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Revisiting CO2 mitigation potential and costs in China's electricity sector

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  • Cai, Wenjia
  • Wang, Can
  • Chen, Jining

Abstract

To improve the reliability of sectoral mitigation potential and cost analysis, this paper made an in-depth exploration into China's electricity sector's thermal efficiency and inner structure. It is found that unlike what many literatures portray, China is actually among the world's leaders in coal-fired power plants' generating efficiencies; besides, although there are still numerous small and inefficient generating units in the current generation fleet, many of them are in fact playing important roles in supporting local economic development, meeting peak load needs, balancing heat and electricity supply and providing job opportunities to the local economy, therefore their existence does not necessarily mean low-cost mitigation potential. Given the efficiency and structural characteristics of China's electricity sector, it is pointed out that some other mitigation options, such as demand side management, IGCC and renewable energy as well as the break-through of CCS technology may play an even more important role in emission reduction. Considering the significant lock-in effects in electricity sector, it is warned that China, if continues putting majority investment in large and advanced coal-fired generating units, will face another round of chasing-after for the new and advanced renewable generation technologies. Therefore China should put more efforts in renewable generation technologies now.

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  • Cai, Wenjia & Wang, Can & Chen, Jining, 2010. "Revisiting CO2 mitigation potential and costs in China's electricity sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 4209-4213, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:38:y:2010:i:8:p:4209-4213
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cai, Wenjia & Wang, Can & Wang, Ke & Zhang, Ying & Chen, Jining, 2007. "Scenario analysis on CO2 emissions reduction potential in China's electricity sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 6445-6456, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhao, Xiaofan & Li, Huimin & Wu, Liang & Qi, Ye, 2014. "Implementation of energy-saving policies in China: How local governments assisted industrial enterprises in achieving energy-saving targets," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 170-184.
    2. Can Wang & Jie Lin & Wenjia Cai & ZhongXiang Zhang, 2013. "Policies and Practices of Low Carbon City Development in China," Energy & Environment, , vol. 24(7-8), pages 1347-1372, December.
    3. Ang, B.W. & Zhou, P. & Tay, L.P., 2011. "Potential for reducing global carbon emissions from electricity production--A benchmarking analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(5), pages 2482-2489, May.
    4. Lin, Boqiang & Moubarak, Mohamed, 2014. "Mitigation potential of carbon dioxide emissions in the Chinese textile industry," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 781-787.
    5. Qingyou Yan & Yaxian Wang & Tomas Baležentis & Yikai Sun & Dalia Streimikiene, 2018. "Energy-Related CO 2 Emission in China’s Provincial Thermal Electricity Generation: Driving Factors and Possibilities for Abatement," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-25, April.
    6. Zongguo Wen & Xuan Zhang & Xuewei Yu & Jinghan Di, 2015. "Technology options for reducing CO 2 in China's electricity sector in 2010–2030: From the perspective of internal and social costs," Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 5(6), pages 772-785, December.
    7. Wenli Qiang & Shuwen Niu & Xiaojie Liu & Xiang Wang & Zhuo Jia & Runqi Dai, 2018. "Analysis of generation cost changes during China’s energy transition," Energy & Environment, , vol. 29(4), pages 456-472, June.
    8. Wang, Can & Ye, Minhua & Cai, Wenjia & Chen, Jining, 2014. "The value of a clear, long-term climate policy agenda: A case study of China’s power sector using a multi-region optimization model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 276-288.
    9. Mathews, John A. & Tan, Hao, 2013. "The transformation of the electric power sector in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 170-180.
    10. Wang, Can & Zhang, Weishi & Cai, Wenjia & Xie, Xi, 2013. "Employment impacts of CDM projects in China's power sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 481-491.
    11. Wang, Can & Lin, Jie & Cai, Wenjia & Liao, Hua, 2014. "China׳s carbon mitigation strategies: Enough?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 47-56.

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