Towards the prospect of carbon-neutral power system 2060: A Power-Meteorology-Society systematic view

Abstract

With the target of achieving carbon peaking and neutrality in the power sector in China, both State Grid and China Southern Power Grid have made plans of a rapid increase of renewables in future years towards 2060. However, considering the interactions between the power system and meteorological, society factors, whether those plans would lead to CO2 emission peak in 2030 and carbon neutrality in 2060 is still questionable and needs further analysis. Therefore, a Power-Meteorology-Society System is formulated and interactions between these factors will impact the CO2 emission of the power system is studied. Case study shows that these environmental, social factors as well as their interactions will have significant negative impact to the CO2 emission reduction in China's power grid; With current trend of generation and transmission development and higher-than-expected CO2 emission, while the grid could still reach its target of carbon peak in 2030, there will be some challenge for the grid to reach carbon neutrality in the year 2060. Based on that, the authors analyze some potential solutions such as transmission construction, energy storage and the Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS), and try to find a relatively cost-benefit path to reach carbon-neutrality for the grid in 2060.

Keywords

• Carbon neutrality
• CO2 emission
• Clustered unit commitment
• Greenhouse effect
• Carbon capture
• Utilization and storage (CCUS)