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Planning power system (PS) towards renewable energy is crucial for reducing carbon dioxide (CO 2) emission as well as mitigating climate change. However, the inherent uncertainty and hierarchical structure of PS pose intractable challenges to the planning process. This study develops a multi-GCM-based interval bi-level programming (MIBP) method that can balance two-level decision-making conflict between CO 2 -emisison reduction and system cost minimization. MIBP can also deal with uncertainties expressed as interval values in objective functions and constraints. Then, a MIBP-PS model is formulated to plan PS for China (2021–2050), where the upper-level objective is to minimize CO 2 emission and the lower-level objective is to minimize the system cost. The major findings are: (i) the CO 2 emission for PS would reach peak value before 2030 and then reduce by [10.2, 20.4]% in 2050, which is mainly owing to the curtailment of fossil fuel; (ii) compared with the conventional model, CO 2 emission from MIBP-PS model could decrease by [3.1, 4.8]%, which shows the superiority of the developed model; (iii) the fossil-fuel power would be gradually replaced by renewable energy, and the proportion of coal-fired power would decrease by 38.8% by 2050, especially small coal-fired facilities (i.e., below 0.3 GW) should be gradually phased down. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing fossil fuels use while promoting the adoption of clean and renewable energy sources is crucial for mitigating climate change and attaining the sustainable development goals. This study investigates the driving forces of the share of non-hydroelectricity sources in total electricity generation. Using panel data of forty-six developed and developing countries over 1980–2011 and employing panel cointegration estimation techniques, we examine the key factors that influence the share of non-hydro renewable energy sources in the short and long run. The results of the study show that the driving factors have different impacts on the size and share of non-hydro renewable energy; and these impacts are mostly in the long run. Oil price increase and financial development has a significant positive effect on the amount and share of non-hydro renewable electricity generation. The impact of trade openness is ambiguous. Economic development enhances the size of non-hydro renewables but undermines its share in total electricity. Foreign direct investments, ratification of the Kyoto protocol, gross fixed capital formation and resource rent have no significant impact on non-hydro renewable electricity generation. Based on the results, appropriate policy recommendations are proffered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]