De-coal process in urban China: What can we learn from Beijing’s experience?

Abstract While coal consumption has played an essential role in fueling the industrialization and urbanization of China, it is also responsible for serious atmospheric pollution. Great efforts have been made by Chinese governments to restrict coal consumption in metropolitan areas. Taking Beijing as a case, this paper investigated the dynamics of coal consumption from 1985 to 2017 with regard to quantity, proportion, and sectoral distribution. A structural decomposition analysis model was developed to identify the key driving forces of the quantity decline in coal consumption. Results showed that Beijing has experienced an evident de-coal process with two stages of relative decline (1985–2005) and absolute decline (2005–2017). Coal intensity and final demand composition changes, mainly associated with technological renovation, energy substitution, and adjustment of economic structure, had positive effects on curbing coal consumption. Results obtained in this study could shed light on energy transition in other regions of China, by building a diversified energy portfolio, optimizing regional industrial structure, and improving technology levels of production and consumption systems. Nevertheless, the de-coal process model of Beijing cannot be fully copied to other regions due to its unique political position and developmental stage, and appropriate adjustments based on local circumstances must be made.