Greening the Red: How China Deploys Solar Energy to Beat Poverty
(2025) SIMZ31 20241Graduate School
- Abstract
- This thesis investigates the implementation of China’s Solar Energy for Poverty Alleviation Programme (SEPAP), a state-led initiative introduced in 2014 to address rural poverty while supporting the expansion of the domestic photovoltaic (PV) industry. Rather than evaluating outcomes, the study explores how SEPAP was translated from central policy into local practice across two counties in Jiangsu and Shandong provinces. Drawing on a process tracing methodology and a neo-institutionalist theoretical lens, and supported by thematic analysis of field data, it examines the institutional dynamics, actor strategies, and governance mechanisms that shaped the program’s delivery on the ground.
The research is based on qualitative data,... (More) - This thesis investigates the implementation of China’s Solar Energy for Poverty Alleviation Programme (SEPAP), a state-led initiative introduced in 2014 to address rural poverty while supporting the expansion of the domestic photovoltaic (PV) industry. Rather than evaluating outcomes, the study explores how SEPAP was translated from central policy into local practice across two counties in Jiangsu and Shandong provinces. Drawing on a process tracing methodology and a neo-institutionalist theoretical lens, and supported by thematic analysis of field data, it examines the institutional dynamics, actor strategies, and governance mechanisms that shaped the program’s delivery on the ground.
The research is based on qualitative data, including the analysis of 11 key policy documents and 12 semi-structured interviews with local government officials, private sector representatives, and rural citizens. The findings reveal that SEPAP was implemented as a centrally coordinated campaign rooted in ideological narratives such as ‘targeted poverty alleviation’ and ‘ecological civilization’, and enforced through top-down mechanisms including planning quotas, subsidy models, and ideological alignment. While Jiangsu demonstrated high institutional capacity and coherence, Shandong exposed issues such as symbolic compliance, limited technical oversight, and decoupling between formal procedures and real-world outcomes.
The study contributes to debates on governance and policy implementation in authoritarian contexts, showing that China’s ‘hard steering’ model enables rapid mobilization but can hinder responsiveness and accountability at the grassroots level. It argues for the importance of adaptive implementation mechanisms, inclusive governance, and robust institutional feedback systems to ensure that development initiatives achieve both technical and social objectives in practice. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- Recent years have seen the launch of a large rural poverty alleviation programme in China. The Solar Energy for Poverty Alleviation Programme (SEPAP) aimed to install solar panels in communities categorized as underserved and use the revenue generated from surplus electricity sales to support them, as well as accelerate the country’s transition to clean energy. A combination of social and environmental goals, SEPAP has been one of the largest experiments in green development in the world.
This thesis looks into how SEPAP was made a reality in two provinces in East China - Jiangsu and Shandong, and what it shows about China’s unique model of top-down governance. The research is based on fieldwork, interviews, and policy analysis to... (More) - Recent years have seen the launch of a large rural poverty alleviation programme in China. The Solar Energy for Poverty Alleviation Programme (SEPAP) aimed to install solar panels in communities categorized as underserved and use the revenue generated from surplus electricity sales to support them, as well as accelerate the country’s transition to clean energy. A combination of social and environmental goals, SEPAP has been one of the largest experiments in green development in the world.
This thesis looks into how SEPAP was made a reality in two provinces in East China - Jiangsu and Shandong, and what it shows about China’s unique model of top-down governance. The research is based on fieldwork, interviews, and policy analysis to examine how different actors - from national ministries to village officials - interpreted and implemented central mandates. Qualitative coding software (NVivo) was used to trace how policies moved from central down to ground level, and how they were adapted or resisted along the way.
The research finds that while SEPAP succeeded in many areas, its rollout was shaped by China’s “hard steering” approach - strong central control, ideological alignment, and strict performance targets. Local governments generally complied with these directives but often modified projects to suit their capacity and political pressures. In some cases, solar projects became more about checking boxes than delivering long-term impact.
The work shows that strong central direction can make policies move quickly, but long-term success depends on giving local communities the flexibility and support to make those policies work for real people. As other countries look to combine green energy with social development, there are lessons to be learned from China’s approach - both its strengths and its challenges.
The findings have implications for anyone interested in green transitions, rural poverty alleviation, or in how countries can shape large-scale development policies that can work for the many people. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9194446
- author
- Wieckowski, Mateusz LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SIMZ31 20241
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- China, policy implementation, solar energy, poverty alleviation, governance, process tracing, neo-institutionalism
- language
- English
- id
- 9194446
- date added to LUP
- 2025-06-25 13:33:38
- date last changed
- 2025-06-25 13:33:38
@misc{9194446,
abstract = {{This thesis investigates the implementation of China’s Solar Energy for Poverty Alleviation Programme (SEPAP), a state-led initiative introduced in 2014 to address rural poverty while supporting the expansion of the domestic photovoltaic (PV) industry. Rather than evaluating outcomes, the study explores how SEPAP was translated from central policy into local practice across two counties in Jiangsu and Shandong provinces. Drawing on a process tracing methodology and a neo-institutionalist theoretical lens, and supported by thematic analysis of field data, it examines the institutional dynamics, actor strategies, and governance mechanisms that shaped the program’s delivery on the ground.
The research is based on qualitative data, including the analysis of 11 key policy documents and 12 semi-structured interviews with local government officials, private sector representatives, and rural citizens. The findings reveal that SEPAP was implemented as a centrally coordinated campaign rooted in ideological narratives such as ‘targeted poverty alleviation’ and ‘ecological civilization’, and enforced through top-down mechanisms including planning quotas, subsidy models, and ideological alignment. While Jiangsu demonstrated high institutional capacity and coherence, Shandong exposed issues such as symbolic compliance, limited technical oversight, and decoupling between formal procedures and real-world outcomes.
The study contributes to debates on governance and policy implementation in authoritarian contexts, showing that China’s ‘hard steering’ model enables rapid mobilization but can hinder responsiveness and accountability at the grassroots level. It argues for the importance of adaptive implementation mechanisms, inclusive governance, and robust institutional feedback systems to ensure that development initiatives achieve both technical and social objectives in practice.}},
author = {{Wieckowski, Mateusz}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Greening the Red: How China Deploys Solar Energy to Beat Poverty}},
year = {{2025}},
}