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Approximately 172 million rural households in China in 2022, will still rely on traditional biofuels instead of electricity. This study explores the feasibility of achieving rural electrification in China utilization various Energy origins and assesses its potential impact on climate change mitigation. To do so, we employ the Regional Energy Model (REM) to formulate hypotheses for rural power distribution. Covering the era from 2020 until 2050. We evaluate consequences in terms of greenhouse gas discharges, principal energy consumption, associated expenses by comparing these possibilities with a Business- as -Usual (BU) scenario. Our findings reveal that diesel-based arrangements tend to produce 'the maximum Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions, trailed by network-based solutions. Electrification focused on renewable energy-driven applications has the potential to reduce total CO2 emissions by up to 97 % and primary energy consumption by 43 % in 2050 compared to the BU scenario. We also find that electrification through decentralized diesel systems tends to be the priciest choice. Rural electrification utilizing renewable energy emerges as a cost-effective choice when the majority of end-use applications rely on renewable energy sources. However, it becomes less economical than network expansions when electric end-user appliances are predominant. In summary, this study investigates the viability of renewable energy for rural power distribution and its role in climate change abatement in rural China, offering policy suggestions. • Analyzes six energy-based scenarios for China's rural electrification until 2050. • Evaluates GHG emissions, energy use, and costs impacts with regional energy model. • Provides policy insights and uncertainties for China's sustainability goals. • An oil price and distance-based analysis also is done with extra 6 scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to study the decoupling status and mitigation potential of CO2 emissions from China's transport sector over the period 1991–2015. Firstly, this paper utilizes the Log-Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) technique to identify influencing factors, which govern CO2 emissions from China's transport sector. Over the study period, the CO2 coefficient effect (Δ C c f t ) was the main factor for decreasing CO2 emissions. However, the economic growth effect (Δ C g t ) was the main factor for increasing CO2 emissions. Then, the decoupling indicator is also constructed based on the above influencing factors, which can be utilized to reflect the dependence degree of economic development on CO2 emissions from China's transport sector. During 1991–2015, the CO2 emissions from China's transport sector presented expansive coupling (EC) with economic development. Weak decoupling (WD) only appeared in the sub-period 1991–1995. The CO 2 emissions only presented 3 decoupling grades in all sub-period and the period 1991–2015: Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ. Furthermore, the above influencing factors are also used to establish a theoretical mitigation model, which is used to reflect the mitigation potential of CO2 emissions from China's transport sector. Finally, the occurrence of CO2 mitigation only appeared in 3 sub-periods: 1991–1995, 2005–2010, and 2010–2015. • The LMDI technique is used to identify influencing factors. • The decoupling indicator is constructed based on the influencing factors. • The influencing factors are used to establish a theoretical mitigation model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change and energy crises have increasingly impeded the sustainable development of society and economy. With an accelerated process of urbanization and improved standards of living, China has become the largest carbon emitter in the world and therefore has great responsibility and great potential to mitigate global carbon emissions. Accordingly, as the largest source of emissions in China, Chinese buildings should also decrease carbon emissions towards this goal. However, until now, there has been no clear and comprehensive understanding of the carbon emissions in this sector. To fill this gap, we survey the current and future situation. Firstly, we estimate the controlled ceiling of building carbon emission, splitting from the overall reduction goal in China. Then we develop a comprehensive carbon-calculating methodology, the China Building Carbon Emissions Model, using a bottom-up approach, and assess the building carbon emissions based on official statistics. On the basis of that, scenario analysis is used to predict the future trend of carbon emissions in China's building sector. According to our analysis, it is critical to simultaneously control floor space, energy consumption and energy structure to limit the growth of carbon emissions in the building sector. Finally, some relative policy suggestions are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the aim to meet customers diverse energy needs by an economical and ecological means, integrated energy system has become a popular choice. Amongst various integrated energy system coupling configurations, individual heating infrastructure entails painstaking attention due to rapid expansion. Individual heating network plays a massive role in carbonizing the atmosphere as traditionally individual heating demands are fulfilled by fossil fuel-fired (natural gas and coal) boilers. Recently, trend is heading towards the integration of energy efficient technologies like micro combined heat and power and heat pumps to replace fossil fuel boilers. However, individual heating performance evaluation is generally investigated by energy analysis that employs only the first law of thermodynamics, thereby exergy analysis assessment and its comparison with energy analysis become noteworthy to measure actual performance. In this work, energy and exergy analysis of the individual heating network of China for the year 2030 is performed under the framework of both laws of thermodynamics. The proposed work includes various technological options like Hydrogen fired micro combined heat and power, natural gas fired micro combined heat and power and heat pumps to replace the fossil fuel boilers intending to attain an economically viable and carbon-free environment. At first, energy and exergy efficiencies of the aforementioned heat producing components are computed and afterwards EnergyPLAN technical simulation strategy is employed to evaluate performance in terms of costs, CO 2 emissions and primary energy supply. Subsequently, a comparison of both analysis is provided in order to present the difference between the two analysis which substantiates that exergy analysis provides inferior results than energy analysis as depicted in case 3 where heat pumps inclusion appears to be the most decarbonized alternative for energy analysis but corroborates vice versa for exergy analysis. However, exergy analysis complements the energy analysis that helps evaluating the actual performance of system in relation to climate change mitigation and cost-effectiveness. • Energy and exergy analysis of individual heating network of China is performed. • Economical and decarbonized environment is proposed. • Exergy analysis results are inferior to energy analysis. • Heat Pump is considered worse alternative according to exergy analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Likely increase in energy use in air-conditioned office buildings due to climate change in subtropical Hong Kong was estimated for two emissions scenarios. Towards the end of the 21st century (i.e. 2091–2100), the average annual building energy use would be 6.6% and 8.1% more than that in 1979–2008 for low and medium forcing, respectively. Potential mitigation measures concerning the building envelope, internal condition, lighting load density (LLD) and chiller plant were considered. Thermal insulation to the external wall would not be effective to mitigate the expected increase in building energy use due to climate change. Controlling the amount of solar heat gain through the window would be a better option. Lowering the current LLD of 15W/m2 to about 13W/m2 would result in substantial energy savings because of the reduction in electricity consumption for both electric lighting and air-conditioning. As for the chiller plant, the coefficient of performance (COP) should be improved from the current minimum requirement of 4.7 to at least 5.5 to alleviate the impact of climate change. Raising the summer set point temperature (SST) to 25.5°C or higher would have high energy saving and hence mitigation potential, which could be readily applied to both new and existing buildings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Building energy use is becoming increasingly important in China. Despite a rapid growth in recent years, energy use intensity in China is still relatively low compared to other advanced economies; thus, there is still substantial room for it to increase as living standards and industrial services are improved. It is therefore important to focus on the future development of building energy use by considering new trends in the building and energy sectors, as well as the role of occupant behavior. This study uses the China Building Energy Model (CBEM) to model China's building energy consumption and carbon emissions up to 2050 for different scenarios based on these considerations. The results indicate that building energy use will be 80% higher than the current situation if the strategies of the 13th Five-Year Plan are maintained and approximately 10% higher if stronger strategies toward energy efficiency are employed. Carbon emissions are predicted to peak around 2020 to 2035. The contributions of key strategies in different subsectors are also discussed. This research suggests that, through the use of suitable strategies and policies, energy use and carbon emissions in China's building sector can achieve the combined goals of energy revolution and climate change mitigation. • China's building energy consumption and carbon emissions up to 2050 were modeled. • China's building energy use will be 10%–80% higher under different scenarios. • The contributions of key strategies in different subsectors were discussed. • China's building sector is able to develop sustainably with suitable strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]