The influence factors of interprovincial power transmission on China's CO₂ emissions

Electric power system is a major source of CO₂ emission in China. Understanding the evolution of power-related CO₂ emission is an important step to both emission reduction and a sustainable energy transition. Here, we assess the CO₂ emission of power production in China, finding that it increased by 47% from 2008 to 2017 despite a significant decrease in CO₂ emission intensity of power production. The CO₂ emission intensity of power production differs greatly across provinces, with the highest provincial CO₂ emission intensity 11 times the lowest. To understand the evolution of power-related CO₂ emission, this study quantified the embodied CO₂ emissions of power transmission, and then use decomposition analysis to explore the influencing factors of it. We found that China's embodied CO₂ emissions from power transmission increased from 315 to 523 Mt between 2008 and 2017, and the increase in electricity consumption and the dependence on power transmission networks are the important reasons for the increase in embodied CO₂ emissions. Nationally, power transmission reduced CO₂ emission by 78 Mt. because, compared to the east, the west generally has a larger CO₂ emission factor. These dynamics will become important for policymakers and energy planners to achieve carbon neutrality.