IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v235y2019icp1169-1182.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Underreported coal in statistics: A survey-based solid fuel consumption and emission inventory for the rural residential sector in China

Author

Listed:
  • Peng, Liqun
  • Zhang, Qiang
  • Yao, Zhiliang
  • Mauzerall, Denise L.
  • Kang, Sicong
  • Du, Zhenyu
  • Zheng, Yixuan
  • Xue, Tao
  • He, Kebin

Abstract

Solid fuel consumption and associated emissions from residential use are highly uncertain due to a lack of reliable statistics. In this study, we estimate solid fuel consumption and emissions from the rural residential sector in China by using data collected from a new nationwide field survey. We conducted a field survey in 2010 which covered ∼17,000 rural residential households in 183 counties in China, to obtain data for solid fuel consumption and use patterns. We then developed a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) to establish the relationship between solid fuel consumption and heating degree days (HDD), income, coal production, coal price, and vegetation coverage, respectively. The GAM was used to estimate solid fuel consumption in rural households in China at the county level. We estimated that, in 2010, 179.8Tg of coal were consumed in Chinese rural households for heating and cooking, which is 62% higher than that reported in official energy statistics. We found that large quantities of rural residential coal consumption in the North China Plain were underreported in energy statistics. For instance, estimated coal consumption in rural households in Hebei (one of most polluted provinces in China) was 20.8Tg in 2010, which is twice as high as government statistics indicate. In contrast, modeled national total consumption of crop residues (used as fuels) we found to be ∼50% lower than reported data. Combining the underlying data from the survey, the GAM and emission factors from literature, we estimate emissions from China’s rural residential sector in 2010 to be: 3.3Tg PM2.5, 0.6Tg BC, 1.2Tg OC, 2.1Tg VOC, 2.3Tg SO2, 0.4Tg NOx, 43.6Tg CO and 727.2Tg CO2, contributing to 29%, 35%, 38% and 26% of national total PM2.5, BC, OC, and CO emissions respectively. This work reveals that current emission inventories in China likely underestimate emissions from coal combustion in rural residential households due to missing coal consumption in official statistics, especially for the heavily polluted North China Plain (NCP) region. Per capita income appears to be the driving factor that results in the difference between surveyed data and official data. Residents with high income prefer commercial energy and have a higher per capita fuel consumption than lower income residents. Therefore, rural residential coal combustion may contribute even more to regional air pollution than the large contributions previously identified.

Suggested Citation

  • Peng, Liqun & Zhang, Qiang & Yao, Zhiliang & Mauzerall, Denise L. & Kang, Sicong & Du, Zhenyu & Zheng, Yixuan & Xue, Tao & He, Kebin, 2019. "Underreported coal in statistics: A survey-based solid fuel consumption and emission inventory for the rural residential sector in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1169-1182.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:235:y:2019:i:c:p:1169-1182
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.11.043
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261918317513
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.11.043?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhu, Dan & Tao, Shu & Wang, Rong & Shen, Huizhong & Huang, Ye & Shen, Guofeng & Wang, Bin & Li, Wei & Zhang, Yanyan & Chen, Han & Chen, Yuanchen & Liu, Junfeng & Li, Bengang & Wang, Xilong & Liu, Wenx, 2013. "Temporal and spatial trends of residential energy consumption and air pollutant emissions in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 17-24.
    2. Jan Ivar Korsbakken & Glen P. Peters & Robbie M. Andrew, 2016. "Uncertainties around reductions in China’s coal use and CO2 emissions," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 6(7), pages 687-690, July.
    3. Isaac, Morna & van Vuuren, Detlef P., 2009. "Modeling global residential sector energy demand for heating and air conditioning in the context of climate change," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 507-521, February.
    4. Zheng, Xinye & Wei, Chu & Qin, Ping & Guo, Jin & Yu, Yihua & Song, Feng & Chen, Zhanming, 2014. "Characteristics of residential energy consumption in China: Findings from a household survey," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 126-135.
    5. Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2011. "Conceptualizing urban household energy use: Climbing the "Energy Services Ladder"," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 1659-1668, March.
    6. Duan, Xiaoli & Jiang, Yong & Wang, Beibei & Zhao, Xiuge & Shen, Guofeng & Cao, Suzhen & Huang, Nan & Qian, Yan & Chen, Yiting & Wang, Limin, 2014. "Household fuel use for cooking and heating in China: Results from the first Chinese Environmental Exposure-Related Human Activity Patterns Survey (CEERHAPS)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 692-703.
    7. Price, L & Sinton, J & Worrell, E & Phylipsen, D & Xiulian, H & Ji, L, 2002. "Energy use and carbon dioxide emissions from steel production in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 27(5), pages 429-446.
    8. Harry X. Wu, 2007. "The Chinese GDP Growth Rate Puzzle: How Fast Has the Chinese Economy Grown?," Asian Economic Papers, MIT Press, vol. 6(1), pages 1-23, Winter.
    9. Chen, Han & Huang, Ye & Shen, Huizhong & Chen, Yilin & Ru, Muye & Chen, Yuanchen & Lin, Nan & Su, Shu & Zhuo, Shaojie & Zhong, Qirui & Wang, Xilong & Liu, Junfeng & Li, Bengang & Tao, Shu, 2016. "Modeling temporal variations in global residential energy consumption and pollutant emissions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 820-829.
    10. Bhattacharyya, Subhes C., 2015. "Influence of India’s transformation on residential energy demand," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 228-237.
    11. S. Tao & M. Y. Ru & W. Du & X. Zhu & Q. R. Zhong & B. G. Li & G. F. Shen & X. L. Pan & W. J. Meng & Y. L. Chen & H. Z. Shen & N. Lin & S. Su & S. J. Zhuo & T. B. Huang & Y. Xu & X. Yun & J. F. Liu & X, 2018. "Quantifying the rural residential energy transition in China from 1992 to 2012 through a representative national survey," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 3(7), pages 567-573, July.
    12. Chen, Yilin & Shen, Huizhong & Zhong, Qirui & Chen, Han & Huang, Tianbo & Liu, Junfeng & Cheng, Hefa & Zeng, Eddy Y. & Smith, Kirk R. & Tao, Shu, 2016. "Transition of household cookfuels in China from 2010 to 2012," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 800-809.
    13. He, Qi & Jiang, Xujia & Gouldson, Andy & Sudmant, Andrew & Guan, Dabo & Colenbrander, Sarah & Xue, Tao & Zheng, Bo & Zhang, Qiang, 2016. "Climate change mitigation in Chinese megacities: A measures-based analysis of opportunities in the residential sector," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 769-778.
    14. Liu, Wenling & Wang, Can & Mol, Arthur P.J., 2013. "Rural public acceptance of renewable energy deployment: The case of Shandong in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 1187-1196.
    15. Liu, Wenling & Spaargaren, Gert & Heerink, Nico & Mol, Arthur P.J. & Wang, Can, 2013. "Energy consumption practices of rural households in north China: Basic characteristics and potential for low carbon development," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 128-138.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Han, Jiashi & Zhang, Lei & Li, Yang, 2022. "Spatiotemporal analysis of rural energy transition and upgrading in developing countries: The case of China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    2. Jinzhe Nie & Kaiqiao Wang & Xiangrui Kong & Han Zhang & Shuai Zhang, 2023. "Theoretical Study and Experimental Validation on the Applicable Refrigerant for Space Heating Air Source Heat Pump," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-21, June.
    3. Ma, Ben & Liu, Min, 2022. "Improved statistical consistency: The effect of data revisions on the energy use gap between China and its provinces," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    4. Wang, Shubin & Sun, Shaolong & Zhao, Erlong & Wang, Shouyang, 2021. "Urban and rural differences with regional assessment of household energy consumption in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    5. Wang, Shaobin & Zhao, Chao & Liu, Hanbin & Tian, Xinglei, 2021. "Exploring the spatial spillover effects of low-grade coal consumption and influencing factors in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    6. Qinyu Cheng & Xiaotong Wang & Dongsheng Chen & Yizhe Ma & Ying Zhao & Jianghong Hao & Xiurui Guo & Jianlei Lang & Ying Zhou, 2023. "Impact of Ship Emissions on Air Quality in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA): With a Particular Focus on the Role of Onshore Wind," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-23, May.
    7. Shu Wu, 2021. "The Health Impact of Household Cooking Fuel Choice on Women: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-18, November.
    8. Han, Jiashi & Hou, Xiaochao & Zhang, Lei, 2022. "Policy implications of China's rural household coal governance from the perspective of the spillover effect," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    9. Liu, Hongxun & Mauzerall, Denise L., 2020. "Costs of clean heating in China: Evidence from rural households in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chen, Yilin & Shen, Huizhong & Zhong, Qirui & Chen, Han & Huang, Tianbo & Liu, Junfeng & Cheng, Hefa & Zeng, Eddy Y. & Smith, Kirk R. & Tao, Shu, 2016. "Transition of household cookfuels in China from 2010 to 2012," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 800-809.
    2. Chen, Han & Huang, Ye & Shen, Huizhong & Chen, Yilin & Ru, Muye & Chen, Yuanchen & Lin, Nan & Su, Shu & Zhuo, Shaojie & Zhong, Qirui & Wang, Xilong & Liu, Junfeng & Li, Bengang & Tao, Shu, 2016. "Modeling temporal variations in global residential energy consumption and pollutant emissions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 820-829.
    3. Li, Jianglong & Chen, Chang & Liu, Hongxun, 2019. "Transition from non-commercial to commercial energy in rural China: Insights from the accessibility and affordability," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 392-403.
    4. Jiang, Zhixiang & Dai, Yanhui & Luo, Xianxiang & Liu, Guocheng & Wang, Hefang & Zheng, Hao & Wang, Zhenyu, 2017. "Assessment of bioenergy development potential and its environmental impact for rural household energy consumption: A case study in Shandong, China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 1153-1161.
    5. Liu, Hongxun & Mauzerall, Denise L., 2020. "Costs of clean heating in China: Evidence from rural households in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    6. Zhao, Jincai & Ji, Guangxing & Yue, YanLin & Lai, Zhizhu & Chen, Yulong & Yang, Dongyang & Yang, Xu & Wang, Zheng, 2019. "Spatio-temporal dynamics of urban residential CO2 emissions and their driving forces in China using the integrated two nighttime light datasets," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 612-624.
    7. Li, Meng & Jin, Tianyu & Liu, Shenglong & Zhou, Shaojie, 2021. "The cost of clean energy transition in rural China: Evidence based on marginal treatment effects," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    8. Yang, Aoxi & Wang, Yahui, 2023. "Transition of household cooking energy in China since the 1980s," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    9. Olabisi, Michael & Tschirley, David L. & Nyange, David & Awokuse, Titus, 2019. "Energy demand substitution from biomass to imported kerosene: Evidence from Tanzania," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 243-252.
    10. Xu, Shang & Zhang, Jun, 2023. "The welfare impacts of removing coal subsidies in rural China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    11. Zhang, Rui & Wei, Taoyuan & Glomsrød, Solveig & Shi, Qinghua, 2014. "Bioenergy consumption in rural China: Evidence from a survey in three provinces," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 136-145.
    12. Weibin Lin & Bin Chen & Shichao Luo & Li Liang, 2014. "Factor Analysis of Residential Energy Consumption at the Provincial Level in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(11), pages 1-15, November.
    13. Niu, Shuwen & Li, Zhen & Qiu, Xin & Dai, Runqi & Wang, Xiang & Qiang, Wenli & Hong, Zhenguo, 2019. "Measurement of effective energy consumption in China's rural household sector and policy implication," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 553-564.
    14. Yongxia Ding & Wei Qu & Shuwen Niu & Man Liang & Wenli Qiang & Zhenguo Hong, 2016. "Factors Influencing the Spatial Difference in Household Energy Consumption in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-20, December.
    15. Jingwen Wu & Bingdong Hou & Ruoyu Ke & Yun-Fei Du & Ce Wang & Xiangzheng Li & Jiawei Cai & Tianqi Chen & Meixuan Teng & Jin Liu & Jin-Wei Wang & Hua Liao, 2018. "Residential fuel choice in the rural: A field research on two counties of North China," CEEP-BIT Working Papers 109, Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research (CEEP), Beijing Institute of Technology.
    16. Yuanzheng Li & Wenjing Wang & Yating Wang & Yashu Xin & Tian He & Guosong Zhao, 2020. "A Review of Studies Involving the Effects of Climate Change on the Energy Consumption for Building Heating and Cooling," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-18, December.
    17. Yawale, Satish Kumar & Hanaoka, Tatsuya & Kapshe, Manmohan & Pandey, Rahul, 2023. "End-use energy projections: Future regional disparity and energy poverty at the household level in rural and urban areas of India," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    18. Teng Ma & Silu Zhang & Yilong Xiao & Xiaorui Liu & Minghao Wang & Kai Wu & Guofeng Shen & Chen Huang & Yan Ru Fang & Yang Xie, 2023. "Costs and health benefits of the rural energy transition to carbon neutrality in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    19. Salari, Mahmoud & Javid, Roxana J., 2017. "Modeling household energy expenditure in the United States," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 822-832.
    20. Liu, Pihui & Han, Chuanfeng & Liu, Xinghua & Teng, Minmin, 2023. "Assessing the effect of nonfarm income on the household cooking energy transition in rural China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:235:y:2019:i:c:p:1169-1182. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.