Regional differences and driving factors of carbon emission intensity in China’s electricity generation sector

As an industry with immense decarbonization potential, the low-carbon transformation of the power sector is crucial to China’s carbon emission (CE) reduction commitment. Based on panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2000 to 2019, this research calculates and analyzes the provincial CE intensity in electricity generation (CEIE) and its spatial distribution characteristics. Additionally, the GTWR model based on the construction explains the regional heterogeneity and dynamic development trend of each driving factor’s influence on CEIE from time and space. The main results are as follows: CEIE showed a gradual downward trend in time and a spatial distribution pattern of high in the northeast and low in the southwest. The contribution of driving factors to CEIE has regional differences, and the power structure contributes most to the CEIE of the power sector, which promotes regional CE. Concurrently, most provinces with similar economic development, technological level, geographic location, or resource endowment characteristics show similar spatial and temporal trends. These detections will furnish broader insights into implementing CE reduction policies for the regional power sector.