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Maximizing the environmental benefits of gas power development in China: A multidisciplinary modeling approach

Document Type

Research-Article

Author

Yan Chen, Michael Davidson, Yu Liu, Dachuan Liu, Huawei Zhang, Chaozi Wang, Xinyu Fan, Muzhen Ren, Pu Wang

Journal Name

iScience

Abstract

China, holding nearly half of the global coal-fired power capacity, must shift from its coal-centric energy system to meet climate and air quality goals. This study explores the optimal utilization of natural gas by evaluating the environmental and economic costs of gas- and coal-fired power using plant-level data and a multidisciplinary modeling approach. We find that gas power has substantially lower air pollution costs (0.77 versus 12.2 cents/kWh) and moderately lower GHG costs (2.8 versus 4.5 cents/kWh), with an average environmental advantage of 12.1 cents/kWh and a social benefit of 10.4 cents/kWh when considering LCOE. The benefits vary spatially with the highest benefits in east-central China. Prioritizing substitution in regions with high environmental benefits could reduce SO2, NOx, and PM emissions by 28%, 15%, and 56%, respectively, offering a 52% higher environmental benefit than existing gas power plans. This study provides quantitative support for gas power development in China.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.111041

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