Ziyuan Kexue (Sep 2024)
Empowering effect of ultra-high voltage transmission on urban green development
Abstract
[Objective] The ultra-high voltage (UHV) “new infrastructure development” optimizes the power structure and rational allocation of power resources in China, and injects sustainable impetus into the green transformation of the economy. This study aimed to explore the green development effect brought by UHV projects, and provide a theoretical basis and policy suggestions for promoting the optimization of energy consumption structure and helping to build a new energy system. [Methods] Based on the panel data of 278 prefecture-level cities in China from 2003 to 2019, this study used the difference-in-differences model to investigate the effect and mechanism of trans-regional electric power transmission on urban economic development and pollution reduction. [Results] (1) Ultra-high voltage projects significantly promoted regional economic development and reduced pollution emissions. (2) Mechanism test showed that UHV projects can achieve economic development and pollution reduction by improving regional innovation levels, optimizing industrial structure, and generating substitution effects on coal and thermal power. (3) Heterogeneity analyses showed that UHV projects had positive effects on economic development and pollution reduction in the eastern region and the power input region, but only produced emission reduction benefits in the central and western regions and the power output regions. Compared with thermal power transmission, UHV projects are more conducive to promoting economic development and pollution reduction for clean energy transmission. Ultra-high voltage DC projects had a stronger role in promoting economic development and pollution reduction than UHV AC projects. (4) Spatial spillover effect analysis showed that UHV transmission can promote the economic development of neighboring cities and reduce pollution emissions. [Conclusion] Therefore, the development of UHV transmission technology, regional energy resource endowment, and economic and social development should be comprehensively considered to continuously promote the construction of UHV projects. At the same time, China should strengthen the construction of regional power grids and enhance the use value of green energy.
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