Policy Focus

Power plant emissions damage health, EU study finds

A conference has been told that emissions from power plants could be “drastically” cut by using new technologies.

The Brussels event heard that current levels of emissions generate “very significant” health and environmental damage across Europe.

But a new study claims that these levels could be substantially reduced by applying up-to-date emissions control technologies.

It says that use of advanced technologies to the 100 most polluting plants in the 27 member states could reduce annual emissions of sulphur dioxide by 3.4m tonnes and those of nitrogen oxides by 1.1m tonnes.

“This would cut total emissions of sulphur dioxide by about 40 per cent and nitrogen oxides by 10 per cent,” says the study.

Data shows that a relatively small number of plants emit a large fraction of overall pollution.

The 100 biggest plants provide 40 per cent of the generating capacity and are responsible for approximately half of the total sulphur and nitrogen emissions.

The results of the study, by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), were presented to a conference, ‘Cleaner Air in Practice,’ on Tuesday.

The report says it is evident from this study that there is “significant variation” in the use of emissions control technologies between different plants and countries.

It concludes, “Improved use of such technologies could contribute significantly to better air quality in Europe.”