为了实现碳中和，中国能源系统需要经历深刻转型。本文利用能源-环境-经济模型China TIMES，设计了4个面向碳中和的能源转型情景，对因实现碳达峰时间不同和2050年碳排放量不同引起的转型路径差异进行了比较。结果显示，中国的二氧化碳排放量将在2025—2030年达到103亿~104亿吨的峰值。2050年，中国能源消费总量（电热当量）的60%、发电量的90%将由可再生能源提供，终端电气化率提升至接近60%。能源转型将带来持续的空气质量改善，2050年局地空气污染物排放较2020年减少85%，而提前达峰能够产生更多的近期收益。提前达峰要求在未来10年大量部署可再生能源，并在2025年后加速淘汰煤炭，这加大了近期的减排压力。然而，这些措施能尽早获得更好的空气质量，减少二氧化碳累计排放，为其他部门的转型争取更多时间。另外，本研究还发现，中国2050年的减排压力会在近期对可再生能源的发展、能源服务需求变化和福利损失产生影响。

China's energy system requires a thorough transformation to achieve carbon neutrality. Here, leveraging the highly acclaimed The Integrated MARKAL-EFOM System model of China (China TIMES) that takes energy, the environment, and the economy into consideration, four carbon-neutral scenarios are proposed and compared for different emission peak times and carbon emissions in 2050. The results show that China's carbon emissions will peak at 10.3–10.4 Gt between 2025 and 2030. In 2050, renewables will account for 60% of total energy consumption (calorific value calculation) and 90% of total electricity generation, and the electrification rate will be close to 60%. The energy transition will bring sustained air quality improvement, with an 85% reduction in local air pollutants in 2050 compared with 2020 levels, and an early emission peak will yield more near-term benefits. Early peak attainment requires the extensive deployment of renewables over the next decade and an accelerated phasing out of coal after 2025. However, it will bring benefits such as obtaining better air quality sooner, reducing cumulative CO₂ emissions, and buying more time for other sectors to transition. The pressure for more ambitious emission reductions in 2050 can be transmitted to the near future, affecting renewable energy development, energy service demand, and welfare losses.