Study on the Effect of Renewable Energy Power Generation on Carbon Emissions

Abstract

In the face of the dual challenges of global warming and sustainable development, cutting carbon emissions has emerged as a critical challenge for industries globally and in China. China, among the world’s top carbon-emitting nations, has committed to peaking CO₂ emissions by 2030 and working toward carbon neutrality by 2060. In this context, the power industry as the main area of carbon emissions, its low-carbon transformation is particularly urgent. Although China 's power industry is Characterized by a predominance of coal-fired generation capacity, the progress in renewable power generation technologies has shown remarkable results in reducing carbon emissions. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) in China from 2008 to 2022, this study uses a two-way fixed effect model to deeply explore the direct impact of renewable energy technologies' capacity on lower atmospheric CO₂ levels and its mechanism. The findings reveal that electricity generation from renewable sources substantially contributes to carbon emission mitigation, which provides a scientific basis for formulating and optimizing relevant policies, aiming at accelerating the expansion of clean electricity production and achieve measurable reductions in carbon output per economic unit.