IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v13y2020i8p2076-d348393.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Method for Analyzing Energy-Related Carbon Emissions and the Structural Changes: A Case Study of China from 2005 to 2015

Author

Listed:
  • Honghua Yang

    (State Key Laboratory of Power Systems, Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua-BP Clean Energy Research and Education Centre, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
    Tsinghua-Rio Tinto Joint Research Centre for Resources, Energy and Sustainable Development, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China)

  • Linwei Ma

    (State Key Laboratory of Power Systems, Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua-BP Clean Energy Research and Education Centre, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
    Tsinghua-Rio Tinto Joint Research Centre for Resources, Energy and Sustainable Development, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China)

  • Zheng Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Power Systems, Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua-BP Clean Energy Research and Education Centre, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China)

Abstract

To systematically analyze energy-related carbon emissions from the perspective of comprehensive energy flow and allocate emissions responsibility, we introduce energy allocation analysis to carbon flow process based on Sankey diagrams. Then, to quantitatively compare different diagrams and evaluate the structural changes of carbon flow, we define changes from three dimensions including total amount change, relative growth rate and occupation ratio change (TRO), propose TRO index. The method is applied to China’s case study from 2005 to 2015. We map China’s energy-related carbon flow Sankey diagrams with high technical resolution from energy sources, intermediate conversion, end-use devices, passive systems to final services, and conduct TRO index decomposition by stages. The results indicate that in energy sources, the emission share of coal has declined due to energy transition although coal is still the largest contributor to China’s energy-related carbon emissions. In passive systems, the factory passive systems are the largest contributors, among them, emission reduction should focus on the steel, non-ferrous and chemical industries; the building passive systems should pay attention to household appliances; the vehicle passive systems should focus on cars. In final services, the demand for structural materials is the strongest driving force for carbon emissions growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Honghua Yang & Linwei Ma & Zheng Li, 2020. "A Method for Analyzing Energy-Related Carbon Emissions and the Structural Changes: A Case Study of China from 2005 to 2015," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-24, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:8:p:2076-:d:348393
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/8/2076/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/8/2076/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Soundararajan, Kamal & Ho, Hiang Kwee & Su, Bin, 2014. "Sankey diagram framework for energy and exergy flows," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 1035-1042.
    2. Ma, Linwei & Allwood, Julian M. & Cullen, Jonathan M. & Li, Zheng, 2012. "The use of energy in China: Tracing the flow of energy from primary source to demand drivers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 174-188.
    3. Chinhao Chong & Weidou Ni & Linwei Ma & Pei Liu & Zheng Li, 2015. "The Use of Energy in Malaysia: Tracing Energy Flows from Primary Source to End Use," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-39, April.
    4. Zhu Liu & Dabo Guan & Wei Wei & Steven J. Davis & Philippe Ciais & Jin Bai & Shushi Peng & Qiang Zhang & Klaus Hubacek & Gregg Marland & Robert J. Andres & Douglas Crawford-Brown & Jintai Lin & Hongya, 2015. "Reduced carbon emission estimates from fossil fuel combustion and cement production in China," Nature, Nature, vol. 524(7565), pages 335-338, August.
    5. Mu, Hailin & Li, Huanan & Zhang, Ming & Li, Miao, 2013. "Analysis of China's carbon dioxide flow for 2008," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 320-326.
    6. Nakićenović, Nebojsa & Gilli, Paul Viktor & Kurz, Rainer, 1996. "Regional and global exergy and energy efficiencies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 223-237.
    7. Cullen, Jonathan M. & Allwood, Julian M., 2010. "The efficient use of energy: Tracing the global flow of energy from fuel to service," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 75-81, January.
    8. Xu Li & Chinhao Chong & Linwei Ma & Pei Liu & Xuesi Shen & Zibo Jia & Cheng Wang & Zheng Li & Weidou Ni, 2018. "Coordinating the Dynamic Development of Energy and Industry in Composite Regions: An I-SDOP Analysis of the BTH Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-28, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yuancheng Lin & Chinhao Chong & Linwei Ma & Zheng Li & Weidou Ni, 2021. "Analysis of Changes in the Aggregate Exergy Efficiency of China’s Energy System from 2005 to 2015," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-27, April.
    2. Yang, Honghua & Ma, Linwei & Li, Zheng, 2023. "Tracing China's steel use from steel flows in the production system to steel footprints in the consumption system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    3. Yayu Xiao & Honghua Yang & Yunlong Zhao & Geng Kong & Linwei Ma & Zheng Li & Weidou Ni, 2022. "A Comprehensive Planning Method for Low-Carbon Energy Transition in Rapidly Growing Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-17, February.
    4. Yunlong Zhao & Linwei Ma & Zheng Li & Weidou Ni, 2022. "A Calculation and Decomposition Method Embedding Sectoral Energy Structure for Embodied Carbon: A Case Study of China’s 28 Sectors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-29, February.
    5. Yuancheng Lin & Honghua Yang & Linwei Ma & Zheng Li & Weidou Ni, 2021. "Low-Carbon Development for the Iron and Steel Industry in China and the World: Status Quo, Future Vision, and Key Actions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-28, November.
    6. Yee Van Fan & Zorka Novak Pintarič & Jiří Jaromír Klemeš, 2020. "Emerging Tools for Energy System Design Increasing Economic and Environmental Sustainability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-25, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chinhao Chong & Xi Zhang & Geng Kong & Linwei Ma & Zheng Li & Weidou Ni & Eugene-Hao-Chen Yu, 2021. "A Visualization Method of the Economic Input–Output Table: Mapping Monetary Flows in the Form of Sankey Diagrams," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-56, November.
    2. Chong, Chin Hao & Tan, Wei Xin & Ting, Zhao Jia & Liu, Pei & Ma, Linwei & Li, Zheng & Ni, Weidou, 2019. "The driving factors of energy-related CO2 emission growth in Malaysia: The LMDI decomposition method based on energy allocation analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    3. Chong, Chin Hao & Zhou, Xiaoyong & Zhang, Yongchuang & Ma, Linwei & Bhutta, Muhammad Shoaib & Li, Zheng & Ni, Weidou, 2023. "LMDI decomposition of coal consumption in China based on the energy allocation diagram of coal flows: An update for 2005–2020 with improved sectoral resolutions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    4. Linwei Ma & Chinhao Chong & Xi Zhang & Pei Liu & Weiqi Li & Zheng Li & Weidou Ni, 2018. "LMDI Decomposition of Energy-Related CO 2 Emissions Based on Energy and CO 2 Allocation Sankey Diagrams: The Method and an Application to China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-37, January.
    5. Yuancheng Lin & Chinhao Chong & Linwei Ma & Zheng Li & Weidou Ni, 2021. "Analysis of Changes in the Aggregate Exergy Efficiency of China’s Energy System from 2005 to 2015," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-27, April.
    6. Yang, Honghua & Ma, Linwei & Li, Zheng, 2023. "Tracing China's steel use from steel flows in the production system to steel footprints in the consumption system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    7. Charalampos Michalakakis & Jeremy Fouillou & Richard C. Lupton & Ana Gonzalez Hernandez & Jonathan M. Cullen, 2021. "Calculating the chemical exergy of materials," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(2), pages 274-287, April.
    8. Xu Li & Chinhao Chong & Linwei Ma & Pei Liu & Xuesi Shen & Zibo Jia & Cheng Wang & Zheng Li & Weidou Ni, 2018. "Coordinating the Dynamic Development of Energy and Industry in Composite Regions: An I-SDOP Analysis of the BTH Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-28, June.
    9. Claudia Kettner-Marx & Angela Köppl & Sigrid Stagl, 2014. "Towards an Operational Measurement of Socio-ecological Performance. WWWforEurope Working Paper No. 52," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 47154, March.
    10. Gao, Yuan & Chong, Chin Hao & Liu, Gengyuan & Casazza, Marco & Xiong, Xiaoping & Liu, Bojie & Zhou, Xuanru & Zhou, Xiaoyong & Li, Zheng & Ni, Weidou & Hao, Yan & Ma, Linwei, 2024. "Identification of carbon responsibility factors based on energy consumption from 2005 to 2020 in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 296(C).
    11. Lin, Yuancheng & Ma, Linwei & Li, Zheng & Ni, Weidou, 2023. "The carbon reduction potential by improving technical efficiency from energy sources to final services in China: An extended Kaya identity analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PE).
    12. Soundararajan, Kamal & Ho, Hiang Kwee & Su, Bin, 2014. "Sankey diagram framework for energy and exergy flows," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 1035-1042.
    13. Min He & Pei Liu & Linwei Ma & Chinhao Chong & Xu Li & Shizhong Song & Zheng Li & Weidou Ni, 2018. "A Systems Analysis of the Development Status and Trends of Rural Household Energy in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-23, July.
    14. Cullen, Jonathan M. & Allwood, Julian M., 2010. "Theoretical efficiency limits for energy conversion devices," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 2059-2069.
    15. Brand-Correa, Lina I. & Steinberger, Julia K., 2017. "A Framework for Decoupling Human Need Satisfaction From Energy Use," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 43-52.
    16. Zhang, Bo & Qu, Xue & Meng, Jing & Sun, Xudong, 2017. "Identifying primary energy requirements in structural path analysis: A case study of China 2012," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 425-435.
    17. Biying Yu & Guangpu Zhao & Runying An, 2019. "Framing the picture of energy consumption in China," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 99(3), pages 1469-1490, December.
    18. Paoli, Leonardo & Lupton, Richard C. & Cullen, Jonathan M., 2018. "Useful energy balance for the UK: An uncertainty analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 176-188.
    19. Sousa, Tânia & Brockway, Paul E. & Cullen, Jonathan M. & Henriques, Sofia Teives & Miller, Jack & Serrenho, André Cabrera & Domingos, Tiago, 2017. "The Need for Robust, Consistent Methods in Societal Exergy Accounting," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 11-21.
    20. Zhang, Pengpeng & Zhang, Lixiao & Tian, Xin & Hao, Yan & Wang, Changbo, 2018. "Urban energy transition in China: Insights from trends, socioeconomic drivers, and environmental impacts of Beijing," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 173-183.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:8:p:2076-:d:348393. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.