Implementing a national energy efficiency programme

China, East Asia and Pacific

China’s mandatory energy conservation target-setting policy for large energy users, known as the Top-10,000 programme was introduced in 2011, as an expansion of its successful predecessor, the Top 1,000 programme which operated between 2006 and 2010. The Top-10,000 programme now covers two thirds of China's total energy consumption and aims to save 250 million tonne of coal equivalent (tce) by 2015, contributing to 37% of the total national energy saving target in the 12th Five Year Plan (FYP). In November 2012, China’s government officially mandated provinces to implement energy management programs (EnMPs) targeting companies covered in the Top-10,000 programme.

Under a contract signed with the government, participants in the Top-10,000 Programme are required to meet certain energy saving targets and implement energy management through activities including establishing energy measurement and management systems, submitting regular energy use audits and developing energy conservation plans.

Overall, the response from enterprises is generally positive, with strong commitment to achieving energy saving targets through a process that provides clear measures, guidance and supporting tools.


Impact of activities
  • Significant energy savings and associated GHG emissions reduction together with reduced emissions of other pollutants, improved productivity and saved energy costs:
    • Total energy savings from 2006–2010 is 150 Mtce (NDRC, 2011), surpassing the target of 100 Mtce.
    • Total emission reductions from 2006–2010 is almost 400 MtCO2 (ClimateWorks, 2011).
    • As of November 2012, there were 37 institutions in 13 industries that conduct EnMS certification pilots. The initial audit found that total energy saving exceeds 114 Mtc, equivalent to 3.03 MtCO2 emissions (CNCA, 2012).
    • The same pilot project had the saving of approximately USD 85 million (1 ton of standard coal costs USD 80) (CNCA, 2012).
    • Between 2011 and 2012, 170 out of the 250 Mtce energy savings (almost 70 %) had been achieved, with 2 years remaining (He Ping interview, 2014).
  • Institutional development and capacity improvement:
    • Around 40 provincial energy conservation supervision centres were set up at all provinces. By the end of 2010, 606 centres at different levels were set up (Qi et al., 2013).
    • Energy statistics and monitoring departments were setup at all levels including siesies (Qi et al., 2013).
    • Enterprises have established dedicated energy management teams and internal systems. More than 95 % of the 1,000 enterprise set dedicated teams, and more than 91 % distribute further targets. (Qi et al., 2013).
    • Results for the EnMS certification pilot (CNCA 2012) include: Over 130 enterprises established EnMS; 77 enterprises obtained the EnMS certificate (as at June 2012); Seven auditor training courses, with over 1,300 trainers and 772 people registered as auditors.
  • Support for other policies:
    • Strengthening of the energy conservation technological transformation.
    • Continuation of phase-out of old inefficient technologies.
Institutions involved

National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and its Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection department; National Bureau of Statistics (NBS); Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China (CNCA); China National Institute for Standardization (CNIS); Stateowned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC); Office of National Energy Leading Group; General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (GAQSIQ); Provincial and local governments at all levels as well as their energy conservation authorities (local energy conservation supervision and/or technical centres, ECCs/ETCs).

Source details
Global Good Practice Analysis (GIZ UNDP)