Professor Shi Chen’s research interests focus on devising solutions to real-world challenges in the transition to a net-zero emissions society, with particular emphasis on energy systems. She investigates how to develop context-specific renewable energy system solutions that effectively address practical constraints, quantifies the synergies and trade-offs between energy transition and other sustainability goals, and examines the dynamic interplay between policy and energy transition. Driven by real-world needs, her research integrates multidisciplinary and spatiotemporal quantitative methods across global and local scales to address the challenges of climate change, aiming to provide actionable strategies and decision-support tools for policymakers and stakeholders.

Research Themes under ENVR

• Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CARE)
• Sustainable Finance and Net Zero Solutions

Research Areas

• Energy
• Sustainability
• Carbon

Research Interests

• Renewable energy
• Life cycle assessment
• Energy policy and technology development
• Synergies and trade-offs across sectors
• International finance and investment

Publications

Representative Publications

• Shi Chen*, Xi Lu, Jiming Hao, Edgar Virguez, Ken Caldeira, and Steven J. Davis*. The effect of land costs on the economic and sustainability performance of solar photovoltaics in China. The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) (2026), https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2512930123.
• Shi Chen*, Yuhan Wang, Xi Lu*, Kebin He, and Jiming Hao. Global disparity in synergy of solar power and vegetation growth. Environmental Research Letters (2024), https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ada302.
• Shi Chen, Youxuan Xiao, Chongyu Zhang, Xi Lu*, Kebin He, and Jiming Hao. Cost dynamics of onshore wind energy in the context of China’s carbon neutrality target. Environmental Science and Ecotechnology (2024), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ese.2023.100323.
• Shi Chen, Xi Lu*, Chris Nielsen, Michael McElroy*, Gang He, Shaohui Zhang, Kebin He, Xiu Yang, Fang Zhang, and Jiming Hao. Deploying PV first in carbon-intensive regions brings gigatons more carbon mitigations to 2060. Communications Earth & Environment (2023), https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-01006-x. 
• Shi Chen, Xi Lu*, Chris P. Nielsen, Guannan Geng, Kebin He, Michael B. McElroy*, Shuxiao Wang, and Jiming Hao. Improved Air Quality in China can Enhance Solar Power Performance and accelerate Carbon Neutrality. One Earth (2022), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2022.04.002. Commentary article by Haoran Zhang and Jinyue Yan: Co-benefits of renewable energy development: A brighter sky brings greater renewable power. Joule (2022), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2022.05.017.
• Xi Lu#*, Shi Chen#, Chris P. Nielsen, Chongyu Zhang, Jiacong Li, He Xu, Ye Wu, Shuxiao Wang, Feng Song, Chu Wei, Kebin He, Michael B. McElroy*, and Jiming Hao. Combined Solar Power and Storage as Cost-competitive and Grid-compatible supply for China's Future Carbon-neutral Electricity System. (Front cover) the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) (2021), https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2103471118. Commentary article by Christian Breyer: Low-cost solar power enables a sustainable energy industry system. PNAS (2021), https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2116940118.
• Shi Chen#, Xi Lu#*, Yufei Miao, Yu Deng, Chris P. Nielsen, Noah Elbot, Yuanchen Wang, Kathryn G. Logan, Michael B. McElroy*, and Jiming Hao. The Potential of Photovoltaics to Power the Belt and Road Initiative. (Front cover) Joule (2019), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2019.06.006.

Full Publication List