Climate and Air Quality Co-benefits of Local Air Pollution Control: the Case of China's Power Sector

摘要

Power sector is the major emitter in China of local air pollutants including SO_2 and NO_x, and CO_2 and Hg with global environmental impacts. This study applied a bottom-up optimization model considering multi regional power grids in China to simulate how the local air pollution (LAP) control would shape the power generation mix before 2020 and estimate the mitigation potential of CO_2 and Hg emission provided by LAP control. Results show that with LAP control targets, in 2020, 100% of coal-fired units need to be equipped with FGD or adopt in-fumace desulphurization for CFB; approximately 85% of coal-fired units should be equipped with SCR while the others retrofitted to be low NO_x boilers. Compared to the scenario without environmental constraints, Hg emission decreases 46% while CO_2 emission increases 0.64% in 2020 with LAP control targets. Control polices of local and global air pollutant emissions should be combined early in developing countries to obtain a cost-effective way for sustainable development.