Regional allocation of renewable energy quota in China under the policy of renewable portfolio standards

Abstract Renewable energy policy plays an important role in achieving carbon neutrality which is main goal for climate change mitigation. China is striving to promote the implementation of renewable portfolio standards under the goal of carbon neutralization in 2060. Thus, based on the principles of equality and efficiency, we apply zero sum gains data envelopment analysis (ZSG-DEA) model combined with entropy model to allocate China's renewable energy quota from provincial perspectives. Further, we introduce an environmental Gini coefficient to evaluate the rationality of allocation results. The allocation results show that Guangdong, Jiangsu, Sichuan and Shandong are four provinces with the most renewable energy quota, while Hainan, Guizhou, Gansu, and Xinjiang are four provinces with the least quota. In addition, the quota allocation results have achieved the goal of transferring the responsibility of renewable energy quota from western provinces to eastern provinces. Last, managerial suggestions in promoting renewable energy development are discussed.