Abstract
As a clean form of energy utilization, wind power is important for alleviating climate change. Although no direct carbon emissions occur in wind power generation, there exist upstream carbon emissions from manufacturing and installation, which have indirect effects on both the locations of wind farms and areas involved in upstream production and manufacturing. In this paper, based on Input–Output based Life Cycle Analysis (IO-LCA), we explored the lifetime carbon emissions of 378 wind farms in China that were still in operation in 2015. The regional distributions of carbon emissions from wind farms during the whole lifetime were depicted. The embodied carbon emission transfers from the location of the wind farm operation to upstream turbine manufacturing regions were traced. The net emission reduction benefits among regions were also calculated. Results show that carbon emissions mainly distribute in Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, and Tianjin in the turbine manufacturing stage, with a total amount of 3.36 MT. Inner Mongolia contributes the largest carbon emissions (5.94 MT) in the farm construction stage. Inner Mongolia has transferred about 0.99 MT carbon emissions to itself and has the largest net emission reduction. Recognizing the carbon emission transfer of wind farms and dividing the carbon emission reduction responsibilities among regions may shed light on supply chain carbon emission reduction and provincial carbon quota allocation.
Highlights
In recent years, climate change has attracted more and more attention from the international community
As a type of clean energy, wind power can avoid energy consumption and carbon emissions caused by the burning of fossil energy, and plays an important role in reducing carbon emission and alleviating climate change
No direct carbon emissions occur in the process of wind power generation, there exist upstream carbon emissions from manufacturing and installation, which has indirect effects on both the locations of wind farms and regions involved in upstream turbine manufacturing
Summary
Climate change has attracted more and more attention from the international community. As a type of clean energy, wind power can avoid energy consumption and carbon emissions caused by the burning of fossil energy, and plays an important role in reducing carbon emission and alleviating climate change. No direct carbon emissions occur in the process of wind power generation, there exist upstream carbon emissions from manufacturing and installation, which has indirect effects on both the locations of wind farms and regions involved in upstream turbine manufacturing. To achieve the Paris climate targets, China attaches great importance to carbon emissions reduction. To transiting to a clean and low carbon power generation structure, renewable power, especially wind power, is attracting more and more attention. The State Council proposed that the installed capacity of wind power was expected to reach more than 1.2 billion KW in Action Plan for Carbon Dioxide Peaking Before 2030 on 26 October 2021
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