A comprehensive evaluation of the development and utilization of China's regional renewable energy

This study proposes comprehensive evaluation criteria, involving aspects of energy, economy, environment, technology, and society ((ETS)-T-3), for the development and utilization of renewable energy (RE). The criteria consist of 22 indicators. The comprehensive performance, from 2011 to 2015, of 30 provincial regions in China with respect to renewable energy development and utilization (REDU) was evaluated on the basis of the (ETS)-T-3 criteria, using an analytic network process (ANP). The results show that the total comprehensive performance (2011-2015) of all the 30 provincial regions of China improved in general. There was a marked improvement in technology performance. Qinghai, Yunnan, and Sichuan ranked the top three in comprehensive performance of REDU, while the comprehensive performance of Shaanxi, Hainan, and Henan were the lowest. During the study period, while the comprehensive performance of most provincial regions such as Ningxia and Xinjiang increased, that of five provincial regions, including Tianjin and Hainan, decreased. The regional comprehensive performance was severely affected by the installed capacity and power generation of RE.