Rural　energy　is　related　to　the　domestic　energy　supply,　consumption,　and　improvement　of　living　standards　of　more　than　one-third　of　the　population　in　China.　In　the　＇14th　Five-Year　Plan,＇　it　has　been　clearly　pointed　out　that　it　is　necessary　to　strengthen　the　clean　utilization　of　coal　and　implement　the　construction　of　rural　clean　energy　projects.　At　present,　the　energy　consumption　structure　of　rural　areas　in　China　is　transiting　from　traditional　solid　energy　to　commercial　energy　and　clean　energy.　Based　on　this　background,　this　paper　reviews　the　transition　trend,　influencing　factors,　and　regional　differences　of　China’s　rural　household　energy　consumption　structure　from　the　1990s.　Taking　into　account　China’s　goal　of　carbon　peaking　by　2030　and　carbon　neutrality　by　2060,　carbon　dioxide　and　pollutant　emissions　generated　in　the　process　of　energy　consumption　and　the　energy-saving　potential　of　rural　households　are　analyzed　and　discussed.　Moreover,　the　evolution　of　rural　energy　policies　in　China　is　presented　and　related　proposals　are　also　made.　This　review　aims　to　provide　reference　for　relevant　researchers　and　policy　makers.　Copyright　©　2022　Zhang,　Xu,　He　and　Wang.