Technological influences and abatement strategies for industrial sulphur dioxide in China

Abstract

Industrial SO 2 is the most important air pollutant in China. This paper outlines the technological impacts on industrial SO 2 emissions in China in terms of: amount, intensity, structure of energy consumption and structure of energy-intensive industries. It shows that industrial SO 2 emissions have linear growth alongside increases in energy consumption, particularly the rise in coal consumption. The contribution of technological factors to decreases in the intensity of energy consumption is 25%, while the structural factor is 75%. The power industry accounts for 52.6% of total industrial SO 2 . Optimisation of the structure of energy consumption can reduce SO 2 emissions by 1.98 million tonnes per year. We propose the following technological strategies for industrial SO 2 abatement: adjustment of the system and structure of thermal power generating units, acceleration of flue gas desulphurisation projects, transformation of industrial structures, development of eco-industries and a reduction in energy consumption per unit product. In addition, an effective way to abate industrial SO 2 emissions is to promote governance strategies to stricly enforce SO 2 emission standards, conduct emission trading, and formulate incentives for encouraging cleaner production and clean energy development.

Affecting elements and regional variables based on the objective of carbon intensity reduction in China

“…Email: ypfang@imde.ac.cn 2008; Gao et al 2009;Zhang and Cheng 2009;Zhu et al 2009), energy structure (Solveig and Wei 2005;Wang et al 2005;Fan et al 2007a;Zhang et al 2009aZhang et al , 2009bZhang 2010), technological innovation and energy efficiency (Fisher-Vanden et al 2006;Fang et al 2008;Ang 2009;Chen and Li 2009;He and Su 2009;Karakosta and Psarras 2009;Li and Colombier 2009) affecting energy consumption and carbon emissions. China is one of the few countries whose energy mix is dominated by coal.…”