Characteristics of carbon emission point sources and industry analysis in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area

Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technology has gained widespread attention in recent years as a critical strategy to combat global climate change, particularly in achieving carbon neutrality goals. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA), as one of China's most economically active regions, serves as a key engine for economic growth while also facing considerable carbon emission challenges. This study analyzes the industrial emission volume and geographical distribution of key emitting enterprises in the GBA, summarizes their technological processes and main carbon-emitting equipment, and provides scientific support for precise mitigation policies and low-carbon development. Based on data from 176 key emitting enterprises, the study reveals that Guangzhou and Dongguan host the largest number of such enterprises. Carbon emissions are primarily concentrated in the power sector, dominated by coal- and gas-fired power units, characterized by significant spatial dispersion and uneven distribution. Beyond the power sector, the paper industry has a high number of enterprises but lower emissions. Key facilities such as boilers, cogeneration systems, and production lines are predominantly located near tributaries rivers in Dongguan and Jiangmen. The building materials sector, primarily cement production, ranks as the second-largest emitter, with high-temperature kilns and grinding equipment, particularly rotary kilns and glass furnaces, as the main sources. The petrochemical and chemical sectors have fewer enterprises and lower emissions in the GBA, mainly located in suburban industrial clusters. Carbon emissions in the GBA exhibit distinct industry concentration and geographical distribution disparities. This study provides crucial data and theoretical insights for the development of targeted emission reduction strategies, optimization of source-sink matching, and the advancement of CCUS technologies in the region, particularly from the GBA to the northern South China Sea.