Researchers from China, France and the USA have evaluated China\u2019s success in stemming emissions from its coal-fired power plants (CPPs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CPPs are one of the main contributors to air pollution in China, and their proliferation over the last 20 years has had significant impacts on air quality and public health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These impacts led authorities to introduce measures to control emissions from CPPs and reduce their effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Writing today in Environmental Research Letters<\/em>, researchers examined if these policies have been effective, and measured their benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Qiang Zhang, from Tsinghua University, China, is the study\u2019s lead author. He said: \u201cBetween 2005 and 2015, the coal-fired power generation of CPPs in China grew by more than 97%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “In 2010, CPPs\u2019 sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions accounted for 33%, 33% and 6% of China\u2019s total national emissions, respectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “The large amount of air pollutant emissions from CPPs causes fine particulate air pollution, which contributed 26% of the fine particulate nitrate and 22% of the fine particulate sulphate ambient concentration in 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTo combat this, China introduced three primary policies for CPPs during 2005-2020. They aimed to improve efficiency energy by promoting large CPPs and decommissioning small plants during 2005-2020; brought in national emission cap requirements by installing of end-of-pipe control devices during 2005-2015; and introduced ultra-low emission standards between 2014-2020.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n To measure the effect these policies had on emissions, the team developed two retrospective emission scenarios based on a high-resolution coal-fired power plant database for China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They also developed two emission prediction scenarios to forecast the CPPs\u2019 emission changes associated with the implementation of ultra-low emission standards and power generation increments during 2015-2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, they evaluated the air quality and health impacts associated with CPPs’ emission changes during 2005-2020, using a regional air quality model and the integrated exposure-response model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Fei Liu, from the Universities Space Research Association, Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research, USA, is the study\u2019s corresponding author. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She said: \u201cOur results show that overall, China\u2019s efforts on emission reductions, air quality improvement and human health protection from CPPS between 2005-2020 were effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe found that the upgrading of end-pipe control facilities could reduce PM2.5 exposures by 7.9ug\/m3 and avoid 111,900 premature deaths annually. Meanwhile, the early retirement of small and low-efficiency units could reduce PM2.5 exposures by 2.1ug\/m3 and avoid 31,400 annual premature deaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis suggests similar measures could be taken in countries such as India, to enable the reduction of emissions alongside rapid economic development.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n