Top

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change

Published in:

21-12-2019 | Original Article

Carbon emission efficiency of thermal power in different regions of China and spatial correlations

Authors: Jin Zhu, Huaping Sun, Dequn Zhou, Lin Peng, Chuanwang Sun

Published in: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change | Issue 7/2020

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config

AI-assisted search

Off

Abstract

In China, the power industry contributes significantly to carbon emissions, reducing carbon emissions in this industry is conducive to China's adaptation and mitigation of climate change. Researches on green and low-carbon power have attracted increasing attention. In this paper, we analyze and compare the carbon emissions from thermal power sector in 30 Chinese provinces, divided into three main regions. Based on the panel data over the period 2002–2016, we use a slacks-based measurement (SBM) model to measure the carbon emission efficiency of China’s power sector. The results show that the carbon emission efficiency of the system is relatively low, with marked differences among regions. Based on the Moran’s I, we further found spatial heterogeneity in carbon emission efficiency of provincial power sector. Policies for adaptation and mitigation of climate change should have regional differences. Interregional collaboration also plays a key role in adapting to and mitigating climate change. For China, it is an important issue to develop clean coal-fired power generation and vigorously develop renewable energy. From a global perspective, energy transformation needs to be continuously promoted. Promoting low-carbon transformation of global energy system requires deep technical cooperation and synergy. Global mitigation strategy should focus on the orientation of structural reform and constantly optimize the energy structure.

previous article Can a low-carbon development path achieve win-win development: evidence from China’s low-carbon pilot policy

next article Green innovation efficiency across China’s 30 provinces: estimate, comparison, and convergence

Ang BW (1999) Is the energy intensity a less useful indicator than the carbon factor in the study of climate change? Energy Policy 27(5):943–946CrossRef

Ang BW (2004) Decomposition analysis for policymaking in energy: which is the preferred method? Energy Policy 32(9):1131–1139CrossRef

Anslin L (2005) Spatial Econometric. University of Illinois Press

Chang YF, Lin SJ (1998) Structural decomposition of industrial CO₂ emission in Taiwan: an input-output approach. Energy Policy 26(26):5–12CrossRef

Chen S (2011) Fluctuation in the intensity of the Chinese carbon emissions and its economic reason. J World Econ 4:124–143

Chen W, Zhu D, Bai Z (2010) Research on relationship between industrial carbon emissions and carbon productivity in Shanghai. China Popul Resour Environ 20(9):24–29

Du L, Wei C, Cai S (2012) Economic development and carbon dioxide emissions in China: provincial panel data analysis. China Econ Rev 23(2):371–384CrossRef

Du L, Hanley A, Zhang N (2016) Environmental technical efficiency, technology gap and shadow price of coal-fuelled power plants in China: a parametric meta-frontier analysis. Resour Energy Econ 43:14–32CrossRef

Duan H, Zhang G, Wang S, Fan Y (2018) Balancing China’s climate damage risk against emission control costs. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Chang 23(3):387–403CrossRef

Duan H, Zhang G, Wang S, Fan Y (2019a) Robust climate change research: a review on multi-model analysis. Environ Res Lett 14:1–23CrossRef

Duan H, Zhang G, Wang S, Fan Y (2019b) Integrated benefit-cost analysis between China’s optimal adaptation and targeted mitigation. Ecol Econ 160:76–86CrossRef

Elhorst JP (2013) Specification and estimation of spatial panel data Models. Int Reg Sci Rev 26(3):244–268CrossRef

Fan J, Tang B, Yu H, Hou Y, Wei Y (2015) Impacts of socioeconomic factors on monthly electricity consumption of China’s sectors. Nat Hazards 75(2):2039–2047CrossRef

Fu K, Qi S (2014) Accounting method and its application of provincial electricity CO₂ emissions responsibility. China Popul Resour Environ (4):27–34

Gi K, Sano F, Hayashi A, Akimoto K (2019) A model-based analysis on energy systems transition for climate change mitigation and ambient particulate matter 2.5 concentration reduction. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Chang 24(2):181–204CrossRef

Guo B, Geng Y, Dong H, Liu Y (2016) Energy-related greenhouse gas emission features in China’s energy supply region: the case of Xinjiang. Renew Sust Energ Rev 54:15–24CrossRef

He J, Su M (2009) Carbon productivity analysis to address global climate change. Chin Soft Sci 10:42–47

IPCC Climate Change (2014) In: Edenhofer O et al (eds) Mitigation of Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

Kaya Y, Yokobori K (1997) Environment, Energy and Economy: Strategies for Sustainability. United Nations University Press

Krajnc D, Glavič P (2005) A model for integrated assessment of sustainable development. Resour Conserv Recycl 43(2):189–208CrossRef

Lin B, Yang L (2013) The potential estimation and factor analysis of China’s energy conservation on thermal power industry. Energy Policy 62:354–362CrossRef

Long X, Wu C, Zhang J, Zhang J, Kazmerski L (2018) Environmental efficiency for 192 thermal power plants in the Yangtze River Delta considering heterogeneity: a metafrontier directional slacks-based measure approach. Renew Sust Energ Rev 82:3962–3971CrossRef

Ma D, Chen Z, Wang L (2015) Spatial econometrics research on inter-provincial carbon emissions efficiency in China. China Popul Resour Environ (1):67–77

Marklund PO, Samakovlis E (2007) What is driving the EU burden-sharing agreement efficiency or equity? J Environ Manag 85(2):317–329CrossRef

Mielnik O, Goldemberg J (1999) The evolution of the “carbonization index” in developing countries. Energy Policy 27(5):307–308CrossRef

Monastyrenko E (2017) Eco-efficiency outcomes of mergers and acquisitions in the European electricity industry. Energy Policy 107:258–277CrossRef

Pan J, Zhang L (2011) Research on the regional variation of carbon productivity in China. China Ind Econ 5:47–57

Purohit P (2018) Small and bad. Nat Sustain 1:17–18CrossRef

Singh RK, Murty HR, Gupta SK, Dikshit AK (2012) An overview of sustainability assessment methodologies. Ecol Indic 15(1):281–299CrossRef

Soytas U, Sari R, Ewing BT (2007) Energy consumption, income, and carbon emissions in the United States. Ecol Econ 62(3):482–489CrossRef

Global Energy Review & Outlook (2018) in the paper, which is more better

Su S, Fang X, Zhao J, Hu J (2017) Spatiotemporal characteristics of consumption based CO₂ emissions from China’s power sector. Resour Conserv Recycl 121:156–163CrossRef

Sun H, Tariq G, Chen H, Zhu J, Liu Y, Wu C (2018) Allocation of carbon emission quotas to Chinese power enterprises. Energy Procedia 10(152):115–124CrossRef

Sun H, Bless KE, Sun C, Kporsu AK (2019) Institutional quality, green innovation and energy efficiency. Energy Policy 135(111002)

Tone K (2001) A slacks-based measure of efficiency in data envelopment analysis. Eur J Oper Res 130:498–509CrossRef

Wang C, Xie H (2015) Analysis on dynamic characteristics and influencing factors of carbon emissions from electricity in China. China Popul Resour Environ (4):21–27

Wang Q, Zhou D, Zhou P (2010a) Regional differences in the performance of China’s total factor carbon emission: considered undesirable common frontier research output function. Financ Trade Econ 9:112–117

Wang F, Wu L, Yang C (2010b) Driving factors for growth of carbon dioxide emissions during economic development in China. Econ Res J 2:123–136

Wu Y, Li J (2013) A local spatial econometric study on relationship between electricity consumption and economic growth of Chinese provinces. Sci Deographica Sin 29(1):30–35

Yan D, Lei Y, Li L, Song W (2017) Carbon emission efficiency and spatial clustering analyses in China’s thermal power industry: evidence from the provincial level. J Clean Prod 156(10):518–527CrossRef

Yang L, Lin B (2016) Carbon dioxide-emission in China’s power industry: evidence and policy implications. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 60:258–267CrossRef

Yuan J, Zhao C, Yu S, Hu Z (2007) Electricity consumption and economic growth in China: Cointegration and co-feature analysis. Energy Econ 29(6):1179–1191CrossRef

Zaim O, Taskin F (2000) Environmental efficiency in carbon dioxide emissions in the OECD: a non-parametric approach. J Environ Manag 58(2):95–107CrossRef

Zhao X, Ma Q, Yang R (2013) Factors influencing CO₂ emissions in China’s power industry: co-integration analysis. Energy Policy 57:89–98CrossRef

Zhou P, Ang BW, Han JY (2010) Total factor carbon emission performance: a Malmquist index analysis. Energy Econ 32(1):194–201CrossRef

Zofio JL, Prieto AM (2001) Environmental efficiency and regulatory standards: the case of CO₂ emissions from OECD industries. Resour Energy Econ 23(1):63–81CrossRef

Title: Carbon emission efficiency of thermal power in different regions of China and spatial correlations
Authors: Jin Zhu
Huaping Sun
Dequn Zhou
Lin Peng
Chuanwang Sun
Publication date: 21-12-2019
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change / Issue 7/2020
Print ISSN: 1381-2386
Electronic ISSN: 1573-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-019-09901-5

Springer Professional

Abstract

Please log in to get access to your license.

Other articles of this Issue 7/2020

Co-control of carbon dioxide and air pollutant emissions in China from a cost-effective perspective

Technology-side carbon abatement cost curves for China’s power generation sector

Multi-round auctions in an emissions trading system considering firm bidding strategies and government regulations

Evaluation of cooperative mitigation: captured carbon dioxide for enhanced oil recovery

Indicator system to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of China clean power systems

Heterogeneity in the relationship between carbon emission performance and urbanization: evidence from China