Research on the interactive response relationship between thermal power carbon emission and industrial structure in Western China

The thermal power industry takes the important social responsibility of energy conservation and environmental protection. The carbon emissions made by the thermal power industry are affected by the industrial structure. In this paper, the carbon emission of thermal power generation is divided into three links: energy combustion, desulfurization process, and power transportation. The total carbon emission of thermal power in 11 provinces in western China from 2000 to 2017 is calculated. Combined with industrial reform, this paper constructs a panel data fixed effect model to systematically analyze the interactive response relationship between thermal power carbon emission and industrial structure in the western region. The research shows that due to the continuous expansion of hydropower, wind power, and other new energy power generation scale and the improvement of energy efficiency in the western region, the growth trend of thermal power carbon emission has slowed down since 2010. The industrial development pattern is the main driving force of regional economic development, and the secondary industry in the western region is the main driving factor of thermal power carbon emission. High quality economic development in the western region can be promoted through technological upgrading, new energy development, and industrial multi-mode operation.