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The photovoltaic poverty alleviation (PV-PA) policy is a promising policy innovation to achieve sustainable development in China. Based on first-hand field investigation data of 18 prefecture-level cities and 110 counties in China's Henan Province, this paper first evaluated the efficiency of PV-PA policy and analyzed its spatial correlation characteristics by adopting data envelopment analysis, spatial autocorrelation analysis and social network analysis methods. The results show that: (1) the comprehensive efficiency of the PV-PA policy in Henan Province is good, and that of the prefecture-level is better than the county-level, with great differences; (2) comprehensive efficiency of the PV-PA policy shows a significant spatial agglomeration phenomenon at the county-level, and regional development imbalance exists; and (3) PV-PA policy network linkages at prefecture-level are relatively weak. Finally, this paper makes policy recommendations for optimizing project scale, promoting regional balanced development, strengthening supervision and management, and enhancing the cooperation between policymakers. • DEA was used to evaluate the efficiency of the PV-PA policy in China's 110 counties • Explored the spatial correlation patterns of the PV-PA policy efficiency • Constructed a spatial correlation network for the PV-PA policy efficiency • Comprehensive efficiency of PV-PA policy needs to be enhanced • Unbalanced development and regional uncoordinated situation needs improvement [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic poverty alleviation power stations (PPAPS) are the foundation of poverty alleviation, whose operation and maintenance (O&M) status is the key to ensuring long-term poverty reduction advantages. As part of PPAPS′ O&M performance, the role of the O&M contracts has yet to be proven. This paper uses a three-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) model and grey relation analysis (GRA) to analyze the O&M performance efficiency of PPAPS and the influencing factors of contract governance from field data of 110 counties in Henan Province, China. The results show that:1) the O&M efficiency of the PPAPS is relatively high and inconsistent across the region, which has not yet attained optimal productivity; 2) the present efficiency is mainly determined by the initial investment size and installed capacity; 3) the governance factors of O&M contracts affect the performance efficiency of PPAPS, which may lead to overestimation; and 4) longer contract term and higher performance incentive coefficients may result in inefficiencies at the initial stage of PPAPS′ use, while government subsidies allocation and timely O&M cost settlement have little impact on O&M efficiency. This paper proposes corresponding policy recommendations finally. • This paper focuses on the true O&M performance efficiency of PPAPS and influencing factors of contractual. • PPAPS′ O&M performance efficiency is relatively high with regional differences among counties. • The initial investment and capacity installed mostly determined the present efficiency. • Longer O&M contract terms and a higher achievements drive will result in inefficiency at the initial stage of PPAPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an institutional innovation in the market-oriented reform of China's energy sector, the policy effect of energy consumption license transaction (ECPT) is still lack of research. The pilot provinces of energy market-oriented reform are relatively scattered. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the spillover effect and regional differences of ECPT, so as to make up for the lack of research on China's market-oriented energy reform. Results show that ECPT has inhibitory effects on energy consumption and energy intensity. In addition, ECPT can reduce energy consumption and energy intensity in neighboring areas. The policy effect of ECPT shows the characteristics of strengthening with the evolution of time. Foreign trade, industrial structure and technological progress are the paths for ECPT policies to promote energy transformation. The implementation effect of ECPT shows significant regional differences, which has a significant role in promoting the energy transformation of Henan and Sichuan. Therefore, the central government must ensure the continuity of energy market-oriented reforms to release long-term policy dividends. Pilot provinces should not only play the role of domestic regional energy-saving cooperation, but also strengthen foreign trade and technological innovation to promote energy transformation. • ECPT has an obvious inhibitory effect on energy consumption and energy intensity. • ECPT has the spillover effect of energy saving on neighboring provinces. • The long-term effects of ECPT are stronger than the short-term effects. • Foreign trade, industrial upgrading and technological progress are the mechanisms. • The effect of ECPT shows significant heterogeneity in different pilot provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As energy security has been an increasingly hot topic in research, a reliable and sound framework for allaying energy security is necessary. In this paper, it establishes a methodological framework based on quantitative and qualitative approaches for measuring and improving energy security from a broad sense. Firstly, it interprets the conceptual framework of energy security composed by seven dimensions, and 28 indicators are designed for its assessment. Then, Fuzzy AHP is used to indicate the importance of the dimensions and indicators, and the hybrid model of GRA-TOPSIS is introduced to evaluate energy security performance. Further, a qualitative root cause analysis is conducted with Why-Why Diagram to identify the possible causes affecting energy security. After that, a case study is conducted to investigate energy security of Henan province in China within the period of 2005–2017. The results indicate that, energy security is no longer a single-dimensional concept, but a synthetic term, and the technological, environmental, social, even political aspects can be improved to enhance energy security. The methodological framework with quantitative and qualitative techniques can help achieve an all-around understanding of energy security. • Comprehensive criteria for assessing reginal energy security were developed. • Both quantitative and qualitative analysis for regional energy security were carried out. • Fuzzy AHP was employed to determine the weights of the criteria for energy security. • GRA-TOPSIS was used for security quantitative assessment. • Why-Why Diagram was used to identify the critical factors affecting regional energy security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]