Supported by Energy Foundation China, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory published this article in August 2021 to provide technical assistance for accelerating the decarbonization of the Chinese power sector.

The article assesses the operational feasibility of near-complete decarbonization of China’s power sector by 2030 using hourly system dispatch and operations simulation at the provincial level. The measures under consideration include enlarging balancing areas beyond the current provincial boundary, expanding transmission capacity, making existing coal power plants more flexible, and siting renewables near load centers. It fills a critical gap by assessing the impact and effectiveness of different analytical approaches and providing insights into accelerating China’s renewable energy development.