Transition to a low-carbon energy system through cooperation between urban and rural areas: Case study of a model area in China

In order to copper with the continuing global warming, various innovative plans have been promoted by both the country and also the local levels. However, as the most important local elements, urban and rural areas are always examined in a separate way to find the way to the low-carbon society, especially the low-carbon energy system. In this study, an integrated energy system covering both urban and rural areas is promoted based on the concept of making full use of local natural resources. By using a plan and evaluation model, a case study is executed for the Huzhou city in Zhejiang province, China. According to the simulation results, with the cooperation between urban and rural areas, the CO₂ emissions can be reduced in a cost-effective way even to 50% of current level. In addition, by endowing an economic value to the reduced CO₂ emissions, not only the economic benefit of the total energy system is increased, the economic and environmental balance can be also realized between the urban and rural areas.