A Method for Calculating Carbon Emissions From Thermal Power Generation Based on Trajectory Homogeneity

The carbon emissions from the power system constitute a substantial portion, approximately 40%, of the total carbon emissions in society. Hence, accurate calculation of the carbon emissions from thermal power plants serves as a foundation prerequisite for carbon market trading and is crucial for achieving dual carbon goals. This paper presents three methods for calculating the carbon emissions from thermal power units. The first method is based on the material balance approach, which calculates the carbon emissions from the power unit by considering fuel consumption and quality parameters. The second method, known as the flue gas method, calculates the carbon emissions by utilizing the carbon dioxide (CO
2
) or oxygen (O
2
) concentration from the continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS). The third method relies on the emission factor approach, which evaluates carbon emissions by considering the power generation of the unit and its corresponding carbon emission intensity. The consistency of the emission curves obtained from these three methods is examined to determine the final carbon emissions from power generation units. Finally, the feasibility and accuracy of the proposed methods are validated using actual data from a power plant.