What Will It Take for China to Reach Carbon Neutrality by 2060?

The model shows that China will need to build two to four terawatts each of solar and wind capacity. Construction of terawatt-level energy storage will also be required. Ultra-high voltage transmission between the country’s provinces should double or triple to ensure power supplies are delivered where they are needed. 

Next steps include building in flexible demand in the model; considering a larger range of land use factors such as conservation priorities; and examining the implication of large changes in the mix of power resources and emissions reduction activities in sectors other than electricity. 

The study was partially supported by the National Nature and Science Foundation of China, the Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program and the U.S. Department of Energy. 

Spatially Resolved Land and Grid Model of Carbon Neutrality in China

Michael Davidson, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and School of Global Policy and Strategy, University of California San Diego

Da Zhang, Ziheng Zhu, Shi Chen, Chongyu Zhang, Xi Lu, Xiliang Zhang, Tsinghua University

Xiaoye Zhang, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences