Assessment of electric power options for reducing SOx and CO2 emissions in northeastern China

Abstract

This study comprehensively assessed the technological options for reducing SOx and CO2 emissions in northeastern China’s electric power sector with the linear programming models that take into consideration technological and regional characteristics in detail. We assessed the options for existing coal-fired power plants in the static analysis and the options for new ones in the dynamic analysis. According to the results, coal washing and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) are superior in reducing SOx, but they cannot reduce CO2 sufficiently. Natural gas and nuclear power are superior in reducing CO2, and SOx is reduced dramatically by them as well. Integrated gasification combustion cycle (IGCC) and pressurized fluidized bed combustion (PFBC) have large emissions reduction potential but are inferior in terms of cost. Supercritical unit and wind power are relatively superior in reducing CO2. The optimal composition of power plants and the assessment of photovoltaic (PV) power depend on the shape of the daily load curve. PV is much inferior to other options in reducing SOx and CO2. In addition, the avoided capacity by introducing PV is very small. The results imply that accelerating the utilization of coal washing and FGD should be given greater emphasis in China. It is also suggested that China could reduce SOx economically by introducing natural gas, IGCC, or PFBC as the measures for CO2 reduction through such frameworks as the clean development mechanism.