Evolution of SO 2 and NOx Emissions from Several Large Combustion Plants in Europe during 2005–2015

Daniel-Eduard Constantin, Corina Bocăneala, Mirela Voiculescu, Adrian Roşu, Alexis Merlaud, Michel Van Roozendael and Puiu Lucian Georgescu
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Daniel-Eduard Constantin: Faculty of Sciences and Environment, European Centre of Excellence for the Environment, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Domneasca Street, no. 111, 800201 Galati, Romania
Corina Bocăneala: Faculty of Sciences and Environment, European Centre of Excellence for the Environment, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Domneasca Street, no. 111, 800201 Galati, Romania
Mirela Voiculescu: Faculty of Sciences and Environment, European Centre of Excellence for the Environment, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Domneasca Street, no. 111, 800201 Galati, Romania
Adrian Roşu: Faculty of Sciences and Environment, European Centre of Excellence for the Environment, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Domneasca Street, no. 111, 800201 Galati, Romania
Alexis Merlaud: Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB), Ringlaan-3-Avenue Circulaire, B-1180 Brussels, Belgium
Michel Van Roozendael: Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB), Ringlaan-3-Avenue Circulaire, B-1180 Brussels, Belgium
Puiu Lucian Georgescu: Faculty of Sciences and Environment, European Centre of Excellence for the Environment, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Domneasca Street, no. 111, 800201 Galati, Romania

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to investigate the evolution of SO 2 and NOx emissions of ten very large combustion plants (LCPs >500 MW) located in the European Union (EU) during 2005–2015. The evolution of NOx and SO 2 emissions were analyzed against the EU Directives in force during 2005–2015. The investigation was performed using space-borne observations and estimated emissions collected from the EEA (European Environment Agency) inventory of air pollutant emissions. The power plants were chosen according to their capacity and emissions, located in various parts of Europe, to give an overall picture of atmospheric pollution with NOx and SO 2 associated with the activity of very large LCPs in Europe. Satellite observations from OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) are compared with calculated emissions in order to assess whether satellite observations can be used to monitor air quality, as a standard procedure, by governmental or nongovernmental institutions. Our results show that both space observations and estimated emissions of NOx and SO 2 atmospheric content have a descending trend until 2010, complying with the EU Directives. The financial and economic crisis during 2007–2009 played an important role in reducing emissions.

Keywords: Large Combustion Plant (LCP); NOx; SO 2; emissions; Ozone Monitoring Instrument (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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