Carbon emission and management of China´s power generation

Electricity is a basic necessary ingredient for modern economic growth and electricity sectors and also is the main sources of Carbon dioxides (CO₂) emission. As the second largest electricity producer and consumer in the world, China has electricity sector as one of the most important sector controlling CO₂ emission. This study presents the results of a life cycle analysis of CO₂ emissions from power generation systems in China using input-output analysis, from both electricity producer perspective and electricity consumer perspective. In 2007, direct CO₂ emission per KWh of electricity generated by power plants and consumed by end users in China was at 701.7 gCO₂ and 748.7 gCO₂ respectively, while the Life cycle CO₂ emission (total CO₂ emission) is at 890.4 gCO₂ per kWh of electricity generated and 977.2 gCO₂ per KWh of electricity end-users consume. Of the total, embodied CO₂ emission caused by indirect use of energy and materials contributes to 21.2 percent. China has achieved significant reduction of CO₂ emission per KWh electricity since 1980 and still has great potential in future through suitable CO₂ management measures adopted.