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Scientific Article details

Title Sustainable Energy Transitions in China: Renewable Options and Impacts on the Electricity System
ID_Doc 67781
Authors Sun, XY; Zhang, BS; Tang, X; McLellan, BC; Höök, M
Title Sustainable Energy Transitions in China: Renewable Options and Impacts on the Electricity System
Year 2016
Published Energies, 9, 12
DOI 10.3390/en9120980
Abstract Chinese energy consumption has been dominated by coal for decades, but this needs to change to protect the environment and mitigate anthropogenic climate change. Renewable energy development is needed to fulfil the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) for the post-2020 period, as stated on the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris. This paper reviews the potential of renewable energy in China and how it could be utilised to meet the INDC goals. A business-as-usual case and eight alternative scenarios with 40% renewable electricity are explored using the EnergyPLAN model to visualise out to the year 2030. Five criteria (total cost, total capacity, excess electricity, CO2 emissions, and direct job creation) are used to assess the sustainability of the scenarios. The results indicate that renewables can meet the goal of a 20% share of non-fossil energy in primary energy and 40%-50% share of non-fossil energy in electricity power. The low nuclear-hydro power scenario is the most optimal scenario based on the used evaluation criteria. The Chinese government should implement new policies aimed at promoting integrated development of wind power and solar PV.
Author Keywords EnergyPLAN; energy transition; renewable energy mix; sustainability assessment
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED); Social Science Citation Index (SSCI)
EID WOS:000388604700002
WoS Category Energy & Fuels
Research Area Energy & Fuels
PDF https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/12/980/pdf?version=1481767420
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