Impact of Clean Energy on the Carbon Emission Structure of the Power Grid in China

Abstract

Abstract Achieving carbon neutrality is being accelerated by the gradual replacement of traditional high-emission power generation systems with wind and solar energy systems. This development will curb the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs). This step is especially important in the power transmission and distribution (T&D) network. The purpose of this study is to investigate GHG emissions in the T&D network based on life cycle assessment (LCA). A life cycle carbon assessment (LCCA) model of the T&D network is developed and presented. The inventory of a typical T&D system is presented and the GHG emissions intensity of that system is calculated. It is found that the intensity of GHG emissions of a typical T&D system in China is around 66 gCO2 eq/kWh in 2012. This amount has decreased to around 32 gCO2 eq/kWh in 2022, with the emissions structure remaining mostly unchanged. Electricity loss due to the transmission in a typical T&D network has been found to be responsible for the majority of GHG emissions. A prediction of the timing of carbon neutrality indicates that T&D GHG emissions will account for at least 16% of the total GHG emissions in the power grid in China by the year 2060. This is because solar and wind energy will account for most of the electricity generated.