Co-benefit of polycrystalline large-scale photovoltaic power in China

Recognized as an indispensable player in the future electricity supply mix of China, photovoltaic (PV) power has experienced a fast expansion in recent years. Owing to the higher cost compared with traditional coal-fired power, financial subsidy is crucial for the development of PV power. Although a series of policies have been implemented to subsidize PV power, strong and steady policies to stimulate China's PV power installation is still in need. One important reason for the lack of such policies is that whether the benefits associated with PV power cover the cost of subsidy is unclear. In this paper, we carry out a detailed study to quantify the co-benefit from the replacement of traditional coal-fired power by the large-scale photovoltaic power (LS-PV) comprised of polycrystalline cells in China. Our life cycle analysis (LCA) shows that the estimated co-benefit of polycrystalline LS-PV is 0.167 yuan/kWh, and the year of grid parity will come about 4 years earlier in China if the co-benefit is internalized.

► The avoided emission by the substitution of PV power for coal-fired power per kilowatt-hour in China is calculated.
► The avoided emission is relatively high because coal-fired power takes larger proportion in current electricity mix in China.
► The estimated co-benefit of the substitution of PV power for coal-fired power is about 0.167 yuan/kWh.
► If the co-benefit is internalized, PV power will come about 4 years earlier to be competitive to coal-fired power.
► The estimation of the damage cost, especially for CO2, plays a decisive role in co-benefit estimation.