Decarbonization of the wind power sector in China: Evolving trend and driving factors

Abstract

There is a worldwide consensus that renewable energy sources, such as wind power, will play an essential role in the global low-carbon energy transition. However, most quantifications of the CO2 emissions of wind power systems ignored the indirect footprints induced by supply chains. Thus, this study developed input–output (IO)-based hybrid life-cycle assessment (LCA) models based on China's 2007, 2012, and 2017 economic benchmark data to quantify the economy-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of China's wind power sector. Moreover, the key sectors driving the footprint variation were identified, and the footprint structure was analyzed via the production layer decomposition method. The study results confirm the decarbonization of the wind power sector in China, with a decrease in the GHG footprint from 52.27 g CO2e/kWh in 2007 to 21.23 g CO2e/kWh in 2017. This 59.38% GHG footprint reduction was mainly driven by the electricity and heat sector. Most of wind power's GHG footprint (more than 84%) was derived from upstream industries, highlighting the necessity of supply chain analysis in the governance of the wind power industry.