Evolution of SO2 and NOx Emissions from Several Large Combustion Plants in Europe during 2005-2015.

Daniel-Eduard Constantin,Corina Bocăneala,Puiu Lucian Georgescu,Alexis Merlaud,Mirela Voiculescu,Adrian Roşu,Michel Van Roozendael

doi:10.3390/ijerph17103630

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the evolution of SO2 and NOx emissions of ten very large combustion plants (LCPs >500 MW) located in the European Union (EU) during 2005–2015. The evolution of NOx and SO2 emissions were analyzed against the EU Directives in force during 2005–2015. The investigation was performed using space-borne observations and estimated emissions collected from the EEA (European Environment Agency) inventory of air pollutant emissions. The power plants were chosen according to their capacity and emissions, located in various parts of Europe, to give an overall picture of atmospheric pollution with NOx and SO2 associated with the activity of very large LCPs in Europe. Satellite observations from OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) are compared with calculated emissions in order to assess whether satellite observations can be used to monitor air quality, as a standard procedure, by governmental or nongovernmental institutions. Our results show that both space observations and estimated emissions of NOx and SO2 atmospheric content have a descending trend until 2010, complying with the EU Directives. The financial and economic crisis during 2007–2009 played an important role in reducing emissions.

Highlights

Atmospheric pollution is one of the largest environmental health risks in Europe, severely affecting human health and causing more than 400,000 premature deaths each year [1]
We presented the variation of NO2 and SO2 atmospheric emissions attributed to ten very large power plants across Europe (EU-28), quantified by calculated emissions and by satellite observations, during 2005–2015
The main aim of this work was to study the evolution of the NO2 and SO2 amount after implementation of the Large combustion plants (LCPs) Directive (2001/80/EC), and the NEC Directive

Summary

Introduction

Atmospheric pollution is one of the largest environmental health risks in Europe, severely affecting human health and causing more than 400,000 premature deaths each year [1]. More than 50% of the SO2 and NOx emissions in Europe are associated with the production and distribution of fossil fuels [2]. It is well known that the emissions from thermal processes of fossil fuels have negative effects on human health and the environment. Large combustion plants (LCPs) are combustion plants with a total rated thermal input equal to or greater than 50 MW and have an important contribution to the air quality degradation due to anthropogenic pollutant emissions in the atmosphere [7]. EU legislation has set specific emission limit values for NOx, SO2, and dust emissions from installations with a rated thermal input of ≥50 MW

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Methods

Conclusion