Realization Pathways and Key Problems of Carbon Neutrality in China's Energy and Power System

Based on the actual national conditions of China’s economic and social, energy and power development, this paper analyzes China’s carbon neutralization mechanism framework and puts forward the mitigation solutions for carbon emissions with China energy interconnection. With the target of optimal cost for achieving carbon neutrality for the whole society, the MESSAGE integrated assessment model (IAM) is used to study the overall pathways for China's whole society carbon neutralization and the transition pathways for energy and power system based on the China energy interconnection. The results show that the carbon neutrality pathways before 2060 for China can be advanced in view of three stages of early peaking, rapid mitigation and overall neutrality. The carbon emissions will reach the peak around 2028; 90% of the energy demand will be met by clean energy in 2060, and the electricity will account for two-thirds in the whole society end-use energy consumption, achieving the total transition of energy use system. Besides, some key issues for achieving carbon neutralization are analyzed, including emission reduction speed and pace, power system balance and adjustment, and transition cost and allocation.