The　development　of　renewable　energy　is　a　key　measure　to　achieving　carbon　neutrality　in　China.　Considering　the　significant　regional　differences　in　income　levels　and　green　technology　innovation,　it　is　essential　to　discuss　the　impact　of　renewable　energy　development　on　carbon　emissions　from　the　Chinese　provincial　level.　Based　on　the　panel　data　of　30　provinces　in　China　from　1999　to　2019,　this　study　first　explores　the　impact　of　renewable　energy　on　carbon　emissions　and　regional　heterogeneity.　Moreover,　the　moderating　effects　of　income　levels　on　the　nexus　between　renewable　energy　and　carbon　emissions,　and　the　impact　mechanism　of　green　technology　innovation　are　further　examined.　Results　show　that,　first,　renewable　energy　development　can　significantly　reduce　carbon　emissions　in　China,　and　there　exist　obvious　regional　differences.　Second,　income　levels　present　a　non-linear　moderating　effect　on　the　relationship　between　renewable　energy　and　carbon　emissions.　The　increase　in　income　levels　can　effectively　enhance　the　emission　reduction　effect　of　renewable　energy　only　in　high-income　regions.　Third,　renewable　energy　development　is　an　important　mediating　mechanism　for　green　technology　innovation　to　achieve　emission　reduction.　Finally,　policy　implications　are　proposed　to　help　China　in　advancing　the　development　of　renewable　energy　and　achieve　carbon　neutrality.