CO2 emissions from China's power industry: Policy implications from both macro and micro perspectives. (1st November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cui, Herui; Zhao, Tian; Wu, Ruirui
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 200(2018)
• Page Start: 746
• Page End: 755
• Publication Date: 2018-11-01
• Subjects: CO2 emissions -- Power industry -- Driving factors -- STIRPAT -- Evolutionary game -- Policy implications; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.07.330
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: China has become the global largest CO2 emitter, and CO2 emissions from China's power industry account for almost half of the total. Therefore, the power sector plays a key role in achieving low-carbon economy. It is imperative to formulate comprehensive policy implications for the power sector from both macro and micro perspectives to achieve the target of emission reduction. This paper selected seven socio-economic and technological factors involved in the whole power industry to investigate the mechanism driving CO2 emissions based on the extended STIRPAT model. The results show that the order of factors' absolute elasticity coefficients is GDP per capita (0.245) > power generation efficiency (−0.237) > power consuming efficiency (−0.189) > line loss rate (−0.184) > electricity practitioner population (0.143) > industrial structure (0.082) > generation structure (0.068). Further, it is necessary to discuss how a specific power enterprise responds under the low-carbon generation policy to maximize its own interest. The evolutionary game model between power enterprise and government is established and results indicate that it is critical to slash low-carbon production cost, enhance returns on low-carbon production and strengthen the regulation of power enterprises, and reduce the supervision cost of government. Accordingly, policy recommendations are proposed from both macro and micro perspectives for CO2 emission reduction of power industry. Highlights: We combined STIRPAT and evolutionary game to study CO2 emissions from power industry. We select electricity practitioner population and line loss rate as driving factors. An evolutionary game model between government and power enterprises is established. Policy implications from both macro and micro perspectives are proposed.