资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

Carbon pricing is a policy tool that aims to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by either imposing a fee or a cap on the tons of carbon dioxide emitted. When applied to the electricity sector, carbon pricing discourages the use of carbon-intensive generators, like coal-fired power plants, in favor of lower- or zero-emitting generators, like efficient combined-cycle natural gas plants or renewables. This explainer details how carbon pricing can reduce emissions in the power sector and its impacts on generation dispatch, investment, and electricity prices.