(626a) Challenge for the Environmental Protection of Yangtze River Delta: High Density Pollution of Coal Power Plant

Xiaohua Lu¹, Licheng Li², Tuo Ji¹, Xibing Wang¹, Xin Feng¹

1. State Key Laboratory of Materials-oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 210009, China

2. College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forest University, Nanjing, 210037, China

Abstract:

The  rapid development of Yangtze river delta brings the high density of environmental pollution. As a key part of Yangtze river delta, Jiangsu province is one of most developed province in China. GDP of Jiangsu province in 2013 can reach up to about 1000 billion dollars, which exceeds that of Florida in United States. However, the high GDP value of Jiangsu province comes at the expense of the huge consumption of coal. On the less than 1% territory of China, Jiangsu has 10% of all installed capacity^[1]. The steel production and the cement production of Jiangsu province are 1.05 times as many as that of Russia and 1.5 times as many as that of United States, respectively^[2]. The emission densities of SO₂ and NO_x in Jiangsu are 4.5 and 6.6 times as many as the average value of China, respectively, which are also 7.8 and 14.6  times as many as the average value of United States^[3]. The emission of mercury in Jiangsu is about 27 tons per year and the density of mercury is 13 times as many as the average value of United States^[4].

High density of environmental pollution gives rise to the high cost of the environmental protection. Since January 1, 2012, “Emission standard of air pollutants for thermal power plants” was carried out. Chinese government required coal power plant that the emission concentration of SO₂ and NO_x should be controlled below 100 mg/m³, and that of mercury should also be below 0.03 mg/m³. This standard can catch up with the international advanced level. Currently, 80% of coal power plants in Jiangsu have been equipped with FGD and SCR. The present financial subsidies for deSO₂ and deNO_x are 0.25 cent / KWh and 0.13 cent / KWh, respectively. However, it is considered that the financial subsidies can not afford the present cost of deSO₂ and deNO_x^[5]. The unmatched subsides accelerate to develop novel economic technologies for environmental protection. The financial subsides are related with various factors. How to scientifically balance the standard of financial subsides is a primary challenge for China.

Facing to the current situation, the government are urgent to encourage any organizations to take part in the environmental protection. The high density of environmental pollution has inhibit the further development. But the present technologies in China do not meet the requirement of environmental protection. There is a great gap in financial cost between environmental target and the current technologies of deSO₂ and deNO_x. The environmental protection of coal power plant in China would create a new billions of level market in the future. United States have good experience in the environmental protection of coal power plant. With the globalization of environmental pollution, the companies and institutions of United States should share their experience and take part in the environmental protection according to the national condition of China. United States and China need to take a cooperation to explore a feasible way for overcoming the challenge of high density of environmental pollution.

Reference:

[1]       http://www.askci.com/news/201303/20/2015304081751.shtml.

[2]       http://www.jiangsu.gov.cn/tmzf/szfxwfbh/xwfbhsl/201401/t20140110_852321.....

[3]       Environmental bulletin of Jiangsu province in 2012.

[4]       Air pollutants emission standards of coal power plant.

[5]       jin, L.Y.-., W. Li, and L.-. bo, Cost Research ofThermal Power Plant FGDSystem. Electric Power Construction, 2007. 28(4): p. 82-86.