Global emission hotspots of coal power generation

• Published in: Nature sustainability 2019-02, Vol.2 (2), p.113-121
• Main Authors: Oberschelp, C., Pfister, S., Raptis, C. E., Hellweg, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 639/166; 639/4077; 704/106; 704/172; Air pollution; Carbon dioxide; Coal; Coal mining; Earth and Environmental Science; Emissions; Environment; Flue gas; Greenhouse gases; Industrial plant emissions; Life cycle analysis; Mercury; Methane; Nitrogen oxides; Particulate matter; Photochemicals; Pollutants; Power plants; Sulfur; Sulfur dioxide; Supply chains; Sustainable Development; Toxic substances
• ISSN: 2398-9629; 2398-9629
• DOI: 10.1038/s41893-019-0221-6

Coal power generation is a primary cause of greenhouse gas (GHG) and toxic airborne emissions globally. We present a uniquely comprehensive inventory of CO 2 , methane, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury emissions for 7,861 coal-generating units including their supply chains. Total GHG and toxic substance emissions are largest from China, the United States, India, Germany and Russia (together >64% per pollutant). Overall supply chain contributions are below 19%, but exceed 75% for individual units and pollutants. Methane emissions from underground coal mining offset Chinese coal power plant efficiency advantages in comparison to India. Health impacts, as quantified by regionalized life cycle assessment, are highest in India and parts of eastern and southeastern Europe due to lack of modern flue gas treatment, and in China due to widespread coal power generation. Deployment of state-of-the-art flue gas treatment, driven by local emission limits, can mitigate health impacts in India and parts of Europe while it is already largely used in China and the United States. Phase-out of the 10% most polluting coal power plants (by capacity) would reduce coal power GHG emissions by 16% or human health impacts by 64%, respectively. Coal power generation contributes greenhouse gas and toxic air pollution worldwide. This study provides the most comprehensive analysis of such air pollution, analysing data on 7,861 coal-generating units and their supply chains. China, the United States, India, Germany and Russia contribute the most, and pollutant exposure risks are highest in India and China, but for differing reasons.