Research on Environmental Evaluation Index of Carbon-Based Power Generation Formats Under the “Dual Carbon Goals”

As a major source of carbon emissions, the carbon-based power generation industry requires a scientifically robust environmental performance evaluation system to facilitate its green transition and sustainable development. Focusing on unique transition dynamics across four carbon-based power generation formats, this study compares environmental dimension indicators across typical ESG evaluation frameworks and proposes an innovative evaluation index model of environmental performance based on common metrics, with a particular emphasis on their contribution potential to the “Dual Carbon Goals”. The framework’s core innovation lies in its Dual Carbon-focused indicator system, which evaluates three critical indicators overlooked by mainstream ESG methodologies. It extends to include upstream/downstream processes, addressing gaps in current evaluation systems. The findings reveal that core environmental issues, such as climate change, pollution emissions, and resource utilization, exhibit broad commonality in ESG evaluations. Among the assessed indicators, carbon emission intensity carries the highest weight, underscoring its centrality in each power generation sector’s efforts to align with the Dual Carbon Goals. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrates that underground coal gasification combined cycle power generation has a relatively favorable environmental performance, ranking slightly below natural gas combined cycle but above shale gas combined cycle power generation. In contrast, traditional coal-fired power generation exhibits significantly poorer environmental outcomes, highlighting both the efficacy of technological upgrades in reducing emissions and the urgent need for transitioning away from conventional coal-based power.