Abstract: Energy security has become one of China's top concerns in recent years. The development of renewable energy is of great importance not only for improving China's energy security but also for reducing environmental pressure. Based on household survey data collected from 4 provinces in 2009 and 2013, this paper analyzes the current situation and determinants of renewable energy consumption in rural China. The results show that traditional biomass energies, such as crop residue and wood, are still the major renewable energy used in rural China, although it is decreasing in recent years. The development of new energies such as solar energy and biogas are rapid in rural China, but the share of those new energies in total renewable energy are still small with only about 7.55 percent in 2012. Statistical analysis and econometric regression results show that household income, rural labor cost, maturity degree of local energy market, and household demographic characteristics are critical factors that affect renewable energy consumption in rural China.