Quantification of reduced disease burden resulting from air quality improvement by clean energy deployment in Hebei Province, China

• Published in: Energy policy 2021-12, Vol.159, p.112584, Article 112584
• Main Authors: Guo, Xiurui, Shen, Yaqian, Chen, Dongsheng, Zhao, Lijuan, Tian, Xiaolei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air; Air pollution; Air quality; Clean energy; Clean energy deployment; Clean technology; Deployment; Disease; Emission reductions; Emissions; Energy; Energy policy; Family physicians; Health effects; Measurement; Outdoor air quality; Particulate matter; Policy making; Pollutants; Quality control; Quality improvement; Quality management; Reduction; Sulfur dioxide
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112584

The implementation of China’s clean energy deployment policies has produced considerable benefits of ambient air quality improvement as well as the corresponding reduction of disease burden. However, few studies have focused on their quantification. In this study, we developed an integrated evaluation framework to assess the benefit of reduced disease burden resulting from the air quality improvement after the deployment of clean energy in Hebei Province, China. It was found that the pollutant emissions could be reduced by 18–45% and 33–66% under the General Policy (GP) and Strengthen Policy (SP) scenarios in 2030. The household sector has the largest reduction potential for all pollutant emissions, followed by the power sector with a considerable reduction effect on SO2 and NOx. The annual mean PM2.5 concentration was estimated to decrease from 52 μg m−3 under the Business as Usual (BAU) scenario to 40 μg m−3 under the SP scenario in 2030. Consequently, the disease burden due to air pollution would be reduced by 7499 and 12260 cases, respectively, under the GP and SP scenarios in 2030. Our study confirmed the effectiveness of clean energy deployment policies, and could provide scientific support and significant information to policymakers. •Air quality and health impacts from clean energy deployment were assessed.•The reduction from clean energy substitution in different sectors were compared.•Clean energy use in the household sector would have most environmental benefits.•PM2.5 would be reduced by 12 μg m−3 after clean energy deployment in Hebei in 2030.•Disease burden would be reduced 12260 cases by clean energy use in Hebei in 2030.