Greta Jimenez
Power plants are a major source of air pollution, which is detrimental to human health and the environment. Coal and gas-fired power plants emit hazardous pollutants, including mercury, arsenic, and carbon dioxide, which contribute to respiratory issues, cardiovascular disease, and climate change. To combat this, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented standards such as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) to regulate emissions and protect public health. Additionally, states like Minnesota have taken initiatives to reduce power plant emissions by increasing renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency. The EPA has also proposed plans to address carbon pollution and coordinate regulations to protect the public and the environment from deadly pollution. Technologies such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and the use of ACI are also being explored to minimize emissions and reduce the impact of power plants on the environment and human health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mercury and Air Toxics Standards | Standards adopted by the EPA in 2011 to reduce pollution from power plants. |
| Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) | Technology that captures carbon dioxide and stores it permanently underground. |
| Tax Credits | Incentives for producers of refined coal, which can help reduce emissions. |
| Increased Efficiency | Improved efficiency in converting fuel to electricity reduces pollutant emissions per unit of electricity generated. |
| Shift to Nuclear Generation | Reducing the use of coal and fossil fuels in favor of nuclear power can decrease sulfur oxide emissions. |
| Advanced Power Cycles | Using less fuel per kw-hr, thus reducing pollution generated. |
| SCR | Technology used to control mercury and sulfur dioxide emissions. |
| FGD | A process to eliminate sulfur, nitrogen oxides, and particulate impurities. |
| Activated Carbon Injection (ACI) | A cost-effective way to minimize mercury, dioxins, and furans emissions by up to 90%. |
| Electrostatic Precipitator | Technology for eliminating soot, mercury, and acid gases using induced electronic charges. |
| Direct Injection of Alkaline | A cheap method of eliminating acid gases by injecting a dry alkaline gas into a stream of flue gas. |
| Renewable Energy | Increasing the use of renewable energy sources to reduce emissions and reliance on coal. |
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What You'll Learn
Implement Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a way of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which is key to tackling global warming. CCS involves three steps: capturing CO2 produced by power generation or industrial activity, transporting it, and then permanently storing it deep underground.
The first step of CCS involves capturing CO2 from industrial installations before it is released into the atmosphere. This is done by separating the CO2 from other gases produced in industrial processes, such as those at coal and natural gas-fired power plants, steel or cement factories, and hydrogen production.
The captured CO2 is then compressed and transported via pipelines, road transport, or ships to a site for long-term storage. This can include saline aquifers or depleted oil and gas reservoirs, typically located at least 1km underground.
Finally, the CO2 is injected into rock formations deep underground for permanent storage. This process is known as enhanced oil recovery (EOR), where CO2 is injected into partially depleted oil reservoirs to extract more oil, and then left underground.
CCS has been in safe operation for over 45 years, according to the Global CCS Institute. As of 2022, there were 194 large-scale CCS facilities globally, with 30 in operation and 11 under construction.
Despite its potential, some environmental groups regard CCS as an unproven and expensive technology that perpetuates fossil fuel dependence. Additionally, CCS cannot reduce emissions from vehicles and homes that burn fossil fuels. To effectively meet the targets set by the Paris Agreement, CCS must be accompanied by a steep decline in the production and use of fossil fuels.
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Improve efficiency of fuel-to-electricity conversion
Improving the efficiency of fuel-to-electricity conversion is key to reducing pollution from power plants. Power plants lose a significant amount of energy during the process of converting fuel into electricity. For instance, in 2019, US natural gas plants converted 45% of their fuel into electricity, while coal plants converted only 32%.
There are several ways to improve the efficiency of this conversion process:
Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
Also known as cogeneration, this process involves capturing the waste heat generated during electricity production and using it for other purposes, such as heating nearby houses. This can increase the overall efficiency of the power plant to up to 90%, as seen in Denmark.
Advanced Power Cycles
Electric utilities are exploring the use of advanced power cycles, such as combined steam turbine-gas turbine systems, which have the potential to reduce fuel consumption and pollution. In this cycle, a fuel is burned in a gas turbine to generate electricity, and the resulting hot gases are used to produce steam for a conventional steam turbine. This approach is already being used commercially for medium-sized boilers using natural gas.
Non-Traditional Power Sources
Integrating non-traditional power sources, such as wind and solar, into the energy mix can also improve efficiency. While these sources may be less efficient than fossil fuel-based units, they are considerably cheaper to operate and do not produce harmful emissions. For example, wind power plants can achieve efficiency levels between 35% and 47%, while solar panel efficiency is measured by the amount of sunlight that can be converted into usable electricity.
Optimization Software
Optimization software can help balance efficiency and costs by providing insights and recommendations for improving power plant operations. This technology can assist in optimizing both power plant efficiencies and the cost of power production.
Shift to Nuclear Generation
A rapid shift to nuclear generation can also help to improve efficiency and reduce sulfur oxide emissions. Nuclear power plants have an average efficiency of around 33%, comparable to other fossil fuel-based generation units.
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Reduce reliance on coal
Coal-fired power plants are America's leading industrial source of air pollution, emitting over 80 hazardous pollutants, including arsenic, lead, and mercury. These pollutants have severe health impacts, causing cancer, cardiovascular disease, and damage to the nervous system. They also contribute to climate change, with coal mines being responsible for about 1% of total US greenhouse gas emissions.
To reduce reliance on coal, a shift towards cleaner energy sources is necessary. This includes:
Nuclear Energy
A rapid shift to nuclear energy generation is one way to reduce sulfur oxide emissions from power plants. Nuclear energy does not produce sulfur oxides during electricity generation, making it a cleaner alternative to coal.
Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy sources, such as solar power, can replace coal-fired power plants. In Trona, California, a company called Searles Valley Minerals is replacing one of its coal plants with a solar-thermal energy system. However, geography, resource location, access to pipelines, and economic factors can make transitioning to renewable energy challenging.
Natural Gas
Natural gas can be used in combined steam turbine-gas turbine systems, which burn fuel in a gas turbine to generate electricity. However, these systems cannot use coal unless it is first gasified and the particulates removed.
Increased Efficiency
Improved efficiency in converting fuel to electricity can reduce pollutant emissions per unit of electricity generated. This includes advancements in steam turbine technology, allowing plants to operate at higher temperatures and pressures, thus increasing efficiency.
Carbon Capture and Storage
Carbon capture technology separates CO2 from emissions and injects it underground for permanent storage. This technology can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions from coal-burning power plants.
Clean Coal Technologies
The coal industry has developed methods to reduce sulfur and other impurities from coal, as well as improved cleaning processes after mining. Some power plants use flue gas desulfurization equipment (scrubbers) to remove sulfur from smoke before it exits the smokestack. Additionally, waste produced from burning coal can be reused or recycled to reduce environmental impacts.
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Adopt Mercury and Air Toxics Standards
The Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) are federal regulations that aim to reduce toxic emissions from power plants. Before MATS, coal-fired power plants were responsible for a significant amount of toxic emissions, including mercury, arsenic, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen fluoride, and selenium. These pollutants have severe health impacts, including causing cancer, damaging the eyes, skin, and breathing passages, harming the kidneys, lungs, and nervous system, and causing cardiovascular disease.
MATS was established in 2011 after decades of effort by Earthjustice and other organizations. It set technology-based emission standards for mercury and other hazardous air pollutants emitted by power plants with a capacity of more than 25 megawatts. These standards are based on the levels achieved by the best-performing sources and apply to both existing and new power plants.
The implementation of MATS has been highly successful in reducing toxic emissions from power plants. Mercury emissions from power plants dropped by 81.7% from 2011 to 2017, according to the Center for American Progress. Additionally, by 2017, mercury emissions had dropped by 86%, acid gas HAP by 96%, and non-mercury metals by 81% compared to 2010 levels. MATS has also contributed to reducing other power plant pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide and particulate matter.
Despite the success of MATS, there have been proposals to repeal or weaken these standards. In 2024, the EPA strengthened the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, and it is essential that these standards are maintained to continue the progress made in reducing pollution from power plants and protecting public health and the environment.
Overall, the adoption of MATS has been a crucial step in reducing toxic emissions from power plants, and it is important to continue building on this success to ensure clean air and a healthy environment for all Americans, especially children, who are particularly vulnerable to the health impacts of air pollution.
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Utilise tax credits for refined coal production
The US federal government introduced a tax credit in 2004 to support the production of refined coal, which could help reduce air pollution. The credit was created by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and was available for up to 10 years.
To claim the credit, refined coal production facilities had to meet certain conditions. They had to certify that burning refined coal emits fewer pollutants than burning conventional coal. Specifically, they had to demonstrate a reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions of at least 20% and a reduction in either sulfur dioxide or mercury emissions of at least 40%, compared to feedstock coal.
The tax credit was designed to increase with inflation. In 2021, the tax credit value was $7.38 per short ton, up from $4.38 per short ton in 2012. Refined coal producers claimed approximately $8.9 billion in tax credits between 2010 and 2020. The credits claimed increased annually from about $9 million in 2010 to about $1.6 billion in 2019.
The refined coal production tax credit expired in December 2021. This expiration is attributed to the decline in US refined coal production and consumption in the first quarter of 2022. Refined coal producers used their remaining small stockpiles, and production dropped to nearly zero.
If Congress extends the credit, a coordinated agency review by the Treasury, IRS, EPA, and DOE could help determine if changes are needed to ensure the credit achieves its intended purpose.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopted the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards in 2011, which have been successful in reducing pollution from power plants. The EPA is also working with the National Park Service to prevent haze formation in national parks and wilderness areas.
There are several technologies available to control power plant pollution, including SCR, which limits mercury emissions, and FGD, which eliminates sulfur and nitrogen oxides and particulate impurities. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology captures carbon dioxide and stores it permanently underground. The use of ACI and electrostatic precipitators can also minimize mercury, dioxins, and furans emissions.
States can pursue a range of CO2 reduction opportunities, including the greater use of existing lower-carbon power plants, renewables, and energy efficiency. For example, Minnesota has decreased its carbon dioxide pollution by reducing its coal use and increasing its use of natural gas and renewable energy sources.
