Towards the decarbonization of the power sector – a comparison of China, the EU and the US based on historical data

Michel Noussan, Manfred Hafner, Loyle Campbell, Xinqing Lu, Pier Paolo Raimondi and Erpu Zhu
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Michel Noussan: Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, SciencesPo - Paris School of International Affairs
Manfred Hafner: Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, SciencesPo - Paris School of International Affairs, Johns Hopkins University - School of Advanced International Studies
Loyle Campbell: SciencesPo - Paris School of International Affairs
Xinqing Lu: SciencesPo - Paris School of International Affairs
Pier Paolo Raimondi: Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Istituto Affari Internazionali
Erpu Zhu: FSciencesPo - Paris School of International Affairs

No 2021.24, Working Papers from Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei

Abstract: This work compares the different decarbonization strategies of the power sector in China, the European Union and the United States, by considering the historical evolution of electricity generation and the current situation. Such a comparison is gaining a broader significance when evaluated with an additional level of geographic detail, by comparing European countries, Chinese provinces, and US states. The differences among these geographies highlight the challenges and opportunities of pushing towards low-carbon technologies, by making clear that regional decarbonization will need to address very different local contexts. Moreover, multiple policy and planning levels are involved, and those mechanisms are different in the three blocs being compared. Our analysis shows that these three blocs, although moving towards similar decarbonization targets, are currently at different levels of carbon intensity. The zero-carbon pathway will need to be declined in different local goals, based on the availability of low-carbon resources and the electricity demand. Given the geographical differences between demand and supply, and the likely increase of electricity demand, an improvement of power transmission networks will be essential. This work is part of a series of papers on the geopolitics of the energy transition in China, the European Union and the United States of America.

Keywords: Electricity; Power; Decarbonization; Energy Transition; China; EU; US (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N70 O13 P48 Q42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cna, nep-ene and nep-env
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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