• Energy Research

We investigate the effect of the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) on CO2 emissions using spatial econometric models and have three findings. First, there are spatial spillover effects of EV adoption on CO2 emissions, implying that the CO2 mitigation of a city depends on local sales of EVs and sales of EVs in neighboring cities. A 1% increase in the sale of EVs in a city can reduce CO2 emissions locally by 0.096% and by 0.087% in a nearby city. Second, EVs indirectly impact CO2 emissions through the substitution effect, energy consumption effect, and technological effect. The overall impact of EV adoption on CO2 emissions is negative. Finally, we demonstrate the moderating effect of urban energy structure on EVs' CO2 emissions mitigation. A 1% increase in the proportion of renewable energy generation increases the decarbonization of EVs by 0.036%. These findings provide policy implications for the coordinated development of EV market and energy system.

We investigate the effect of the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) on CO2 emissions using spatial econometric models and have three findings. First, there are spatial spillover effects of EV adoption on CO2 emissions, implying that the CO2 mitigation of a city depends on local sales of EVs and sales of EVs in neighboring cities. A 1% increase in the sale of EVs in a city can reduce CO2 emissions locally by 0.096% and by 0.087% in a nearby city. Second, EVs indirectly impact CO2 emissions through the substitution effect, energy consumption effect, and technological effect. The overall impact of EV adoption on CO2 emissions is negative. Finally, we demonstrate the moderating effect of urban energy structure on EVs' CO2 emissions mitigation. A 1% increase in the proportion of renewable energy generation increases the decarbonization of EVs by 0.036%. These findings provide policy implications for the coordinated development of EV market and energy system.

AbstractThis study aims to investigate the influence of rapid economic development on pollution at the municipal level in China. It constructs a Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology model (STIRPAT model) and uses comprehensive municipal data on industrial pollution and economic performance. The dataset contains 290 cities from 2003 to 2016 as a sample for the panel data analysis. The study further separates the cities into two groups by their levels of economic development for heterogeneity analysis. It reveals that a low level of economic development would aggravate environmental pollution, and when the economy reaches a high level, this economic development will improve environmental quality. We also find that the relationships between foreign direct investment and industrial dust and sulfur dioxide (SO2) discharge are significant, while the relationship between economic growth and effluent emission is not. The more developed subsample cities present an inverted U-shaped curve between industrial pollutant emission, GDP per capita, and foreign direct investment, while the less developed subsamples show no such relationship. Since the shape of these curves differs among regions, their turning points vary accordingly. Based on this finding, this study suggests that the governments of more developed cities should balance environmental pollution and economic development by enhancing environmental regulations and adjusting industrial structure.

AbstractThis study aims to investigate the influence of rapid economic development on pollution at the municipal level in China. It constructs a Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology model (STIRPAT model) and uses comprehensive municipal data on industrial pollution and economic performance. The dataset contains 290 cities from 2003 to 2016 as a sample for the panel data analysis. The study further separates the cities into two groups by their levels of economic development for heterogeneity analysis. It reveals that a low level of economic development would aggravate environmental pollution, and when the economy reaches a high level, this economic development will improve environmental quality. We also find that the relationships between foreign direct investment and industrial dust and sulfur dioxide (SO2) discharge are significant, while the relationship between economic growth and effluent emission is not. The more developed subsample cities present an inverted U-shaped curve between industrial pollutant emission, GDP per capita, and foreign direct investment, while the less developed subsamples show no such relationship. Since the shape of these curves differs among regions, their turning points vary accordingly. Based on this finding, this study suggests that the governments of more developed cities should balance environmental pollution and economic development by enhancing environmental regulations and adjusting industrial structure.

With the rapid development of the waste incineration industry in China, top priority has been given to the problem of pollution caused by waste incineration. This study is the first attempt to assess all the waste incineration plants in Wuhan, the only national key city in central China, in terms of environmental impact, site selection, public health and public participation. By using a multi-criterion assessment model for economic, social, public health and environmental effects, this study indicates these incineration plants are established without much consideration of the local residents’ health and environment. A location analysis is also applied and some influences of waste incineration plants are illustrated. This study further introduces a signaling game model to prove that public participation is a necessary condition for improving the environmental impact assessment and increasing total welfare of different interest groups in China. This study finally offers some corresponding recommendations for improving the environmental impact assessments of waste incineration projects.

With the rapid development of the waste incineration industry in China, top priority has been given to the problem of pollution caused by waste incineration. This study is the first attempt to assess all the waste incineration plants in Wuhan, the only national key city in central China, in terms of environmental impact, site selection, public health and public participation. By using a multi-criterion assessment model for economic, social, public health and environmental effects, this study indicates these incineration plants are established without much consideration of the local residents’ health and environment. A location analysis is also applied and some influences of waste incineration plants are illustrated. This study further introduces a signaling game model to prove that public participation is a necessary condition for improving the environmental impact assessment and increasing total welfare of different interest groups in China. This study finally offers some corresponding recommendations for improving the environmental impact assessments of waste incineration projects.

AbstractOver the past decade, the feed‐in‐tariff (FIT) subsidy policy of China has driven rapid growth in the photovoltaic power generation (PPG) industry. China now boasts the largest installed capacity of PPG around the world. However, the policy‐driven expansion of the PPG industry has not brought about a simultaneous improvement in quality. PPG costs remain high and it is difficult to sustain PPG competitiveness. Therefore, it is imperative to gradually withdraw from the implementation of photovoltaic subsidies. Using a game theory approach, this study investigates the impact of subsidy exit policy on China's PPG industry. The results show that stimulating research and development (R&D) can be difficult under current uncertain subsidy withdrawal plan. The government should announce the plan of subsidy reduction with clear adjustment as well as corresponding effective dates. In addition, under the condition of government‐controlled prices, the social welfare of the monopoly market is higher than that in the competitive market. In order to achieve the same technological progress and target output, the total cost (including enterprise cost and government expenditure) in competitive market is higher than that in monopoly market, which is caused by repeated R&D investment and technical cost. Technical cooperation could lower costs and increase profits, and is therefore recommended.