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2 - Reforming China’s Electricity Market to Facilitate Low-Carbon Transition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2021

Henry Lee ,
Daniel P. Schrag ,
Matthew Bunn ,
Michael Davidson ,
Wei Peng ,
Wang Pu  and
Mao Zhimin
By
Pu Wang
Henry Lee
Affiliation:
Harvard University, Massachusetts
Daniel P. Schrag
Affiliation:
Harvard University, Massachusetts
Matthew Bunn
Affiliation:
Harvard University, Massachusetts
Michael Davidson
Affiliation:
University of California, San Diego
Wei Peng
Affiliation:
Penn State University
Wang Pu
Affiliation:
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
Mao Zhimin
Affiliation:
Harvard University, Massachusetts
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Summary

In the era of climate change and sustainable development, the main task of China’s power sector is not to expand production, but to promote the transition to a low-carbon energy system. On the generation side, the power sector needs to reduce the share of thermal power, especially coal power, and increase that of nonfossil energy sources; on the demand side, the power sector needs to support electrification of residential and transportation sectors to achieve deep decarbonization and air quality goals. This will significantly increase the uncertainties on both the generation and consumption ends, since nonfossil energy sources, such as photovoltaics and wind power, are highly unpredictable, and large-scale electrification of heating and transportation can increase the volatility of power demand. Therefore, the future power system requires a high degree of technological and operational flexibility to cope with uncertain supply and demand. Our analysis suggests that market-oriented reforms in electricity dispatch and pricing are critical to provide the right incentives to electricity generators and consumers, as well as to promote the adoption of new technologies to facilitate China’s transition to low-carbon energy.

Keywords

Electricity marketeconomic dispatchelectricity pricingrenewable integrationpower system flexibilitymarket-oriented reform
Type
Chapter
Information
Foundations for a Low-Carbon Energy System in China , pp. 15 - 38
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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