Review of Direct Measurement of Thermal Power Carbon Emissions: Technology Integration, Standard Alignment, and Practical Solutions for Carbon Neutrality Goals

Global efforts to achieve carbon neutrality have highlighted the critical need for accurate carbon emissions accounting in the thermal power industry, which is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Standardized and high-precision direct measurement methods are essential to support emissions reduction strategies and carbon trading systems. Accurately measuring thermal power carbon emissions is key to “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality (dual carbon)” goals. The direct measurement method, via real-time monitoring of flue gas flow and CO2 concentration, provides high-precision data and is an important industrial direction. This paper reviews its key technologies, compares technical adaptability, anti-interference, and cost-effectiveness, sorts out domestic and international standards, and analyzes core challenges (25~50% errors from complex flow fields, environmental interference, traceability issues, high costs, and standard-engineering gaps). It forecasts future directions (flow field rectification, optical tech localization, and digital twins). The results guide enterprises to optimize monitoring, reduce carbon trading data errors, support standard formulation, and help small-medium plants promote direct measurement, accelerating the carbon neutrality process of the thermal power industry.