Atmospheric Pollutant Emissions Research Articles

A novel potential cause of extreme precipitation in the northwest China

The northwest China is a climate change-sensitive and ecologically vulnerable area. Under the backdrop of global warming, this region exhibits clear characteristics of warming and wetting. In recent years, the causes of climate change in the northwest China has become a widely-focused topic. Previous research has mainly attributed the increase in precipitation to changes in the westerly belt and enhanced local convective activity caused by global warming. South Asia, beside the Tibetan Plateau from the northwest China, is one of the regions with the fastest growth in global atmospheric pollutant emissions. This study utilizes reanalysis data such as ERA5 and MERRA-2. Statistical methods, including Theil-Sen Median trend analysis and Singular Value Decomposition analysis, are employed to analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics of South Asian aerosols, extreme precipitation in the northwest China, and the correlation between the two. The study reveals the existence of two key aerosol-precipitation response areas. Synthetic analysis of the meteorological elements of the response events in both regions is conducted to explore the possible physical mechanisms behind the correlation between South Asian aerosols and precipitation in the northwest China. The result of this study is to provide a new perspective on the causes of extreme precipitation in the arid region of northwest China.

Emerging technologies in the fight against climate change

Climate change is directly related to global warming. Such warming is caused by high greenhouse gases emissions into the atmosphere due to anthropogenic activities. Because of this, there is a greater incidence of health problems in the population, not to mention the damage to the environment. There has been increasing debate and discussion about ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a way of mitigating climate change. Given this, information and communication technologies are an important factor that can bring benefits and gains to the reduction and/or monitoring of these gases. Therefore, the current work aimed to identify information and communication technologies (ICTs) for monitoring industrial atmospheric emissions that contribute to the increase in climate change. Regarding the research methodology, it is a applied research, has a qualitative approach and in terms of its objective, it is characterized as exploratory. Regarding the results, it was proven through practical examples in companies that it is possible to use ICTs to minimize and/or mitigate the emission of atmospheric pollutants. Therefore, it is concluded that technologies can combat the causes of climate change within companies and even smart cities.

Effect of changes in the fuel type of thermal power plants on the spatial distribution and levels of PAH pollution in the Vorkuta agglomeration beyond the Arctic Circle

The paper is a study of the composition of 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the snow cover of Vorkuta (Komi Republic) in the impact zone of the fuel and energy complex in 2017 and 2023. We have identified high aerotechnogenic pollution of the Vorkuta city and adjacent territories with PAHs during heating with fuel oil and coal, with a mean concentration of 301.6 ng/L (meltwater plus particles) and spatial distribution of 85.2 μg/m2. There is a significant decrease in PAH levels when the fuel for thermal power plants has been changed to natural gas, with a mean concentration of 26.1 ng/L (meltwater plus particulates) and spatial distribution of 4.9 μg/m2. The deposition areas of different PAH fractions are identified in the impact zones of Thermal Power Plants 1 and 2, the Central Boiler House and the urbanised areas of the Vorkuta agglomeration. 2-4-ring PAHs dominate in the emissions, accounting for 92–100 % of the sum of PAHs from coal/oil combustion and 66–93 % from natural gas combustion. The indicator ratios of PAHs in the snow cover of Vorkuta in both 2017 and 2023 indicate their predominantly pyrogenic genesis. The environmental risk coefficients of PAHs in the snow cover and their change from 2017 to 2023 are calculated. TEQ changed from 2.1 ng/L (mean) in the 2017 season to 1.7 ng/L (mean) in the 2023 season. The risk quotients have been reduced from moderate risk to low risk. Reconstruction of thermal power plants when replaced by more environmentally friendly fuel (natural gas) reduces the amount of atmospheric emissions of organic pollutants.

A Review on Economic Dispatch of Power System Considering Atmospheric Pollutant Emissions

The environmental/economic dispatch (EED) of power systems addresses the environmental pollution problems caused by power generation at the operational level, offering macroscopic control without requiring additional construction and remediation costs, garnering widespread attention in recent years. This paper undertakes a comprehensive review of existing EED models, categorizing them according to the control of atmospheric pollutants into total air pollutant control (TAPC) and control considering the spatial and temporal diffusion (STD) of atmospheric pollutants. In addition, various methods employed to address the EED problems, as well as the current state of research on multi-area EED models, are presented. Finally, this paper analyzes and summarizes the literature on existing EED models, highlighting the deficiencies of the current work and future research directions. Through these explorations, the authors find that controlling the EED model by considering TAPC is more suitable for general macro planning, whereas the EED model considering the STD of air pollutant emissions enables more precise and effective control. Summarizing such models and techniques is conducive to developing dispatch plans adapted to local conditions, which is significantly beneficial for public welfare and government management, promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly power system dispatch methods.

Scenario analysis of energy consumption and related emissions in the transportation industry-a case study of Shaanxi Province.

In the context of pursuing carbon neutrality and balancing the use of fossil fuels with renewable energy, the transportation industry faces the challenge of accurately predicting energy demand, related emissions, and assessing the effectiveness of energy technologies and policies. This is crucial for formulating energy management plans and reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) and atmospheric pollutant emissions. Currently, research on energy consumption and emission forecasting primarily relies on energy consumption quantities and emission factors, which lack precision. This study employs the low emissions analysis platform (LEAP) model, utilizing a "bottom-up" modeling approach combined with scenario analysis to predict and analyze the energy demand and related emissions in the transportation industry. Compared to previous studies, the methodological framework proposed in this research offers higher precision and can explore energy-saving and emission-reduction pathways for different modes of transport, providing a valuable energy forecasting tool for transport policy formulation in other regions. The forecast results indicate that under the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, by 2049, the energy consumption and related emissions in Shaanxi Province's transportation industry are expected to increase by 1.15 to 1.85 times compared to the baseline year. In the comprehensive (CP) scenario, the industry is projected to reach a carbon peak around 2033. The study also finds that energy consumption and emissions predominantly originate from private passenger vehicles, highway freight, and civil aviation passenger, which have the greatest potential for emission reduction under the transport structure optimized (TSO) scenario. Therefore, policymakers should consider regional development characteristics, combine different transportation modes, and specifically analyze the emission reduction potential of the transportation industry in various regions, formulating corresponding reduction policies accordingly.

Temporal-spatial characteristics and sources of heavy metals in bulk deposition across China

With the rapid development of industries, agriculture, and urbanization (including transportation and population growth), there has been a significant alteration in the emission and atmospheric deposition of heavy metal pollutants. This has consequently given rise to a range of ecological and environmental health issues. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive two-year investigation on the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of heavy metals in atmospheric deposition across China based on the Nationwide Nitrogen Deposition Monitoring Network (NNDMN). The atmospheric bulk deposition of Lead (Pb), Arsenic (As), Nickel (Ni), Selenium (Se), Chromium (Cr) and Cadmium (Cd) were 6.32 ± 1.59, 4.49 ± 0.57, 1.31 ± 0.21, 1.05 ± 0.16, 0.60 ± 0.06 and 0.21 ± 0.03 mg m−2 yr−1, respectively, with a large variation among the different regions of China. The order for atmospheric deposition flux was Southwest China > Southeast China > North China > Northeast China > Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and rural area > urban area > background area. The concentrations of heavy metals in bulk deposition exhibit seasonal variation with higher levels observed during winter compared to summer and spring, which are closely associated with anthropogenic activities. The Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) results indicated that combustion, industrial emissions and traffic are the primary contributors to atmospheric deposition of heavy metals. The single factor pollution index (Pi) of heavy metals is consistently below 1, and the composite pollution index (Ni) is 0.16 across China, indicating that atmospheric heavy metal deposition is at a pollution-free level. The comprehensive potential ecological risk index of heavy metals is 11.8, with Cd exhibiting the highest single factor potential ecological risk index at 7.09, suggesting that more attention should be paid to Cd deposition in China. The present study reveals the spatial-temporal distribution pattern of atmospheric heavy metals deposition in China, identifying regional source characteristics and providing a theoretical foundation and strategies for reducing emissions of atmospheric pollutants.

Dynamic evaluation of China's atmospheric environmental pressure from 2008 to 2017: Trends and drivers

Evaluating the pressure of atmospheric pollutant emissions on the atmospheric environment is crucial for effective pollution control and emission reduction policies. This study introduces a novel Atmospheric Environmental Pressure Index (AEPI) and employs a dynamic comprehensive method to evaluate China's Atmospheric Environmental Pressure (AEP) across 31 provinces from 2008 to 2017. The drivers of AEP were analyzed using a spatial panel data model, uncovering the integral role of pollution reduction policies, particularly the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan, which led to a 25 % reduction in AEP during its enforcement. Our findings reveal significant spatial disparities in AEP, with higher levels in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Yangtze River Delta regions. The regression analysis identifies economic development, industrial structure, energy efficiency, environmental regulations, and urbanization as key influencing factors, though their impacts vary across different regions, suggesting the need for region-specific pollution control policies. Furthermore, the shift in the AEP gravity center from 2008 to 2017 indicated a southeastward movement, suggesting the necessity to focus air pollution control efforts on the southeast provinces. In conclusion, the AEPI developed in this study enables comparative analysis of AEP across different regions and facilitates the monitoring of long-term trends, which is valuable in guiding regional air pollution control in China.

Divergent features of the upper-tropospheric carbonaceous aerosol layer: Effects of atmospheric dynamics and pollution emissions in Asia, South America, and Africa

Abstract The upper-tropospheric carbonaceous aerosol layer (TCAL) represents the increase of aerosols in the upper-troposphere. It was first discovered over Asia but was found in this study to also occur over South America and Africa. The TCALs over three regions typically exist during the strong deep convection season, with the Asian, South American, and African TCALs showing peak intensity during July–August, October–December, and November–December, respectively. Over Asia, the TCAL has the highest altitude and widest spread due to strongest deep convection and upper-troposphere anticyclonic system. TCAL intensity is highest in South America maybe due to heaviest pollutant emissions. Anthropogenic pollution from India and western China produces two Asian TCAL centers, whereas widespread wildfires result in single centers over South America and Africa. TCAL radiative effect at the top of the atmosphere has warming effects over Asia (+0.23 W m−2), whereas cooling effects perform over South America (−0.54 W m−2) and Africa (−0.20 W m−2) owing to its altitude and the divergent strengths of black-carbon absorption and organic-carbon scattering.

Unveiling the Spatial-Temporal Characteristics and Driving Factors of Greenhouse Gases and Atmospheric Pollutants Emissions of Energy Consumption in Shandong Province, China

As the largest energy-consuming province in China, Shandong faces the dual task of greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and atmospheric pollution control. Based on the latest activity data and updated emission factors, this study establishes a high-resolution emission inventory (5 km × 5 km) for GHGs and main atmospheric pollutants from the energy consumption sectors of Shandong Province from 2010 to 2021, quantifies the relationship between social economic factors and GHGs and atmospheric pollutants emissions using the expanded stochastic environmental impact assessment (STIRPAT) model, and forecasts the future emission trend with the help of the scenario analysis method. Results indicate that the electricity and transportation sectors are the main contributors to all pollutants. Spatially, the high value of pollutants is mainly concentrated in the urban agglomerations of central and eastern Shandong. Up to 72% of GHGs and 50% of air pollution emissions are attributed to the top 10% of emission grids. Emission peaks occur mainly in summer and winter due to straw burning, increased utilization of temperature-controlled facilities, and expansion of plant capacity. Population, energy consumption, the proportion of secondary industry, and energy consumption intensity are the most significant influencing factors for pollutant emissions. Scenario analysis results indicate Shandong province can reach its carbon peak in 2027 without sacrificing population growth or economic progress.

Concentrated fireworks display-induced changes in aerosol vertical characteristics and atmospheric pollutant emissions

Fireworks affect the atmospheric environment and human health due to the rapid release of high levels of air pollutants. It is crucial to clarify the vertical characteristics of air pollutants and quantify the emission quantity for accurate control and health assessment. With the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle and a ground-based LiDAR system, we investigated the vertical profiles of particulate matter (PM) under the policy of concentrated fireworks detonation in a megacity (i.e., Changchun) in Northeast China and developed emission factors for fireworks displays. The results showed that the PM2.5, PM10, SO2 concentrations within a height of 200 m in the core area of fireworks display significantly increased by 143.8 %, 63.7 % and 174.3 %, respectively, on the day of the Lantern Festival relative to the background concentrations. There was a decreasing trend in the PM2.5 concentration with increasing height, with a maximum vertical decrease of 64 μg/m3 per 100 m. Despite a general decline in the concentration, the vertical distribution of polluted air masses exhibited heterogeneity, occasionally exhibiting a bimodal distribution pattern. Moreover, the correlation coefficients between the aerosol optical depth (AOD) at different altitudes (0.2–0.4, 0.4–0.7, and 0.7–1.0 km) and the ground-level PM concentration were 0.29, −0.35, and −0.35, respectively. This phenomenon indicates a reduced influence of ground-level PM emission on the AOD at altitudes from 0.4 to 1.0 km and the increased potential for aerosol particles to escape upwards, particularly in the troposphere. Furthermore, an approach combining real-time stereoscopic monitoring of PM and downwind wind speed was developed to calculate the estimated firework emission factors. The emission factors recorded during the Lantern Festival, specifically between 20:00 and 24:00, were 128.6 ± 28.3 mg/m2 per 10 min and 92.7 ± 23.2 mg/m2 per 10 min for PM2.5 and PM10, respectively, including an uncertainty of 9 %–14 % generated by the sensors. The proposed approach and corresponding emission factors could be used to easily quantify air pollutant emissions originating from fireworks displays and to conduct further numerical simulations for air pollution regulation and health assessment.

Scenario simulation and synergistic effect analysis of CO2 and atmospheric pollutant emission reduction in urban transport sector: A case study of Chengdu, China

Realizing coordinated control of CO2 and atmospheric pollutants in comprehensive transportation in large cities is an important way to promote sustainable urban development. Based on the LEAP framework, this study established a transport CO2 and atmospheric pollutant emission analysis model for Chengdu from 2021 to 2040, set up three main scenarios for the study of carbon peaking trend and 12 sub-scenarios for the study of the synergistic effect of various emission reduction measures. In addition, the synergistic effects were analyzed by radar charts, grading charts of synergistic effects and the synergetic equivalence index. The results show that under the Green Scenario (GS) and the Strengthen Green Scenario (SGS), the CO2 emissions from comprehensive transportation in Chengdu will peak at 26.774 × 106 t and 23.507 × 106 t in 2032 and 2029, respectively. The emissions of other atmospheric pollutants show a general downward trend. Under SGS, The measures that play the greatest role in reducing CO2, CO, VOCs, and NOx emissions by 2040 are NEV (New energy conversion of vehicles), Among them, the CO2 emission reduction rate relative to BS scenario is 20.7%. While the measures that play the greatest role in reducing PM and SO2 emissions are IES (Improvement of emission standards) and SRT (Strengthen railway transportation), respectively. Compared with other measures, the synergistic effect of SRT is the most highest. The emission reduction effect of NEV is most significant, with a synergistic effect level above level II. Under the joint regulation of multiple measures by GS and SGS, the synergistic equivalence index based on air quality standards has been effectively controlled, showing a downward trend. Overall, Chengdu faces challenges due to a large number of motor vehicles and air passenger throughput. Therefore, vigorously developing hydrogen vehicles and electric vehicles, strengthening railway construction in Chengdu, transferring the pressure of civil aviation and road transportation to railway, can make significant contributions to the pollution reduction and carbon reduction of Chengdu's transportation sector.

Coordination Relationship of Carbon Emissions and Air Pollutants under Governance Measures in a Typical Industrial City in China

Coordinating and controlling carbon and atmospheric pollutant emissions in industrial cities poses challenges, making it difficult to formulate effective environmental governance strategies in China. This study used the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) and Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) models, with a typical industrial city in the Sichuan Basin as the case study. Five emission reduction scenarios, one integration scenario, and one baseline scenario were set to quantitatively analyze the synergistic effect between carbon emissions and atmospheric pollutant emissions. The results indicate a high synergy between sulfur dioxide and greenhouse gases. For every one-point decrease in the Air Quality Composite Index (AQCI), the Industrial Restructuring Scenario (IR), Other Source Management Scenario (OSM), Transportation Energy Efficiency Improvement Scenario (TEEI), Industrial Energy Efficiency Improvement Scenario (IEEI), and Transportation Restructuring (TR) scenarios would require a reduction in carbon emissions by 56,492.79 kilotons, 39,850.45 kilotons, 34,027.5 kilotons, 22,356.58 kilotons, and 3243.33 kilotons, respectively. The results indicate that governance measures, such as improving transportation structure and upgrading industrial technologies, provide stronger support for simultaneous carbon emissions reductions and air quality improvement.

Energy, economic, and environmental evaluation of a GAX-based cross-type absorption-resorption heat pump

Thermally driven absorption heat pump is regarded as one of the most promising methods to efficiently utilize low-grade heat, reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. However, there are still limitations when using it at low ambient temperature in cold regions, and its application is limited by their low system performance. In this study, we proposed a novel Generator-absorber heat exchange (GAX) based NH3/H2O cross-type absorption-resorption heat pump driven by waste flue gas, which amalgamates the absorption-resorption and GAX cycles, yielding a dual advantage of diminished heat source temperature and operating pressure requirements. Additionally, it substantively enhances the system's performance by capitalizing on the cross-type solution cycle integration. A mathematical model has been developed and the results have been compared and validated with those reported in the literature. The proposed system is comprehensively studied from the view of energy, exergy, economic and environmental (4E) analysis to determine its advantages and disadvantages. The results reveal that the proposed system achieves a maximum COP of 2.742 under specific operating conditions, which is 82.8% higher than the conventional absorption heat pump (AHP), and 30.57% higher than the conventional GAX-AHP. Besides, the addition of a compressor can significantly enhance the performance of the system at lower driving heat source temperatures. At a PH/PL pair of 1.7/0.47 MPa, the static payback period is 4.113 years, with the heating capacity of 88.51 kW and the supply water temperature of 54.6 °C, showcasing favorable system performance. Furthermore, the total atmospheric pollutant emissions could be reduced by 30,998 kg/year compared to the conventional heating method.

Preparation of asymmetric tubular Co‐SiC catalytic membrane for synergistic removal of PM2.5, NO, and toluene

AbstractSiC catalytic membranes exhibit remarkable promise in controlling of dust and atmospheric pollutant emissions. However, their fabrication is limited to small‐scale production, with dimensions up to a disc of 30 mm in diameter. Scaling up the fabrication to tubular SiC catalytic membranes without compromising their application performance remains a challenge due to uncontrollable structural defects during processing. Herein, a tubular Co‐SiC (TCS) catalytic membrane was fabricated through a combination of cold‐isostatic‐pressure molding, spin spray‐coating and acid‐treating processes. The TCS catalytic membrane shows high filtration efficiencies toward industrial‐PM2.5 concentrations. A competitive reaction between NO and toluene was observed on TCS catalytic membrane, and the toluene oxidation is prioritized at low temperatures. In a 52 h stability test, the TCS catalytic membrane achieved PM2.5, NO, and toluene removal efficiencies of 98.92%, 70%, and 100%, respectively. This study lays the foundation for the practical implementation of SiC catalytic membranes in industrial emissions treatment.

It Is Time to Reduce Atmospheric Pollutant Emissions from Agricultural and Residential Activities in Rural China for the Sustainable Improvement of Air Quality.

It Is Time to Reduce Atmospheric Pollutant Emissions from Agricultural and Residential Activities in Rural China for the Sustainable Improvement of Air Quality.

Chemical evolution of rainfall in China's first eco-civilization demonstration city: Implication for the provenance identification of pollutants and rainwater acid neutralization

Rainfall chemistry is a vital indicator for reflecting anthropogenic/natural input on atmospheric quality, and the rainfall process is also the main sink of air contaminants, which has received widely concerns by all walks of life. However, the chemical compositions, sources of major solutes, historical evolution, and their determinants of rainwater in Chinese urban area, which is hotspot of atmospheric pollutant emission, are unclear under the dual background of fast economic development and eco-civilization construction. To decipher these issues, the latest year data of observation-based rainwater chemistry and the historical rainwater data, and air pollution data of China's first eco-civilization demonstration city were integrated and studied. The results presented that SO42− (53.4 %) and NO3− (28.8 %), Ca2+ (46.5 %) and NH4+ (37.9 %) dominated the present rainwater anions and cations. The historical changes in the relative proportion of rainwater ions (e.g., the holistic decreasing trend of SO42−) revealed the reduction and management achievement of atmospheric pollutant emission driven by different stages of eco-civilization city construction. The atmospheric components were well removed by rainfall scouring and all the rainwater ions showed obvious temporal variations. The concentrations of most of ions were higher in winter but lower in summer due to the key factors of meteorological factor (mainly rainfall amount) and the seasonal variations of source contribution. The stoichiometry-based source identification and relative contribution calculation reflected that anthropogenic input was the most primary contributor of NO3− (99.4 %) and SO42− (95.4 %), and the contribution of fixed emission source was relatively higher than that of traffic sources. The NH4+ was defined as the anthropogenic input ion (urban wastes and fuel combustion), while all Cl− and Na+ were from oceanic input. In contrast, terrigenous input represented the most important origin of Ca2+, K+, and Mg2+, with relative contribution of 99.5 %, 97.0 %, and 90.7 %, respectively. The high neutralization factor (NF, about 2.0) values and neutralizing to acidifying potential (NP/AP, about 1.7) ratios and their increasing trend in past few decades revealed the fact of rainwater acid being highly neutralized under the background of eco-civilization city construction.

Assessing the potential of compaction techniques in tropical peatlands for effective carbon reduction and climate change mitigation

There is a pressing need to tackle carbon emissions from oil palm plantations on tropical peatland, which has garnered significant discussion and concern in recent years. In response, compaction techniques were introduced in Malaysia with the aim of mitigating CO2 emissions by improving moisture levels and reducing soil aeration. This research investigates the impact of mechanical compaction on two distinct ecosystems: a peat swamp forest (PSF) and an oil palm plantation (OPP), characterized by their unique physicochemical properties Using a specially designed compaction apparatus, significant changes in carbon emissions were observed in PSF but not in OPP, with means 1263 and 404 mg CO2-eq m−2 h−1, respectively. This disparity can be due to substrate availability between the two ecosystems. Subsequently, in the PSF, a promising pattern of a percentage ratio of approximately 1:3.5 was observed, indicating a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions (from 1295 to 468 mg m−2 h−1; 64%) alongside a corresponding increase in CH4 emissions (from −50 to 60 µg m−2 h−1; 221%). This finding suggests that compaction alters the aerobic peat horizon, bringing the peat surface closer to the groundwater level. The study underscores the importance of considering confounding factors such as decomposition degree and groundwater fluctuation when assessing the effects of compaction on tropical peat. By shedding light on these complexities, the findings contribute to a better understanding of the efficacy of compaction techniques in reducing emissions of these special case atmospheric pollutants.

Performance analysis of a novel biomass gasification system coupled to a coal-fired power plant based on heat and water recovery

Biomass gasification co-firing is a technology that can be implemented instantly in almost all coal-fired power plants in a relatively short period to reduce the consumption of fossil fuel. Most studies have focused on improving the system according to variations in the gasification conditions, biomass types, co-firing ratio, and boiler loads. However, the whole system process analysis and structural improvement based on the matter and energy of the co-firing system require further investigation. In this study, a novel biomass air–steam circulating fluidized bed gasification co-firing system based on waste heat and flue gas water recovery with different co-firing ratios (approximately 10 %–40 %) was simulated and compared with the original air gasification co-firing system using Aspen Plus software. The impacts of recovered water participate in gasification process and the optimal steam to biomass ratio (S/B) when it varied from 0.5 to 2, on the syngas quality, thermal characteristics of flue gas, recovered water, coal consumption, exergy loss, and efficiency of the system were analyzed. Compared with the air gasification co-firing system, the results showed that the N2 content in syngas reduced from 41.14 % to 28.92 %, and the heat yield of syngas increased by 7.73 %, along with a 110 t/h recovered water surplus at a 40 % co-firing ratio when steam to biomass ratio was equal to 1. The maximum coal saving amount was 2.26–9.11 t/h and the volume of atmospheric pollutants emissions, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), reduced by 0.95 %–6.02 %, 0.91 %–0.95 %, and 11.38 %–36.47 % at a co-firing ratio of approximately 10 %–40 %. Furthermore, the exergy loss can be reduced by 4.35 %–10 % with a 1.72 %–3.96 % increase in exergy efficiency, indicating that the new system mode improves the comprehensive performance of the co-firing system.

EvalCADair: tool for assessing air quality improvement after the deployment of a district heating network

Switching from individual fossil fuel boilers to a district heating network not only allows the reduction of CO2 emissions but may also lead to significant reduction of other air pollutants such as SO2, NOx and PMx, which have well known negative effects on the human health. EvalCADair makes it possible to estimate the annual evolution of the emissions of atmospheric pollutants during the construction phase of a district heating network. This generic tool is applied to the case of the district heating network CADéco, whose heat production consists of centralized heat pumps and gas boilers. Located in Geneva, the case study includes 154 buildings with a total heated surface of 547’000 m2 and an annual heat demand of about 55 GWh. Approximately half of the total surface aera is dedicated to collective residential housing and the rest to various activities. By the end of 2022, 40% of these buildings were connected to the district heating network. Using the tool to estimate the emissions from 2011 to 2022 shows only a small reduction in CO2 emissions, mainly due to the replacement of individual oil boilers with centralized gas boilers. The gain will be more significant when the heat pumps will be activated. The future impact of the activation of the heat pumps is estimated using EvalCADair as a prospective tool.

Socioeconomic driving forces behind air polluting emissions in Mexico.

Air pollution is one of the most severe environmental problems that Mexico is currently facing. The objective of this paper is to quantify the most relevant socioeconomic driving forces behind air polluting emissions and, more specifically, 7 local pollutants in Mexico. We do so in a multilevel version of the Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology (STIRPAT) model that accounts for the spatial heterogeneity at the municipal level across the country. The results show that the most relevant variables to determine the emissions of atmospheric pollutants are the population, the harvested area and the number of cars, while technological development helps to mitigate such emissions. The ecological elasticities are, in all cases, smaller than one. Our purpose is to provide quantitative information about these socioeconomic driving forces of air deterioration as a basis to establish some recommendations for environmental policy decision-making.