Establishment of CREIA

China's 10th Five-Year-Plan guidelines for national economic and social development indicate that energy development should apply the following principles: i) take advantage of local resources, ii) optimize the energy mix, iii) use energy efficiency applications extensively, iv) enforce environmental protection, v) actively develop wind, solar, geothermal and other new and renewable energy resources, and vi) promote energy conservation and comprehensive utilization technologies.

For the purpose of addressing the environmental problems caused by China¡¯s energy structure, which predominantly relies on coal, the Government has placed a priority on promoting the development and utilization of renewable energy resources and using the principle of sustainable economic and social development. In order to assist in promoting these objectives, the The Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA) was established in 2000 with the support of the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the State Economic and Trade Commission(SETC). CREIA obtained legal registration as the Renewable Energy Professional Division of the China Comprehensive Resource Utilization Association from the Ministry of Civil Affairs on March 25, 2002.

Functions of CREIA

During its formation, CREIA established the following priority functions in order to maximize its services to members:

1.      CREIA serves as a bridge between regulatory authorities, research institutes and industry professionals, in order to provide a forum to discuss renewable energy development at the national level and subsequently advise the Government of China on strategic policy formulation.

2.      CREIA acts as a window to bring together national and international project developers and investors. It promotes technology transfer and raises awareness of renewable energy investment opportunities through an online Investment Opportunity Facility (IOF) and through regional networking and training activities.

3.       CREIA provides a network for its members from the Chinese renewable energy business community, who in the past have lacked a medium to communicate across their respective sub-sectors, and provides a platform to voice their concerns collectively.

Mission of CREIA

CREIA promotes the adoption of advanced technologies among renewable energy enterprises in China and actively develops capacity for the rapid industrialization of the Chinese renewable energy sector.

Business Scope:

The business scope of CREIA is extensive and includes the following activities:

1.      Advice for organizing the research and development programs for solar (PV and thermal), biomass, wind, geothermal and ocean new and renewable energy technologies and assistance in disseminating technology achievements.

2.      Promote the commercialization of key technologies in the field, including assisting industry in adopting new technologies, manufacturing processes, new materials, etc. in order to improve product quality, lower costs, and expand markets.

3.      Develop and disseminate information through studies and surveys, workshops, and expert groups, which can be used to assist in developing industrial guidelines and regulations and provide policy recommendations to the Government.

4.      Offer advisory services for R&D, technology improvement, the production and operation of enterprises, and the coordination of technical cooperation and market development.

5.      Organize national exhibitions and technology exchanges within the renewable energy field, update both national and international economic and technical information sources, and provide technical consultation and support to industry.

6.      Assist in developing quality control programs in industry to improve product reliability and market acceptance, including coordinating relevant government agencies involved in standards development and product testing.

7.      Conduct training activities to increase the management and technology development capacity of the Chinese renewable energy industry.

8.      Assist industry to develop and strengthen international cooperation for information exchange, business development, international market development, technology transfer, and foreign investment. Conduct study tours and provide other forums for direct exchanges between domestic and international companies and investors.

9.      Assist the Chinese Government in developing industrial policies and regulations, including implementation strategies for executing policy and regulatory enforcement programs.

10. Provide consultation and advisory services to the Government on a commissioned basis.