This news is classified in: Sustainable Energy Storage
Jul 31, 2019
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) could potentially help China to achieve its long term carbon dioxide (CO2) emission target, whilst also supporting coal demand.
However, currently, carbon capture technology is only economically viable in cases where the CO2 can be sold and used by other industries, that is, referred to as carbon capture and use or CCU, but this limits the volumes that can be viably captured currently. In order for CCS (i.e. the storage option) to be more generally economically viable, we estimate that costs need to fall by ~50% from recent levels. This indicates that carbon capture capacity will be limited in the near term, as will its shielding effect on coal consumption.
Deeper carbon cut is required to meet stricter carbon emission target
Chinese CO2 emissions targets are most frequently presented in relation to economic output. For example, a target was set in 2015 for CO2 emissions per unit of GDP in 2020 to be 40–45% lower compared with 2005. In 2017, Chinese CO2 emissions per unit of GDP were, in fact, 46% lower than the 2005 level, demonstrating that the target has been achieved ahead of schedule absolute CO2 emissions have increased over this period).
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Download free sample pagesOn the one hand, China cut its primary energy intensity of GDP by 40% from 2005 to 2017 through energy efficiency policies and its stronger growth in services. On the other hand, coal's share of power generation reduced from 80% to 63% over the same period. Nonetheless, continued efforts to reduce carbon emissions, especially in the power generation sector, are required in order for the 2030 and 2050 targets to be achieved.
As illustrated in the graph below, to meet the target of limiting global temperature rises to 2ºC, as stipulated under the Paris Agreement, a conservative estimate for Chinese responsibility suggests that the carbon intensity of GDP needs to fall by 4–7%/y by 2030 and then by a further 3–12%/y between 2030 and 2050. This indicates that, up to 2050, Chinese carbon intensity needs to continue falling by at least the same pace compared with the past 15 years. Moreover, stricter constraints are likely to be imposed to meet the more onerous 1.5ºC target, as suggested by the 2018 IPCC special report. This suggests that harder efforts to control carbon emissions will be needed, which will likely require the development of new technologies.
