China's Energy Law: the sector's first code, hydrogen among energy sources, from 1 January 2025

China's parliament adopted on 8 November 2024 the first comprehensive Energy Law. The law, which is to apply from 1 January 2025, for the first time includes hydrogen in China's energy management system and introduces a uniform set of rules for the whole sector. It was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress at its 12th session.

What the law regulates

According to Global Times, the law has nine chapters, covering, among other things, energy planning, energy development and use, the energy market, reserves and emergency response, technological innovation, and oversight and legal liability. It sets a goal of “active and steady” pursuit of the emissions peak and carbon neutrality and provides for a dual control system for total carbon dioxide emissions and their intensity. Energy companies and users are to be equipped with emission measurement devices. Green certificates receive legal status, and the law encourages the use of renewable energy and supports advanced energy storage and smart microgrids.

Hydrogen and biomass in the law

CGTN and Global Times stress that hydrogen has for the first time appeared in a nationwide energy law, and that its role as an energy source has been clearly defined. According to EnergyTrend, the law establishes separate provisions for types of energy such as hydropower, wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, ocean energy and hydrogen. The sources we opened do not contain the exact wording of the definition of energy, so we do not quote it. NPC Observer, a register of Chinese legislation, confirms the date of adoption (8 November 2024) and the date of entry into force (1 January 2025) and refers to the Chinese text of the law and to the president's decree of the same day.

Significance for biogas and biomethane

Biomass appears on the list of renewable sources, which provides a framework for bioenergy. We found no detailed provisions on biogas or biomethane in the open commentaries, so we do not describe them here. In practice, implementing acts will be key: standards, tariffs and grid connection rules.

What this means for Poland/Europe

In the Union, hydrogen is regulated by, among others, the RED III directive and the gas package, not by a single law. The Chinese approach — a uniform framework act for the whole sector in which hydrogen appears among energy sources — facilitates consistent administrative decisions, but depends on the quality of the implementing acts.