Driving force analysis of the nitrogen oxides intensity related to electricity sector in China based on the LMDI method

In China, as a kind of important precursors to cause PM2.5 and O-3 pollution, nitrogen oxides (NOX) have attracted a large attention. From the perspective of electricity-related NOx generation, the aggregate nitrogen oxides generation intensity (ANI) is decomposed temporally and spatially based on the LMDI method. At the country level, ANI in China dropped significantly from 2.90 g NOX/kWh to 2.15 g NOX/kWh from 2000 to 2016. The temporal and spatial decomposition results showed that the major driving forces are the clean energy penetration (U-cp) and thermal power generation efficiency (U-int), which decreased ANI by 10.5% and 7.74% during the study period, respectively. U-cp in the southwestern, central and northwestern regions were the main contributors for ANI reduction. U-int in the eastern region was the main contributor in reducing ANI. Based on our findings, it is suggested to provide different NOX emission reduction policies for different provinces. Thus, these approaches will improve initiatives of reducing NOX emission from source. Crown Copyright (c) 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.