Overlooked CO2 emissions induced by air pollution control devices in coal-fired power plants
China's efforts to mitigate air pollution from its large-scale coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) have involved the widespread use of air pollution control devices (APCDs). However, the operation of these devices relies on substantial electricity generated by CFPPs, resulting in indirect CO2 emiss...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Science and Ecotechnology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666498423000601 |
| _version_ | 1797400874507567104 |
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| author | Pengfei Zhang Kuishuang Feng Li Yan Yaqin Guo Bei Gao Jiashuo Li |
| author_facet | Pengfei Zhang Kuishuang Feng Li Yan Yaqin Guo Bei Gao Jiashuo Li |
| author_sort | Pengfei Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | China's efforts to mitigate air pollution from its large-scale coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) have involved the widespread use of air pollution control devices (APCDs). However, the operation of these devices relies on substantial electricity generated by CFPPs, resulting in indirect CO2 emissions. The extent of CO2 emissions caused by APCDs in China remains uncertain. Here, using a plant-level dataset, we quantified the CO2 emissions associated with electricity consumption by APCDs in China's CFPPs. Our findings reveal a significant rise in CO2 emissions attributed to APCDs, increasing from 1.48 Mt in 2000 to 51.7 Mt in 2020. Moreover, the contribution of APCDs to total CO2 emissions from coal-fired power generation escalated from 0.12% to 1.19%. Among the APCDs, desulfurization devices accounted for approximately 80% of the CO2 emissions, followed by dust removal and denitration devices. Scenario analysis indicates that the lifespan of CFPPs will profoundly impact future emissions, with Nei Mongol, Shanxi, and Shandong provinces projected to exhibit the highest emissions. Our study emphasizes the urgent need for a comprehensive assessment of environmental policies and provides valuable insights for the integrated management of air pollutants and carbon emissions in CFPPs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:01:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8f0cf501c61049809ebaf53ace1fc295 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-4984 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T02:01:54Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Science and Ecotechnology |
| spelling | doaj.art-8f0cf501c61049809ebaf53ace1fc2952023-12-08T04:46:13ZengElsevierEnvironmental Science and Ecotechnology2666-49842024-01-0117100295Overlooked CO2 emissions induced by air pollution control devices in coal-fired power plantsPengfei Zhang0Kuishuang Feng1Li Yan2Yaqin Guo3Bei Gao4Jiashuo Li5Institute of Blue and Green Development, Shandong University, Weihai, 264209, PR ChinaInstitute of Blue and Green Development, Shandong University, Weihai, 264209, PR China; Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, USAChinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing, 100012, PR ChinaDepartment of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR ChinaSchool of Business, Shandong University, Weihai, 264209, PR ChinaInstitute of Blue and Green Development, Shandong University, Weihai, 264209, PR China; Academy of Plateau Science and Sustainability, Qinghai Normal University, Xining, 810016, PR China; Corresponding author. Institute of Blue and Green Development, Shandong University, Weihai, 264209, PR China.China's efforts to mitigate air pollution from its large-scale coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) have involved the widespread use of air pollution control devices (APCDs). However, the operation of these devices relies on substantial electricity generated by CFPPs, resulting in indirect CO2 emissions. The extent of CO2 emissions caused by APCDs in China remains uncertain. Here, using a plant-level dataset, we quantified the CO2 emissions associated with electricity consumption by APCDs in China's CFPPs. Our findings reveal a significant rise in CO2 emissions attributed to APCDs, increasing from 1.48 Mt in 2000 to 51.7 Mt in 2020. Moreover, the contribution of APCDs to total CO2 emissions from coal-fired power generation escalated from 0.12% to 1.19%. Among the APCDs, desulfurization devices accounted for approximately 80% of the CO2 emissions, followed by dust removal and denitration devices. Scenario analysis indicates that the lifespan of CFPPs will profoundly impact future emissions, with Nei Mongol, Shanxi, and Shandong provinces projected to exhibit the highest emissions. Our study emphasizes the urgent need for a comprehensive assessment of environmental policies and provides valuable insights for the integrated management of air pollutants and carbon emissions in CFPPs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666498423000601Coal-fired power plantsCO2 emissionsAir pollutant control deviceEnvironmental policyScenario analysis |
| spellingShingle | Pengfei Zhang Kuishuang Feng Li Yan Yaqin Guo Bei Gao Jiashuo Li Overlooked CO2 emissions induced by air pollution control devices in coal-fired power plants Environmental Science and Ecotechnology Coal-fired power plants CO2 emissions Air pollutant control device Environmental policy Scenario analysis |
| title | Overlooked CO2 emissions induced by air pollution control devices in coal-fired power plants |
| title_full | Overlooked CO2 emissions induced by air pollution control devices in coal-fired power plants |
| title_fullStr | Overlooked CO2 emissions induced by air pollution control devices in coal-fired power plants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Overlooked CO2 emissions induced by air pollution control devices in coal-fired power plants |
| title_short | Overlooked CO2 emissions induced by air pollution control devices in coal-fired power plants |
| title_sort | overlooked co2 emissions induced by air pollution control devices in coal fired power plants |
| topic | Coal-fired power plants CO2 emissions Air pollutant control device Environmental policy Scenario analysis |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666498423000601 |
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