The influence factors of interprovincial power transmission on China's CO2 emissions.

Abstract

Electric power system is a major source of CO2 emission in China. Understanding the evolution of power-related CO2 emission is an important step to both emission reduction and a sustainable energy transition. Here, we assess the CO2 emission of power production in China, finding that it increased by 47% from 2008 to 2017 despite a significant decrease in CO2 emission intensity of power production. The CO2 emission intensity of power production differs greatly across provinces, with the highest provincial CO2 emission intensity 11 times the lowest. To understand the evolution of power-related CO2 emission, this study quantified the embodied CO2 emissions of power transmission, and then use decomposition analysis to explore the influencing factors of it. We found that China's embodied CO2 emissions from power transmission increased from 315 to 523 Mt between 2008 and 2017, and the increase in electricity consumption and the dependence on power transmission networks are the important reasons for the increase in embodied CO2 emissions. Nationally, power transmission reduced CO2 emission by 78 Mt. because, compared to the east, the west generally has a larger CO2 emission factor. These dynamics will become important for policymakers and energy planners to achieve carbon neutrality.