Carbon emission coefficient measurement of the coal-to-power energy chain in China

•CO2 emissions coefficient of the coal-energy chain in China is currently at 875g/kWh−1.•The emission coefficient is a relatively low level compared with other countries.•CO2 is the main type of GHG emission and the most direct emission in the chain.•A great decline of potential energy use exists in the coal mining process of China compared with other countries. Coal-fired electricity generation has become the largest source of carbon emission in China. This study utilizes life-cycle assessment to assess the effect of carbon emissions and to calculate the coefficient of carbon emissions in coal-to-energy chains. Results show that the carbon emission coefficient of the coal-to-energy chain in China is 875g/kWh−1, which is a relatively low level compared with that of other countries. CO2 is the main type of greenhouse gas emission and is the most abundant type of direct emission. China has to reduce electrical consumption in the coal-mining process to reduce carbon emissions in coal-to-energy chains. Moreover, China has to facilitate railway-line construction to improve the proportion of railway transportation to coal transportation.