China Utility-based Energy Efficiency Finance (CHUEE) Program

CHUEE Structure | Evaluation Questions and Results |

Recommendations | Methodology | Additional Resources


IEG evaluated the performance of IFC’s energy efficiency finance program in China aimed at stimulating energy efficiency investments through bank guarantees and advisory services. This was the first IEG evaluation to assess the performance of IFC programs in the area of climate change, a strategic pillar for IFC. As part of this evaluation IEG also reviewed IFC's past similar operations in Eastern Europe and Russia to consolidate the lessons learned. CHUEE program evaluation is the first evaluation of IFC’s investment operations that focuses on impacts: assessing the differences made by the program by comparing it to a situation with no IFC intervention, conducting the analysis along the chain of interventions. The findings shed light on IFC’s program performance from a perspectives that is different from the conventional benchmarks and objective-based evaluations.

• Foreword [pdf]
• Executive Summary [pdf]
• Chairperson's Summary: Committee on Development Effectiveness [pdf]
• Full Report [pdf] (English)
• Full Report [pdf] (Chinese)

1. Reorient the program activities towards areas where IFC can have the biggest impact, e.g., SMEs;
2. Focus on areas of high energy efficiency potential, e.g., residential housing and buildings;
3. Improve the selectivity of subsidy elements towards areas of market failure, such as renewable energy sources, and clients, e.g., renewable energy, SMEs