Incentive policies to realize large-scale deployment of CCS in China's power sector and its economy-wide impacts

Abstract

Given the carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is still in the demonstration phase, large-scale deployment of CCS is urgently needed in the coming decades, especially in the power sector. Therefore, we built a computable general equilibrium model with detailed electricity technology module and assessed the economy-wide impacts of multiple incentive policies on large-scale deployment of CCS in the power sector. Results show that, first, if only CCS is subsidized, without supplementing carbon pricing, it will lead to deviations from the core environmental objectives of CCS development. Secondly, when CCS subsidies are combined with carbon pricing, if the sectoral indirect tax is reduced, the GDP loss can be better alleviated, and it can also have an obvious positive impact on energy conservation and emission reduction. Finally, a gradual sector-coverage way of carbon pricing contributes to further mitigating the accumulated GDP loss, easing sectoral profit losses, and improving positive effects on energy indicators.