Energy cost and greenhouse gas emissions of a Chinese wind farm

Renewability of wind power in China: A case study of nonrenewable energy cost and greenhouse gas emission by a plant in Guangxi

In 2009, the implementation of feed-in tariff (FIT) and attractive public subsidies for onshore wind farms aroused great investment enthusiasm and spurred remarkable development of wind power in China. Meanwhile, rapid learning-by-doing has significantly cut down the cost of wind turbines and the capital cost of wind farms as well. Therefore, it is the right time to examine the appropriateness of the existing FIT policy for wind power in China. In this paper, we employ the analytical framework for levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) to model the generation cost of wind power. Results show that the existing FIT policy is attractive to investors, but serious curtailment and turbine quality issues could make wind power unprofitable. Meanwhile, rapid substantial decreases in the cost of wind power have made it competitive to coal power in 2013, implying that it is possible and necessary to reform the FIT policy for new wind farms. In the future, energy policies for onshore wind power in China could be concentrated on reducing the integration cost, so as to reduce the overall system cost.

A life cycle co-benefits assessment of wind power in China

Importance of reducing GHG emissions in power transmission and distribution systems

Abstract. To track progress towards keeping global warming well below 2 ∘C or even 1.5 ∘C, as agreed in the Paris Agreement, comprehensive up-to-date and reliable information on anthropogenic emissions and removals of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is required. Here we compile a new synthetic dataset on anthropogenic GHG emissions for 1970–2018 with a fast-track extension to 2019. Our dataset is global in coverage and includes CO2 emissions, CH4 emissions, N2O emissions, as well as those from fluorinated gases (F-gases: HFCs, PFCs, SF6, NF3) and provides country and sector details. We build this dataset from the version 6 release of the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR v6) and three bookkeeping models for CO2 emissions from land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF). We assess the uncertainties of global greenhouse gases at the 90 % confidence interval (5th–95th percentile range) by combining statistical analysis and comparisons of global emissions inventories and top-down atmospheric measurements with an expert judgement informed by the relevant scientific literature. We identify important data gaps for F-gas emissions. The agreement between our bottom-up inventory estimates and top-down atmospheric-based emissions estimates is relatively close for some F-gas species (∼ 10 % or less), but estimates can differ by an order of magnitude or more for others. Our aggregated F-gas estimate is about 10 % lower than top-down estimates in recent years. However, emissions from excluded F-gas species such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are cumulatively larger than the sum of the reported species. Using global warming potential values with a 100-year time horizon from the Sixth Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global GHG emissions in 2018 amounted to 58 ± 6.1 GtCO2 eq. consisting of CO2 from fossil fuel combustion and industry (FFI) 38 ± 3.0 GtCO2, CO2-LULUCF 5.7 ± 4.0 GtCO2, CH4 10 ± 3.1 GtCO2 eq., N2O 2.6 ± 1.6 GtCO2 eq., and F-gases 1.3 ± 0.40 GtCO2 eq. Initial estimates suggest further growth of 1.3 GtCO2 eq. in GHG emissions to reach 59 ± 6.6 GtCO2 eq. by 2019. Our analysis of global trends in anthropogenic GHG emissions over the past 5 decades (1970–2018) highlights a pattern of varied but sustained emissions growth. There is high confidence that global anthropogenic GHG emissions have increased every decade, and emissions growth has been persistent across the different (groups of) gases. There is also high confidence that global anthropogenic GHG emissions levels were higher in 2009–2018 than in any previous decade and that GHG emissions levels grew throughout the most recent decade. While the average annual GHG emissions growth rate slowed between 2009 and 2018 (1.2 % yr−1) compared to 2000–2009 (2.4 % yr−1), the absolute increase in average annual GHG emissions by decade was never larger than between 2000–2009 and 2009–2018. Our analysis further reveals that there are no global sectors that show sustained reductions in GHG emissions. There are a number of countries that have reduced GHG emissions over the past decade, but these reductions are comparatively modest and outgrown by much larger emissions growth in some developing countries such as China, India, and Indonesia. There is a need to further develop independent, robust, and timely emissions estimates across all gases. As such, tracking progress in climate policy requires substantial investments in independent GHG emissions accounting and monitoring as well as in national and international statistical infrastructures. The data associated with this article (Minx et al., 2021) can be found at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5566761.

The Competitive Advantage of Developing Offshore Wind Energy in China

In recent years, rapid wind power development in China has attracted worldwide attention. China has been ranked first in both cumulative installed wind power capacity and newly installed wind power capacity for several years in a roll (including 2016) and is the largest wind power market in the world. The year 2016 saw further improvement in the policy framework for wind power in China. However, the massive unused wind power capacity and subsidy arrears remain a huge challenge. The prices of electricity from wind farms are still high while the exports of wind turbines as percentage of China’s total exports remain relatively low. The wind power sector faces unprecedented challenges from the decline in the benchmark prices for grid-connected wind power. Under the guidance of the 13th Five-Year Plan, China’s wind power sector has placed an increasing emphasis on quality than merely quantity. To pave the way to sustainable development of China’s wind power sector, it is recommended that Chinese policymakers should innovate and improve the policy frameworks for renewable energy certificates (RECs) trading, grid parity of wind power, reform in the electric power sector, wind power finance and insurance, and global trade in wind power goods and services.

In recent years, the growth rate of wind power in China installed capacity has tended to be sta-ble, and the competition among wind power equipment manufacturers has become increasingly fierce. In order to analyze the industrial performance of wind power in China, the paper summarized the status quo of China’s wind power, and then used the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model to analyze the industrial performance of China’s wind power from 2010 to 2014. We found that: during the analysis period, the industrial performance of wind power equipment manufacturing was best in 2010. Due to fierce competition between wind turbines manufacturers, the industrial performance was in the declining trend in the next three years. By 2014, the performance increased again, but did not reach the best state. Besides, the technical efficiency has been better than scale efficiency. 1 INSTRUCTION With the adjustment of energy structure, the renewable energy, especially the wind power, was facing a historic opportunity for development in China. In recent years, wind power industry itself has been also in the state of constant adjustment. The scale of projects approval, equipment tendering and projects construction of the wind power all has bigger growth. Besides, the grid-connected and integration issues of China’s wind power were also alleviated, due to the construction of UHV grid and the implementation of interconnection policy and subsidies policy. Therefore, the installed capacity of wind power in China maintained a rapid growth. At present, the market concentration degree of wind power manufacturing industry in China has been in a downward trend, but it is still higher [Yuanxin Liu, 2015]. According to the new installed capacity situation, the domestic market shares of the top 20 wind turbine manufacturers were about 90%. Although the market demand of domestic wind power grew steadily, the competition between wind power manufacturers was still fierce, and the overcapacity problem of wind power industry was stall serious. Both fierce competition and overcapacity have important influence on the industrial efficiency, so it is significant to research on the industrial performance of China’s wind power. In recent years, large numbers of scholars researched the China’s wind power industry from different aspects, such as wind power price and policy [Ping Lu, 2013] [Ting-Ting Mi, 2012], development bottleneck [Zhao Dong, 2009] [Hua BAI, 2012], sustainable development [Zheng-ming WANG, 2008] [Weidong Shi, 2011]and wind power industry innovation [Yuanying CHI, 2008] [Jorrit Gosens, 2013]. The research literatures of China’s wind Power industry have been comprehensive. Based on the exiting research literatures, the paper adopted the DEA model to analyze the industrial performance of China’s wind power.

Objectives:In accordance with the concern of global warming problem, many companies in Korea are striving to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with consumer awareness. Many studies have been reported for various products; however it is difficult to find carbonated soft drinks in Korea. The purpose of this study is to the impact of the greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbonated soft drinks in Korea.Methods:Calculation method of the greenhouse gas emissions followed “Guidelines for Carbon Footprint of Products” used in Korean Carbon Footprint Labeling. It was developed based on international standards such as ISO 14040 series. Life cycle of carbonated soft drinks was considered as a pre-manufacturing stage, manufacturing stage, distribution and disposal stage. Use stage of the product was excluded.Results and Discussion:This study shows that the package types and amounts for pre-manufacturing, manufacturing and disposal steps of carbonated soft drinks (the unit contents: 500 mL/unit, 1.5 L/unit), and also shows the results of greenhouse gas emissions. From the results, the pre-manufacturing stage of PET bottle manufacturing is the first contributor that occupy above 60% of greenhouse gas emissions. For reducing carbon emissions, low carbon manufacturing techniques for PET bottle are important. Sensitivity analysis was performed for PET bottle manufacturing, cap manufacturing and waste plastic disposal including site data and assumptions made. The sensitivity of each item was less than 7%.Conclusions:In conclusion, this study shows that the pre-manufacturing step of PET bottle and cap production have very significant impact on the greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore lightweight packages and usage of recycled plastics would be main techniques for reducing greenhouse gas emissions of carbonated soft drinks. From this study, the increment of product’s carbon footprint certification would be used as an effective policy instrument for achieving reduction goals of Korea Government. And also it could be used to spread the culture of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The price of wind power in China during its expansion: Technology adoption, learning-by-doing, economies of scale, and manufacturing localization

Mitigating Curtailment and Carbon Emissions through Load Migration between Data Centers

Abstract. Increasing numbers of studies have suggested that a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of cropping practices on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per unit yield (yield-scaled), rather than by land area (area-scaled), is needed to inform trade-off decisions to increase yields and reduce GHG emissions. We conducted a meta-analysis to quantify impacts of rice varieties on the global warming potential (GWP) of GHG emissions at the yield scale in China. Our results showed that significantly higher yield-scaled GWP occurred with indica rice varieties (1101.72 kg CO2 equiv. Mg−1) than japonica rice varieties (711.38 kg CO2 equiv. Mg−1). Lower yield-scaled GHG emissions occurred within 120–130 days of growth duration after transplanting (GDAT; 613.66 kg CO2 equiv. Mg−1), followed by 90–100 days of GDAT (749.72 kg CO2 equiv. Mg−1, 100–110 days of GDAT (794.29 kg CO2 equiv. Mg−1), and 70–80 days of GDAT (800.85 kg CO2 equiv. Mg−1). The fertilizer rate of 150–200 kg N ha−1 resulted in the lowest yield-scaled GWP. Consequently, appropriate cultivar choice and pairs were of vital importance in the rice cropping system. A further life cycle assessment of GHG emissions among rice varieties at the yield scale is urgently needed to develop win–win policies for rice production to achieve higher yield with lower emissions.

Thailand’s civil aviation industry has expanded rapidly in the past ten years resulting in increasing aviation greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption. The rapid growth in air transport is anticipated to continue further. Presently, domestic aviation and the economy of many countries are recovering rapidly in the post-COVID-19 period, resulting in fuel consumption and GHG emissions gradually increasing again. However, despite implementing the ICAO’s CORSIA (International Civil Aviation Organization’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) rule for international aviation, GHG emissions in the domestic aviation sector are largely unregulated. Moreover, the literature lacks a GHG emissions analysis that considers this sector’s potential growth and mitigation policies for future GHG emissions. To close the gap, this study conducted a GHG emissions analysis from this sector under various scenarios through 2050 using historical data during 2008–2020 to forecast future trends. It evaluates the impact of the mitigation policies, such as fuel switching and aircraft technology, on improving fuel efficiency due to technological advancements in aircraft and carbon pricing. The results show that the fuel switching option would result in a significant long-term reduction in GHG emissions, whereas the carbon pricing option and aircraft technology option are desirable in reducing GHG emissions in the short term. Therefore, to meet GHG emissions reduction targets more successfully, all measures must be simultaneously executed to address short- and long-term mitigation strategies. These findings have significant implications for both present and future GHG emissions reduction measures, supporting Thailand’s 2050 climate targets and energy efficiency policies as the domestic aviation industry adjusts.

Characteristics and reduction assessment of GHG emissions from crop residue open burning in China under the targets of carbon peak and carbon neutrality

Energy performance of wind power in China: A comparison among inland, coastal and offshore wind farms