Estimation of environmental effects of photovoltaic generation in North-west China

doi:10.1007/s11708-013-0280-8

Front Energ

0, Vol.

Issue () : 535-543 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-013-0280-8

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Estimation of environmental effects of photovoltaic generation in North-west China

Mengjia REN(

), Anastasia SHCHERBAKOVA

Energy and Mineral Engineering Department, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA

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Abstract

In estimating emissions reductions brought about by renewables in China, much of existing research assumes that renewables displace coal power. In this paper, this assumption is challenged and the potential environmental effects of photovoltaic (PV) power in North-west China are reevaluated when the marginal generator actually being displaced is taken into account. The annual PV power generation in the North-west Grid is estimated, in this paper, to be as high as 17900 GW·h in 2015, roughly equaling to the output of 1.5 nuclear power plants in the US today. The total associated emission reduction in 2015 will at most be 0.36 percent of SO₂ and 0.25 percent of NO_x emissions from their 2010 levels in China. Further, PV power may render no emissions reduction at all if it displaces hydropower, which is often used to meet peak demand in the North-west Grid in China. These results imply that a more cost-effective area of focus in the short-term may be on desulfurization and denitrification technologies for coal plants.

Keywords photovoltaic (PV) emission reduction North-west China marginal generator

Corresponding Author(s): REN Mengjia,Email:mvr5255@gmail.com

Issue Date: 05 December 2013

Cite this article:

Mengjia REN,Anastasia SHCHERBAKOVA. Estimation of environmental effects of photovoltaic generation in North-west China[J]. Front Energ, 0, (): 535-543.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fie/EN/10.1007/s11708-013-0280-8
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fie/EN/Y0/V/I/535

Tab.1 Generation mix of the North-west Grid in 2011

Tab.2 Projection of PV power generation in the North-west grid, 2012-2015, by province

Fig.1 Average daily load curve in the North-west Grid in China
Source: Zhao’s calculations is based on the operation data collected from North-west Power Grid Corporation, 1998-2007 []

Fig.2 Effect of PV power on daily load profile of North-west Grid
(a) PV’s effect on load curve in December 2015; (b) PV’s effect on load curve in July 2015

Tab.3 Marginal generation displacement according to three hypothesized scenarios

Tab.4 Emission factors for SO, NO and CO in the North-west Grid in China

Tab.5 Total emission saved by PV power in the North-west Grid in China in 2015

Tab.6 12th Five-Year Plan major emission reduction targets

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