Decomposition analysis of CO_2 emissions from electricity generation in China

摘要

Electricity generation in China mainly depends on coal and its products, which has led to the increase in CO_2 emissions. This paper intends to analyze the current status of CO_2 emissions from electricity generation in China during the period 1991-2009, and apply the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) technique to find the nature of the factors influencing the changes in CO_2 emissions. The main results as follows: (1) CO_2 emission from electricity generation has increased from 530.96 Mt in 1991 to 2393.02 Mt in 2009, following an annual growth rate of 8.72%. Coal products is the main fuel type for thermal power generation, which accounts for more than 90% CO_2 emissions from electricity generation. (2) This paper also presents CO_2 emissions factor of electricity consumption, which help calculate CO_2 emission from final electricity consumption. (3) In China, the economic activity effect is the most important contributor to increase CO_2 emissions from electricity generation, but the electricity generation efficiency effect plays the dominant role in decreasing CO_2 emissions.