Estimating air pollution transfer by interprovincial electricity transmissions: The case study of the Yangtze River Delta Region of China

Interprovincial electricity transmissions have profoundly affected the emission patterns of air pollutants and greenhouse gases in China. Here, we estimate the air pollution transfer by interprovincial electricity transmission, taking Yangtze River Delta Region (YRDR) of China as an example. The results show that the YRDR received 153.01 billion kWh of electricity from other regions in 2015, accounting for 13.06% of its total electricity consumption; these other regions mainly included Sichuan, Shanxi, Hubei, Henan and Fujian. Air pollutants emissions, including 20.50 kt of SO2, 22.40 kt of NOX, 4.30 kt of dust, and 39.23 Mt of CO2, were transferred to generation-side regions by electricity transmissions, of which 34% were transferred to Shanxi, 31% to Sichuan, and 29% to Hubei. Then, different schemes to achieve interregional compensation were explored and compared based on previous studies and a 2015 simulation scenario. Direct electricity purchasing can promote renewable energy development but is the most cost, while pollutants emission trading is a scheme to promote the establishment of a reliable and efficient market. It is suggested that integrated schemes will promote collaboration between generation regions and consumption regions to realize sustainable targets on both sides.