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The major air pollutants emitted by coal-fired power plants are sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>), nitrogen oxides (NOx), [[particulate matter]], and [[mercury]] (Hg). | The major air pollutants emitted by coal-fired power plants are sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>), nitrogen oxides (NOx), [[particulate matter]], and [[mercury]] (Hg). | ||
The currently available (2008) technology for flue gas clean-up can remove 99.9% of the fly ash, 99% of the sulfur dioxide and about 90% of the nitrogen dioxides.<ref name=MIT>{{cite book|author=Dr. James Katzer et al and MIT Coal Energy Study Advisory | |||
Committee|title=The Future of Coal|edition=|publisher=[[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]|year=2007|id=ISBN 0-615-14092-0}} [http://web.mit.edu/coal/The_Future_of_Coal.pdf The Future of Coal]</ref> | |||
Coal-fired power plants also emit large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) which is not a pollutant in the traditional sense. In fact, it is essential for all plant life on Earth through [[photosynthesis]]. However, it is a ''[[greenhouse gas]]'' considered to have a major role in so-called ''[[global warming]]''. | Coal-fired power plants also emit large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) which is not a pollutant in the traditional sense. In fact, it is essential for all plant life on Earth through [[photosynthesis]]. However, it is a ''[[greenhouse gas]]'' considered to have a major role in so-called ''[[global warming]]''. | ||
50% of the electricity generated in the U.S. is from coal.2 | |||
� Th ere are the equivalent of more than fi ve hundred, 500 | |||
megawatt, coal-fi red power plants in the United States with | |||
an average age of 35 years.2 | |||
� China is currently constructing the equivalent of two, 500 | |||
megawatt, coal-fi red power plants per week and a capacity | |||
comparable to the entire UK power grid each year.3 | |||
� One 500 megawatt coal-fi red power plant produces approximately | |||
3 million tons/year of carbon dioxide (CO2).3 | |||
� Th e United States produces about 1.5 billion tons per year of | |||
CO2 from coal-burning power plants. | |||
� If all of this CO2 is transported for sequestration, the quantity | |||
is equivalent to three times the weight and, under typical | |||
operating conditions, one-third of the annual volume of | |||
natural gas transported by the U.S. gas pipeline system. | |||
� If 60% of the CO2 produced from U.S. coal-based power | |||
generation were to be captured and compressed to a liquid | |||
for geologic sequestration, its volume would about equal the | |||
total U.S. oil consumption of 20 million barrels per day. | |||
Revision as of 17:09, 30 November 2008
The major air pollutants emitted by coal-fired power plants are sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter, and mercury (Hg).
The currently available (2008) technology for flue gas clean-up can remove 99.9% of the fly ash, 99% of the sulfur dioxide and about 90% of the nitrogen dioxides.[1]
Coal-fired power plants also emit large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) which is not a pollutant in the traditional sense. In fact, it is essential for all plant life on Earth through photosynthesis. However, it is a greenhouse gas considered to have a major role in so-called global warming. 50% of the electricity generated in the U.S. is from coal.2 � Th ere are the equivalent of more than fi ve hundred, 500 megawatt, coal-fi red power plants in the United States with an average age of 35 years.2 � China is currently constructing the equivalent of two, 500 megawatt, coal-fi red power plants per week and a capacity comparable to the entire UK power grid each year.3 � One 500 megawatt coal-fi red power plant produces approximately 3 million tons/year of carbon dioxide (CO2).3 � Th e United States produces about 1.5 billion tons per year of CO2 from coal-burning power plants. � If all of this CO2 is transported for sequestration, the quantity is equivalent to three times the weight and, under typical operating conditions, one-third of the annual volume of natural gas transported by the U.S. gas pipeline system. � If 60% of the CO2 produced from U.S. coal-based power generation were to be captured and compressed to a liquid for geologic sequestration, its volume would about equal the total U.S. oil consumption of 20 million barrels per day.
References
- ↑ Dr. James Katzer et al and MIT Coal Energy Study Advisory Committee (2007). The Future of Coal. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. ISBN 0-615-14092-0. The Future of Coal