China

Ratings for the Renewable Energy Scale-up Program Project for China were as follows: outcomes were highly satisfactory; Global Environmental Objective (GEO) outcomes... Show More + were highly satisfactory; risk to development outcome was low; risk to GEO outcome was low; Bank performance was satisfactory; and borrower performance was also satisfactory. Some lessons learned includes: long-term engagement with the government through the partnership program has paid off: the China Renewable Energy Scale-up Program (CRESP) program is the only window in the Bank's China energy portfolio that engages long-term RE policy dialogues and partnership with the National Energy Administration (NEA). A programmatic approach, which blends policy dialogue, technical assistance, and investments through International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/ Global Environment Facility (IBRD/GEF) funding, is the best conduit for scaling up RE in client countries. Combining policy support and technical assistance through a GEF grant with large-scale long-term financing for RE investments through IBRD loans in one package is the most effective and powerful tool to enable transformational changes to scale up renewable energy. Flexible approach to adapt to government's priorities and changing environment is required: This is because RE policies require frequent adjustments as Renewable energy (RE) technologies evolve and make progress towards competitiveness. Improving manufacturing quality is essential for the transition to a world-class manufacturing industry: the key to the success of the wind technology improvement component was to simultaneously address wind turbine standards, testing, and certification, and to support wind manufacturers in developing megawatt-scale wind turbines. The piecemeal approach and fragmentation of policy study contracts resulted in lengthy delays and weakened policy impacts: during project implementation, the Project Management Office (PMO) issued a large number of small contracts. Programmatic approach needs intensive supervision from the Bank team: CRESP required intensive supervision to provide guidance and advice to the PMO in implementing the large number of activities under CRESP. Show Less -

Ratings for the Renewable Energy Development Project for China were as follows: outcomes were satisfactory, Global environment objective (GEO) outcomes were moderately... Show More + satisfactory, the risk to development outcome was low or negligible, the risk to GEO outcome was low or negligible, the Bank performance was satisfactory, and the Borrower performance was also satisfactory. Some lessons learned included: take specific country circumstances into account when designing off-grid electrification. Lessons learned in other countries should be applied with caution. Analytical work conducted during the early stages of preparation should not be confined to market conditions, prices and affordability but should extend to technology options, market and growth analysis, the need for credit and implementation arrangements. Design of monitoring and evaluation should take into account practical implementation issues. Foster synergies between market and technology development. Empower the market participants through decision making; cost shared grants are particularly effective whether for technology development or market development. Ensure fair and transparent allocations in designing cost shared programs. Adapt procurement method to implementing agency capacity and technology and provide adequate support. For wind farms, especially when knowledge of the technology has not taken root, single responsibility contracting methods are preferable. Show Less -