| China is the world’s largest refiner by capacity with stable demand for refined products. However, there is significant heterogeneity in carbon emissions of refineries due to diverse crude feedstocks, complex processing units, and varied product portfolios. A high-precision characterization method for carbon emissions is still lacking, leaving the refinery emission baseline unclear and posing substantial challenges for emission reduction. This study develops a carbon emission quantification model tailored to the diverse production characteristics of China’s refineries, incorporating critical modules such as crude blending, hydrogen production, power, and heating. The model establishes an energy-process-emission correspondence at the unit level, laying a foundation for targeted carbon reduction strategies in China’s refining industry. Results indicate refinery cumulative emissions of 4.887 billion tons CO?e from 1998 to 2023, with 2023 emissions totaling 294 million tons CO?e. Heating, hydrogen production, power, and fluid catalytic cracking account for 65%, 16%, 9%, and 9% of total emissions, respectively. The range of refinery carbon emission intensity per ton of crude processed in 2023 is 270-659 kg CO?e/ton, with an average of 405 kg CO?e/ton. Deep conversion refineries account for 83% of total emissions, with the highest intensity at 418 kg CO?e/ton. Emission intensity in newly constructed deep conversion facilities has increased over the past decade. Accordingly, recommendations include promoting centralized heating, combined heat and power, and renewable energy-based heating within refinery clusters, alongside advancing renewable hydrogen production to reduce reliance on fossil-based hydrogen. For deep conversion facilities, it is suggested to enhance process efficiency and targeting production pathways to streamline processing chains. |
