting through blockchain tracking.
- China seeks to promote domestic green power consumption standards as international benchmarks.
China will deploy blockchain technology across its national green electricity certification system under new State Council guidelines released in February 2026.
The reform document mandates full-chain certification for green electricity production and consumption using distributed ledger technology.
Blockchain integration represents a central component of the country’s unified electricity market reform scheduled for completion by 2030.
The certification mechanism aims to establish transparent tracking of renewable energy from generation through end-user consumption.
China seeks to transform its green electricity consumption standards into international benchmarks through this technological infrastructure.
Blockchain Powers National Green Certificate Tracking Infrastructure
The green electricity market reform introduces blockchain as the technical foundation for certification processes. The policy directs authorities to “fully introduce blockchain and other technologies” into the national system.
Full-chain certification will track renewable energy across production, transmission, and consumption stages. The technology deployment ensures transparency and prevents double-counting in green electricity claims.
Green certificates will function as basic identification tools for renewable energy environmental attributes. The national unified green certificate market will expand in scale and functionality.
Blockchain implementation supports monitoring of certificate prices to maintain reasonable market levels. The system combines compulsory consumption requirements with voluntary participation options for market participants.
Multi-year purchase agreements between renewable energy issuers and users will operate on blockchain infrastructure. The technology enables automated verification and settlement of long-term contracts.
Inter-provincial new energy priority generation plans can be implemented through blockchain-tracked green power trading.
Various trading models including aggregation transactions will leverage the distributed ledger framework for enhanced efficiency.
Carbon Accounting Integration Targets International Recognition
China will study feasible pathways for including green certificates in carbon emission accounting systems. Blockchain traceability features support accurate measurement of emission reductions from renewable energy consumption.
The certification mechanism connects green electricity markets with carbon trading frameworks. Agricultural and forestry biomass power generation projects may participate in voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction markets.
The reform strengthens international communication regarding green certificate application and accounting methods.
China aims to promote domestic green electricity consumption standards as international norms. Blockchain-based certification provides verifiable data for cross-border recognition of renewable energy attributes.
The technology addresses growing demand from multinational corporations for auditable clean energy procurement.
Green power standard systems will undergo improvements to align with global practices. Full-chain blockchain certification offers third-party verification capabilities without central authority dependencies.
This approach appeals to international stakeholders requiring independent validation of environmental claims. The distributed architecture supports integration with emerging global carbon accounting protocols.
Unified Market Framework Enables Blockchain Deployment Scale
The broader electricity market reform creates necessary conditions for blockchain technology adoption. By 2030, market-based trading will reach 70% of total electricity consumption nationwide.
All power sources and users except guarantee customers will participate directly in market transactions. This scale provides sufficient transaction volume to justify distributed ledger infrastructure investments.
Cross-provincial and intra-provincial joint transactions will operate through interconnected platforms. Blockchain technology facilitates information sharing and mutual recognition across regional boundaries.
The system enables registration in one location with nationwide data sharing for electricity market operators. Standardized data models and information interaction protocols support blockchain interoperability requirements.
New business entities including virtual power plants will participate in blockchain-enabled markets. These operators must meet technical standards for operation monitoring and information interaction.
Distributed energy resources can aggregate and trade through blockchain smart contracts. The technology reduces transaction costs for smaller participants while maintaining security and transparency.
Market participants will access unified credit systems built on blockchain infrastructure. Credit information collection and sharing will operate through distributed networks.
Power generation enterprises, electricity sales companies, and users will receive credit evaluations using blockchain-verified transaction histories.
The tamper-resistant nature of distributed ledgers enhances trust in market operations and regulatory compliance.
