Energy Finance Research

Energy Finance Center focuses its research on the energy economy, international energy investments, the energy transition of fossil fuel companies, and renewables’ financing. In order to better understand the status quo of China’s energy state-owned enterprises, analyze the underlying challenges, and support their low-carbon transition, the SEO reform in China has been one of the leading research subjects for the Team in recent years.

Research Outputs:

Online conference| Financial Support for Low-Carbon Transition of the Coal Industry in Chinese Coal-Dependent Cities

At the end of 2022, we conducted the closing review meeting of the project Financial Support for Low-Carbon Transition of the Coal Industry in Chinese Coal-Dependent Cities——A Case Study in Ordos and Holingol, Inner Mongolia. The project analyzes the transition pathways for the coal industry in Ordos and Holingol cities in Inner Mongolia and further investigats the financial needs of transition.



Report Release| IIGF & Tencent “Green Payement Contributes to China Carbon Neutrality”

The goal of “2030 Carbon Peak and 2060 Carbon Neutrality” was put forward, the concept of green development has influenced different industries, and multiple innovative practices have quickly emerged.

In May 2022, the International Institute of Green Finance, CUFE, and Tencent mobilized dozens of cross-disciplinary experts and scholars  to explore the area of green payments. The output of this study is available online now.



RESEARCH REPORT: The Role of Green Finance and Transition Finance in Supporting Low-carbon Transition of China’s Fossil Energy State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) under the Carbon Neutrality Goal.

Low-carbon transition of China’s fossil fuel energy state-owned enterprises (SOEs) is the key to achieving the Paris Agreement and China’s commitments. As one of the main sources of global and Chinese carbon emissions, achieving the ” dual carbon ” goal must, first, reduce carbon emissions related to fossil fuel energy SOEs. In this context, IIGF and NRDC have been commissioned by KR foundation to analyze China’s SOE reform process, characteristics and challanges for low carbon transition of the Chinese fossil fuel SOEs. The report takes three typical large-scale fossil fuel energy SOEs in China-National Energy Group, Sinopec Group and China Coal Group as typical cases. The project will provide an essential reference for governments, regulators, financial institutions, and state-owned enterprises to apply green finance and transition finance policies and tools, manage the financial risk and support the low-carbon transition of fossil energy SOEs under the carbon neutrality goal.

Low-carbon transition of China’s fossil fuel energy state-owned enterprises (SOEs) is the key to achieving the Paris Agreement and China’s commitments. As one of the main sources of global and Chinese carbon emissions, achieving the ” dual carbon ” goal must, first, reduce carbon emissions related to fossil fuel energy SOEs. In this context, IIGF and NRDC have been commissioned by KR foundation to analyze China’s SOE reform process, characteristics and challanges for low carbon transition of the Chinese fossil fuel SOEs. The report takes three typical large-scale fossil fuel energy SOEs in China-National Energy Group, Sinopec Group and China Coal Group as typical cases. The project will provide an essential reference for governments, regulators, financial institutions, and state-owned enterprises to apply green finance and transition finance policies and tools, manage the financial risk and support the low-carbon transition of fossil energy SOEs under the carbon neutrality goal.



PART 1. Decarbonization of fossil fuel companies: analysis of international fossil fuel companies and their decarbonization strategies

This article provides an analysis of international fossil fuel companies. It includes analysis of companies that so far either been either successful (Engie & Ørsted), moderately successful (BHP Billiton, Eni, Shell, and BP), or unsuccessful (ExxonMobil, an ONGC). The purpose is to look into all the strategies applied by these companies to identify the best and worst practices to understand how the lessons can be used in a unique Chinese context.

PART 2. Decarbonization of fossil fuel companies: Comparing green finance policies and regulations by country

This article provides an analysis of the environmental policy and regulatory regimes of different countries around the world. It identifies what countries have so far adopted the most ambitious approach to enforce climate change regulations and which green financial instruments produce the best results

PART 3. Decarbonization of fossil fuel companies: How national policies and green finance bring about environmental commitments by fossil fuel companies

Certain external and internal initiatives have been particularly influential in fossil companies’ low carbon transition. The article provides a summary of what was found to be the key tendencies of how each factor has played out.