Bi-decadal trend of atmospheric emissions from thermal power plants in Mainland Southeast Asia: Implications on acid deposition and climate change Mitigation

Nguyen Nhat Ha Chi; Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh; Ekbordin Winijkul; Wenchao Xue; Loc Thai Nguyen

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119252

Bi-decadal trend of atmospheric emissions from thermal power plants in Mainland Southeast Asia: Implications on acid deposition and climate change Mitigation

J Environ Manage. 2023 Dec 15:348:119252. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119252. Epub 2023 Oct 19.

Authors

Nguyen Nhat Ha Chi¹, Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh², Ekbordin Winijkul¹, Wenchao Xue¹, Loc Thai Nguyen³

Affiliations

¹ Environmental Engineering and Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand.
² Environmental Engineering and Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. Electronic address: kimoanh@ait.ac.th.
³ Department of Food, Agriculture and Bioresources, School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand.

PMID: 37864944
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119252

Abstract

Steady increase in electricity generation and heavy reliance on coal in Mainland Southeast Asia (M-SEA) create huge pressure on the environment. This study used information collected from individual thermal power plants (TPPs) in M-SEA to calculate emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHG) for 2010, 2015 and 2019. The emissions were projected to 2030 following the latest national Power Development Plans. The emission results were analyzed in relation to the power development by country and fuel type, and environmental impacts. The region collective annual TPP emissions in 2019, in Gg/yr, were 27 PM_2.5, 77 PM₁₀, 0.7 BC, 4.9 OC, 255 SO₂, 451 NO_x, 91 CO, 12 NMVOC, 0.4 NH₃, 260 CO₂, 13 CH₄, and 26 N₂O. Coal-fired TPPs dominated the emissions of most species while NG-fired contributed the largest amounts of NH₃ and CH₄. Bi-decadal increase in energy production from TPPs of nearly 3 times is accompanied by 2.7 times increase in emissions. The 2010-2019 period saw average emissions increase by 1.9 times (TPPs' energy production increased 1.6 times), slightly higher than the rate of 1.4 times projected for 2019-2030 (double TPPs' energy production). The current intrusion rate of renewable energy accompanied by phasing-out of old TPPs are still by far insufficient to reverse the emission trend. Aggressive power development in Vietnam with its heavy coal reliance made it the largest emitter in 2019 and the projected for 2030, followed by Thailand. Spatially, higher emissions are seen over locations of large coal-fired TPPs in Vietnam and Thailand. Available rainwater composition monitoring data showed higher deposition amounts of sulfate and nitrate in areas located near or downwind of large TPPs. Significant GHG emissions projected for TPPs in 2030 indicated that TPPs should be the priority for emission reduction to achieve Nationally Determined Contribution targets. Emission database produced by this study can be used in dispersion modeling studies to assess impacts of TPPs on air quality, health, and acid deposition.

Keywords: Acid deposition; Coal-fired power plant; Emissions trend; Mainland southeast Asia; Nationally determined contribution.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollution* / analysis
Asia, Southeastern
Climate Change
Coal
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Greenhouse Gases*
Power Plants

Substances

Air Pollutants
Coal
Greenhouse Gases