ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF AIR POLLUTION INDICATORS BY SOLID FUEL LOCAL BOILER ROOMS

Abstract

In Ukraine, the losses from air pollution in 2020 amounted to 10.42 billion US dollars, or 6.7% of GDP (gross domestic product). Up to 83% of all emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere of Ukraine are accounted for by the electricity industry from the combustion of all fuels. According to the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine, 15233 settlements in rural areas are heated by coal. Due to the fighting in eastern Ukraine, energy (long-flame gas) coal began to enter the private sector and the public sector for heating with local solid fuel boilers. No other fuel pollutes the atmosphere like long-flame coal. The paper shows that for some types of emissions from the combustion of fossil coal is ten times higher than the maximum allowable concentrations. The largest exceedances of the maximum permissible concentration of 5300 times in carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) in 168.8 times, as well as nitric oxide NO2 in 6.1 times. In addition, the emission of benzo (a) pyrene from coal combustion is 0.27 g / GJ. Therefore, it is impossible to solve the environmental problems of decarbonization in Ukraine without taking into account emissions from local low-power solid fuel boilers. We propose to replace fossil long-flame coal in local solid fuel boilers with biochar made from agricultural waste. Such a solution would significantly reduce emissions of pollutants and solve the problem of agricultural waste disposal. The practical use of the proposed technology is constrained by the cost of biochar production, which is higher than that of fossil coal. It is shown that the decision to replace fossil coal with biochar must also take into account the impact of pollutants on the environment and human health. The paper estimates the losses from pollution by one solid fuel boiler of the environment, which amount to UAH 333,000, and the economic damage from pollution by one solid fuel boiler on human health, which amounts to UAH 640,000. In this case, the replacement of fossil coal with biochar is very cost-effective.