MINIMUM SO_2 ELECTRICITY SECTOR PRODUCTION USING THE MOST ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY POWER STATIONS IN GREECE

摘要

Electricity is characterized as the most end-user friendly form of energy. However, the electricity generation - based so far on fossil fuels - is found guilty of significant air pollution, including the annual emission of more than 350 ktnons of sulphur dioxide, representing 80% of the national releases. In this context, the existing large combustion power plants are classified according to their SO_2 emission factor. In the present study we calculate the SO_2 emissions, resulting by using, in priority, the most environmental friendly power stations, to face the electricity load requirements of the Greek mainland. In the methodology adopted one disregards, during the selection procedure among the available Greek power plants, any operational, grid-stability, system-efficiency and cost-effectiveness criteria. Using this purely theoretical methodology, one has the ability to estimate the minimum expected SO_2 annual emission from the existing power plants, used to fulfil the corresponding national electricity demand. The discrepancy encountered is due to the established classification of the existing power plants, which practically neglects the impact of the sulphur dioxide emissions.