IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/enepol/v173y2023ics0301421522006231.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Embodied carbon emissions induced by the construction of hydropower infrastructure in China

Author

Listed:
  • Ge, Zewen
  • Geng, Yong
  • Wei, Wendong
  • Jiang, Mingkun
  • Chen, Bin
  • Li, Jiashuo

Abstract

China has the largest installed hydropower capacity in the world, contributing more than 60% of the national renewable energy supply. In order to respond to climate change, China has constructed many hydropower projects during the past few decades. However, such large scaled infrastructure construction induced a large amount of embodied carbon emissions since many energy-intensive products were consumed. This study aims to account such embodied carbon emissions generated by the construction of hydropower infrastructure in China for a period of 2006–2015 by applying a hybrid method. The results show that the cumulative embodied carbon emissions from conventional hydropower projects and pumped-storage hydropower projects were 1.73E+08 tons and 1.40E+07 tons CO2 respectively. These embodied carbon emissions were mainly generated from construction engineering, electrical equipment, land expropriation and resettlement. Sichuan, Hubei, and Yunnan ranked the top three in terms of such embodied carbon emissions IEA, 2015, while Qinghai had the highest per capita embodied carbon emission. Guangdong and Zhejiang had the largest embodied carbon emissions from pumped storage hydropower projects. Installed capacity scale, location, and input field are three key influential factors on embodied carbon emissions. Finally, several policy recommendations are proposed to help mitigate such embodied carbon emissions by considering the Chinese realities.

Suggested Citation

  • Ge, Zewen & Geng, Yong & Wei, Wendong & Jiang, Mingkun & Chen, Bin & Li, Jiashuo, 2023. "Embodied carbon emissions induced by the construction of hydropower infrastructure in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:173:y:2023:i:c:s0301421522006231
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113404
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421522006231
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113404?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. Xiaofan Xing & Rong Wang & Nico Bauer & Philippe Ciais & Junji Cao & Jianmin Chen & Xu Tang & Lin Wang & Xin Yang & Olivier Boucher & Daniel Goll & Josep Peñuelas & Ivan A. Janssens & Yves Balkanski &, 2021. "Spatially explicit analysis identifies significant potential for bioenergy with carbon capture and storage in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Kusre, B.C. & Baruah, D.C. & Bordoloi, P.K. & Patra, S.C., 2010. "Assessment of hydropower potential using GIS and hydrological modeling technique in Kopili River basin in Assam (India)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(1), pages 298-309, January.
    3. Bartle, Alison, 2002. "Hydropower potential and development activities," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(14), pages 1231-1239, November.
    4. Pang, Mingyue & Zhang, Lixiao & Ulgiati, Sergio & Wang, Changbo, 2015. "Ecological impacts of small hydropower in China: Insights from an emergy analysis of a case plant," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 112-122.
    5. Zhifu Mi & Jing Meng & Dabo Guan & Yuli Shan & Malin Song & Yi-Ming Wei & Zhu Liu & Klaus Hubacek, 2017. "Chinese CO2 emission flows have reversed since the global financial crisis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Xiaosan, Zhang & Qingquan, Jiang & Shoukat Iqbal, Khattak & Manzoor, Ahmad & Zia Ur, Rahman, 2021. "Achieving sustainability and energy efficiency goals: Assessing the impact of hydroelectric and renewable electricity generation on carbon dioxide emission in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    7. Julian D. Hunt & Edward Byers & Yoshihide Wada & Simon Parkinson & David E. H. J. Gernaat & Simon Langan & Detlef P. Vuuren & Keywan Riahi, 2020. "Global resource potential of seasonal pumped hydropower storage for energy and water storage," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    8. Chen, Wei-Ming & Kim, Hana & Yamaguchi, Hideka, 2014. "Renewable energy in eastern Asia: Renewable energy policy review and comparative SWOT analysis for promoting renewable energy in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 319-329.
    9. Konstantin Stadler & Richard Wood & Tatyana Bulavskaya & Carl†Johan Södersten & Moana Simas & Sarah Schmidt & Arkaitz Usubiaga & José Acosta†Fernández & Jeroen Kuenen & Martin Bruckner & Stefan, 2018. "EXIOBASE 3: Developing a Time Series of Detailed Environmentally Extended Multi†Regional Input†Output Tables," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 22(3), pages 502-515, June.
    10. Rodríguez-Sarasty, Jesús A. & Debia, Sébastien & Pineau, Pierre-Olivier, 2021. "Deep decarbonization in Northeastern North America: The value of electricity market integration and hydropower," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    11. Ana Meijide & Cristina Rua & Thomas Guillaume & Alexander Röll & Evelyn Hassler & Christian Stiegler & Aiyen Tjoa & Tania June & Marife D. Corre & Edzo Veldkamp & Alexander Knohl, 2020. "Measured greenhouse gas budgets challenge emission savings from palm-oil biodiesel," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    12. Vinicius P. Israel & H�lio S. Migon, 2012. "Stochastic models for greenhouse gas emission rate estimation from hydroelectric reservoirs: a Bayesian hierarchical approach," Journal of Applied Statistics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(5), pages 1069-1086, October.
    13. Briones Hidrovo, Andrei & Uche, Javier & Martínez-Gracia, Amaya, 2017. "Accounting for GHG net reservoir emissions of hydropower in Ecuador," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 209-221.
    14. Rafael M. Almeida & Qinru Shi & Jonathan M. Gomes-Selman & Xiaojian Wu & Yexiang Xue & Hector Angarita & Nathan Barros & Bruce R. Forsberg & Roosevelt García-Villacorta & Stephen K. Hamilton & John M., 2019. "Reducing greenhouse gas emissions of Amazon hydropower with strategic dam planning," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    15. Levasseur, A. & Mercier-Blais, S. & Prairie, Y.T. & Tremblay, A. & Turpin, C., 2021. "Improving the accuracy of electricity carbon footprint: Estimation of hydroelectric reservoir greenhouse gas emissions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    16. Li, Mingxu & He, Nianpeng, 2022. "Carbon intensity of global existing and future hydropower reservoirs," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    17. Yang Liu, 2015. "Transboundary water cooperation on the Yarlung Zangbo/Brahmaputra - a legal analysis of riparian state practice," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(2), pages 354-374, March.
    18. Ming, Bo & Liu, Pan & Guo, Shenglian & Zhang, Xiaoqi & Feng, Maoyuan & Wang, Xianxun, 2017. "Optimizing utility-scale photovoltaic power generation for integration into a hydropower reservoir by incorporating long- and short-term operational decisions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 432-445.
    19. Feng, Kuishuang & Hubacek, Klaus & Guan, Dabo, 2009. "Lifestyles, technology and CO2 emissions in China: A regional comparative analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(1), pages 145-154, November.
    20. Jing Meng & Zhifu Mi & Dabo Guan & Jiashuo Li & Shu Tao & Yuan Li & Kuishuang Feng & Junfeng Liu & Zhu Liu & Xuejun Wang & Qiang Zhang & Steven J. Davis, 2018. "The rise of South–South trade and its effect on global CO2 emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
    21. Wendong Wei & Jiashuo Li & Bin Chen & Meng Wang & Pengfei Zhang & Dabo Guan & Jing Meng & Haoqi Qian & Yaohua Cheng & Chongqing Kang & Kuishuang Feng & Qing Yang & Ning Zhang & Xi Liang & Jinjun Xue, 2021. "Embodied greenhouse gas emissions from building China’s large-scale power transmission infrastructure," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(8), pages 739-747, August.
    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. Chen, Weiming & Zhang, Zhenjun & Chen, Kaiyuan, 2023. "Inter-regional economic-environmental correlation effects of power sector in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(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. Li, Mingxu & He, Nianpeng, 2022. "Carbon intensity of global existing and future hydropower reservoirs," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    2. Gemechu, Eskinder & Kumar, Amit, 2022. "A review of how life cycle assessment has been used to assess the environmental impacts of hydropower energy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    3. Kelly-Richards, Sarah & Silber-Coats, Noah & Crootof, Arica & Tecklin, David & Bauer, Carl, 2017. "Governing the transition to renewable energy: A review of impacts and policy issues in the small hydropower boom," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 251-264.
    4. Li, Yilin & Chen, Bin & Li, Chaohui & Li, Zhi & Chen, Guoqian, 2020. "Energy perspective of Sino-US trade imbalance in global supply chains," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    5. Li, Li & Shan, Yuli & Lei, Yalin & Wu, Sanmang & Yu, Xiang & Lin, Xiyan & Chen, Yupei, 2019. "Decoupling of economic growth and emissions in China’s cities: A case study of the Central Plains urban agglomeration," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(C), pages 36-45.
    6. Yang, Xue & Su, Bin, 2019. "Impacts of international export on global and regional carbon intensity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    7. Kongyang Nhiakao & Helmut Yabar & Takeshi Mizunoya, 2022. "Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Nam Che 1 Hydropower Plant, Thathom District, Laos: An Ex-Post Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-16, March.
    8. Zhang, Yu & Tian, Kailan & Li, Xiaomeng & Jiang, Xuemei & Yang, Cuihong, 2022. "From globalization to regionalization? Assessing its potential environmental and economic effects," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    9. Mi, Zhifu & Zheng, Jiali & Meng, Jing & Zheng, Heran & Li, Xian & Coffman, D'Maris & Woltjer, Johan & Wang, Shouyang & Guan, Dabo, 2019. "Carbon emissions of cities from a consumption-based perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 509-518.
    10. Jiang, Lei & He, Shixiong & Zhong, Zhangqi & Zhou, Haifeng & He, Lingyun, 2019. "Revisiting environmental kuznets curve for carbon dioxide emissions: The role of trade," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 245-257.
    11. Wu, X.D. & Guo, J.L. & Ji, Xi & Chen, G.Q., 2019. "Energy use in world economy from household-consumption-based perspective," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 287-298.
    12. Wang, Changjian & Miao, Zhuang & Chen, Xiaodong & Cheng, Yu, 2021. "Factors affecting changes of greenhouse gas emissions in Belt and Road countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    13. Jiang, Jingjing & Ye, Bin & Liu, Junguo, 2019. "Research on the peak of CO2 emissions in the developing world: Current progress and future prospect," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 186-203.
    14. Mosier, Thomas M. & Sharp, Kendra V. & Hill, David F., 2016. "The Hydropower Potential Assessment Tool (HPAT): Evaluation of run-of-river resource potential for any global land area and application to Falls Creek, Oregon, USA," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 492-503.
    15. Zaidi, Arjumand Z. & Khan, Majid, 2018. "Identifying high potential locations for run-of-the-river hydroelectric power plants using GIS and digital elevation models," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 106-116.
    16. Ji, Xi & Liu, Yifang & Meng, Jing & Wu, Xudong, 2020. "Global supply chain of biomass use and the shift of environmental welfare from primary exploiters to final consumers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    17. Singpai, Bodin & Wu, Desheng Dash, 2021. "An integrative approach for evaluating the environmental economic efficiency," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(PB).
    18. Simon Lineykin & Abhishek Sharma & Moshe Averbukh, 2023. "Eventual Increase in Solar Electricity Production and Desalinated Water through the Formation of a Channel between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-17, May.
    19. Kan, Siyi & Chen, Bin & Chen, Guoqian, 2019. "Worldwide energy use across global supply chains: Decoupled from economic growth?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 1235-1245.
    20. Jurasz, Jakub & Mikulik, Jerzy & Krzywda, Magdalena & Ciapała, Bartłomiej & Janowski, Mirosław, 2018. "Integrating a wind- and solar-powered hybrid to the power system by coupling it with a hydroelectric power station with pumping installation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 549-563.

    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:enepol:v:173:y:2023:i:c:s0301421522006231. 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/locate/enpol .

    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.