Assessing the low-carbon effects of inter-regional energy delivery in China's electricity sector

Qixin Chen, Chongqing Kang, Hao Ming, Zeyu Wang, Qing Xia and Guoxin Xu

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2014, vol. 32, issue C, 671-683

Abstract: In China, the electricity sector consumes approximately 50% of the coal and emits 40% of the CO2 from fossil fuel combustion. The unbalanced spatial distribution between energy resources and demands and the remarkable differences in power-generation capabilities among regions are important factors that impede decarbonization of China's electricity sector. Utilization of the abundant low-carbon energy resources in the central and western regions is restricted by limited local demand. Energy demand in these regions accounts for approximately 26% of the entire nation's demand. By comparison, the regions have more than 45% of the energy resources. However, long-distance energy delivery incurs considerable losses. At present, approximately 80% of inter-regional energy delivery uses primary coal transport and 20% travels by secondary electricity transmission. The Chinese government is planning to build an ambitious inter-regional transmission grid for energy delivery. We demonstrate that this plan would significantly change the current delivery patterns and improve delivery efficiency. Approximately 40% of inter-regional energy delivery would travel by secondary electricity transmission and a 25% improvement in the delivery efficiency of the entire system is expected. Therefore, utilization of low-carbon energy resources would be promoted and overall carbon emission would be reduced. Using a fine-grained electricity dispatch model to simulate and optimize the operation of the power system, the carbon emission mitigation potential is quantitatively assessed based on real planning data. The results indicate a significant 10% reduction in CO2 emissions in 2030, amounting to 0.49Gt. This reduction should be included as an important component for the sector's low-carbon budget. Finally, we assess the potential for further reductions in carbon emissions by making modifications to the planned transmission grid.

Keywords: Low-carbon effects; Inter-regional energy delivery; Electricity dispatch model; Transmission grid; Assessing method (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (24)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2013.12.050

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