Renewable Energy Investment and Governance in Countries Along the Belt and Road Initiative

Dear Colleagues,

The Belt and Road Initiative is a global infrastructure and economic cooperation project proposed by China, covering many countries and regions. This project aims to promote trade, investment, and sustainable development among countries along the Belt and Road. Among the many topics the Belt and Road Initiative concerns, renewable energy is a key area. Research on renewable energy investment and governance is crucial for achieving clean energy goals and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to study renewable energy investment and governance in countries along the Belt and Road, and explore the development status; implementation approach, progress and effect; challenges and opportunities; best practices, and comprehensive impact on local areas of renewable energy projects. The research in this Special Issue has important theoretical and practical significance in promoting international cooperation in resources, industry, technology, finance, policies, and industry standards in the field of renewable energy, and in building a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient international energy system.

Topics of interest for this Special Issue include (but are not limited to) the following:

• The renewable energy policies of countries along the Belt and Road; this theme can cover renewable energy policies of different countries, including innovation policies, government subsidies, carbon tariffs, carbon trading, and energy transformation policies such as those on electricity, energy conservation, and emission reduction.
• Assessments of the impact of renewable energy projects on the economic structure and environmental conditions along the Belt and Road; the focus is on research such as the comprehensive impact of digital infrastructure and renewable energy development on carbon emissions, the poverty reduction effect of energy investment, energy poverty alleviation and high-quality economic development, and how to implement the best economic and environmental governance practices.
• The progress of implementation and its effect of technological innovation in the development and utilization of renewable energy; this includes research that focuses on technological innovation, especially the development and utilization of renewable energy, including solar energy, wind energy and bioenergy, and how to promote the adaptive development of these technologies in countries along the Belt and Road. The role of technological innovation and investment in promoting the use of renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting economic growth of countries along the Belt and Road can also be explored.
• The financing of and investment in renewable energy projects; this topic focuses on the financing mode of renewable energy projects, strategies to attract domestic and foreign investment, and the role of financial institutions in countries along the Belt and Road.
• International energy transformation cooperation, cross-border renewable energy cooperation, and cross-border power trade; this topic discusses the prospects and methods of energy transformation cooperation, and the opportunities and challenges of cross-border renewable energy cooperation and cross-border power trade between countries along the Belt and Road and other countries (regions). The following aspects will be given priority consideration: grid interconnection and energy transformation cooperation in the Asia Pacific region; energy transformation cooperation and cross-border power trade between China and Belt and Road countries and regions; cooperation between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan in the field of renewable energy under the Belt and Road Initiative and corresponding policy support; how geopolitical risks affect energy transformation and cross-border energy cooperation.
• Case studies and the sharing of best practices; this topic studies the implementation and effectiveness of specific cases, shares successful practical experiences, and provides recommendations for other countries and projects.

Dr. Fang Yang
Guest Editor

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• belt and road initiative
• renewable energy investment and governance
• energy system building
• renewable energy policies
• renewable energy project assessments
• renewable energy projects financing
• international energy transformation cooperation
• cross-border renewable energy cooperation
• cross-border power trade

Title: Poverty Reduction Effect of China’s Investment in Energy Infrastructure in Countries Along the Belt and Road
Authors: Fang Yang
Affiliation: Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China

Title: The Misalignment between Renewable Energy Investment and Response to the National Electricity Crisis: Lessons Learned from the Lack of Government Capacity in South Africa
Authors: Zhongquan Miao
Affiliation: State Grid Energy Research Institute

Title: Research on the Current Status of Sino-German Renewable Energy Cooperation and Its Political Risks in the Context of the “Green Belt and Road” Initiative
Authors: Liqiao Guo
Affiliation: Graduate Institute for Taiwan Studies, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China

Title: FDI and Upgrading of Employment Structure: Empirical Evidence from Cross border Greenfield Investment in China
Authors: Fumei Yan; Jing Cong
Affiliation: Shandong University of Finance and Economics