A review of clean energy innovation and technology transfer in China

China’s emergence as a major force in clean energy development has profound implications for the world. A lack of understanding around the trajectory of China’s surge in clean energy investment, and the seriousness of its impact on global clean energy development, demands a clear review of China’s clean energy innovation. To this purpose, the paper analyzes the technology innovation process and major players for technology innovation in a general sense. It then decodes the Chinese way of innovation, which reflects unique historical circumstances and development stage. The paper also explores the clean energy innovation with Chinese characteristics as well as analyzes lessons from China in clean energy innovation. The paper concludes that China has become a global learning laboratory of clean energy technology. China’s leadership in commercializing clean energy technology could ultimately help lower its costs and promote its commercialization globally. Nevertheless, China’s clean energy innovation faces an ambiguous future due to the challenge in balancing and coordinating technology import and indigenous innovation.