from Sunday Herald, 15 February 2009
One of Scotland’s coal-fired power stations has been labelled as the dirtiest in Europe, belching pollution that damages public health and spreads acid rain.
An expert report for the European Commission outs Cockenzie in East Lothian as by far the worst emitter of nitrogen oxides (NOX). Longannet power station, along the Firth of Forth in Fife, is also named as one of the biggest NOX polluters.
Industrial plants across the UK are responsible for much greater amounts of NOX pollution than any other country in Europe, emitting 100,000 tonnes a year more than their nearest rivals in Spain, Germany and Poland.
NOX causes breathing problems, aggravates heart conditions and stunts the growth of crops. The Institute of Occupational Medicine has estimated that air pollution from traffic and industry kills more than 600 people a year in Scotland’s central belt.
The new report was prepared by Entec consultants for the European Commission to assess emissions of NOX, sulphur dioxide and dust from large industrial plants in 27 European countries between 2004 and 2006.
On NOX pollution, Cockenzie power station comes out as the worst offender by a large margin. Per unit of energy input, it emits 50% more NOX than the next-worst plants in Middlesborough, and nearly twice as much as the most polluting plants in Italy (see table below).
When just the total amounts of NOX are measured, Longannet power station comes tenth in the league of big polluters. It is behind five other plants in England, two in Poland and two in Spain.
Altogether large industrial plants in the UK released 385,000 tonnes of NOX a year, compared to 287,000 tonnes in Spain, 271,000 in Germany and 266,000 in Poland. UK emissions also increased by more than 8% between 2004 and 2006.
“NOX emissions are a serious problem for the UK and Longannet and Cockenzie are both contributors to the problem,” said Dr Richard Dixon, director of the environmental group, WWF Scotland.
“NOX emissions add to acid rain over Europe and create local air pollution problems. It’s bad news for those with complaints like asthma or emphysema.”
Cockenzie was nearing the end of its life, but that should not be used as an excuse to pollute, Dixon argued. “It is still disappointing that it has such high NOX emissions per tonne of coal burnt.”
He urged the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) to put pressure on ScottishPower, which operates Cockenzie and Longannet. “They clearly need to have a serious conversation about catalytic reduction and other end-of-pipe techniques to reduce NOX emissions,” he suggested.
Although other countries have insisted that large plants adopt a technology known as ‘selective catalytic reduction’ to cut NOX emissions, this has not so far been done in the UK.
According to Sepa, improvements were being made to the boilers at Longannet and Cockenzie which would reduce future NOX emissions. Longannet has also begun a project to install selective catalytic reduction.
Cockenzie, however, has been prevented by European law for operating for longer than 20,000 hours between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2015. “This means that once the plant has used up its permissible hours,” explained a Sepa spokeswoman, “it must cease operation or fit selective catalytic reduction to operate beyond the end of 2015.”
ScottishPower pointed out that it was currently investing £35.5 million in technology at both plants to cut NOX emissions by 25%. “We are also considering the various options for further reducing NOX emissions in line with legislative requirements after 2016,” said a company spokesman.
“ScottishPower carries out air quality modelling on annual basis at Longannet and Cockenzie, using the latest new generation modelling software, to ensure that emissions do not adversely impact on local air quality. Both stations also comply with legislation on emission controls.”
Europe’s worst nitrogen oxide polluters
country/ plant / NOX emissions per unit of energy input
Scotland / Cockenzie power station, East Lothian /1,060
England / BASF2 gas plant, Middlesborough / 703.7
England / BASF3 gas plant, Middlesborough / 700.7
Denmark / Energi E2 liquid fuel plant, Jægerspris / 676.4
Spain / CT Velilla 2 solid fuel plant, Castilla y León / 660.1
Spain / CT Robla II solid fuel plant, León / 590.7
Spain / CT Anllares solid fuel plant, León, 579.6
Spain / CT Velilla 1 solid fuel plant, Castilla y León / 534.7
Italy / Enel Produzione gas plant, Larino / 527.5
Italy / Enel Produzione gas plant, Larino / 524.3Source: Entec report
Rob,
Isn't this headline a little misleading, the rate of emissions although not insignificant isn't what causes the health effects here, it's the overall amount of NoX that contributes to these.
When total amounts of NOx are measured, Longannet comes tenth in the league of big polluters. It is behind five other plants in England, two in Poland and two in Spain.
Certainly nothing to be proud of and requiring urgent action. but maybe not quite as 'headline' as your suggesting.
Posted by: Wardog | 15 February 2009 at 10:14 AM