Shen Ao coal power plant expansion - health impacts
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Presentation in Taipei on the impacts of the planned coal fired units at Shen Ao. April 2018.
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Shen Ao coal power plant expansion - health impacts
- 1. Health impacts of new coal-fired power plants
- 2. Air pollution: largest environmental health risk in the world • Air pollution the biggest environmental killer in the world and in Bangladesh (Global Burden of Disease Study) • WHO: Air pollution is officially classified as a carcinogen and labeled “a leading environmental cause of cancer deaths”
- 3. PM2.5: tiny, toxic particles that enter deep into lungs and into the bloodstream
- 4. • At Taiwan average PM2.5 levels, risk of lung cancer increases 10% and risk of stroke increases 40% compared to living in clean air 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Taiwan Deaths per day from ambient air pollution 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Source: Global Burden of Disease 2015
- 5. Health impacts of coal power plant emissions SO2 NOx Dust PM2.5 Lung cancer Stroke Heart disease Respiratory disease Asthma symptoms Low birth weight NO2 O3
- 6. Thermal power plants are the #1 source of SOx and #2 source of NOx emissions in Taiwan 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 45,000 公噸／年 SOx行業別排放量 0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000 140,000 160,000 180,000 公噸／年 NOx行業別排放量
- 7. 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 Coal-fired power plants Cement Coal in industry Waste Others kg/year Mercury releases in Taiwan by sector Source: UNEP Global Mercury Assessment 2013
- 9. Mercury health risks • Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can cause severe health problems even at very low doses. • Mercury pollution in the environment impairs children’s cognitive and neurological development. • Mercury exposure is correlated with hypertension, heart diseases, stroke and other cardiovascular disease. • Key sources of exposure are through fish and seafood, and from rice.
- 10. But aren’t new coal-fired power plants ‘clean’?
- 11. What is meant by ‘clean coal’ • Any of: – Improved thermal efficiency – More effective flue gas treatment – CO2 capture and storage • The concept has no well-defined meaning: almost any new coal-fired power plant can be called ‘clean coal’ • No existing commercial power plant uses all the technologies – prohibitively expensive }Shen Ao plant
- 12. Why the label ‘clean coal’ is grossly misleading • Emissions of major air pollutants are still far larger than any other fuel with comparable technology – Implementing similar emission controls is easier and cheaper on other fuels • Mercury usually not included in the concept • Air pollution controls increase – CO2 emissions – Toxic solid waste – Water consumption & water pollution
- 13. Tiny difference between subcritical, supercritical and ultrasupercritical plants Emissions from power generating options compared 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 SO2 NOx PM mg/MWh 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 CO2 kg/MWh Coal: Subcritical Coal: Supercritical Coal: Ultra- supercritical Gas Solar* Wind* *Life cycle emissions
- 14. ‘Clean coal’ does not address coal mining impacts • Contamination and destruction of waterways • Destruction of forest and farmland • Coal dust pollution • Forced eviction
- 15. 0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0 100.0 120.0 140.0 160.0 SO2 (kg/h) NOx (kg/h) PM (kg/h) Hg (g/h) Emissions Shen Ao and an equivalent gas plant compared Coal Gas 0.0 100.0 200.0 300.0 400.0 500.0 600.0 700.0 800.0 CO2 (t/h) Coal Gas x15 +70% x4 x12 +120%
- 16. Shen Ao emissions in context • Emissions of SOx+NOx, and emissions of PM10 equal to appr. 1.6 million cars – all the cars in Greater Taipei • CO2 emissions equal to appr. 1.5 million cars Source: calculation based on EURO3 / Taiwan Phase 5 emission standards, total CO2 emission from passenger cars and average CO2 emission per km reported by Taiwan EPA
- 17. Predicted increases in pollution levels based on Taipower modeling
- 18. There is no safe level for air pollution • WHO (2013): “public health benefits will result from any reduction of PM2.5 concentrations whether or not the current levels are above or below the limit values” • Exposing millions of people to increased concentrations results in significant health impacts
- 19. Health impacts of Shen Ao power project • Emissions from Shen Ao power plant would expose 10 million people to increased concentrations of PM2.5, NOx and SO2, every year, for decades • Concentration increases predicted by Taipower itself imply dozens of premature deaths per year in the listed six cities alone • Yet these health impacts are not assessed or recognized in the EIA
- 20. Flawed EIA • No health impact assessment – What’s the point of air quality modeling if you don’t look at the health impacts – Public health impact is a part of the legal requirement for EIA, should not be approved • Absolutely no information on mercury emissions and impacts • Results only cover 1-2 months; at least full year needed – this is the standard anywhere in the world • Representativeness of the chosen meteorological year (2010) not assessed
- 21. What’s happening in the rest of the world?
- 22. Countries, states and cities going coal-free Scheduled to phase out Austria Canada Denmark Finland France Italy Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Portugal United Kingdom Chungnam Connecticut Hawaii Massachusetts New Mexico New York Oregon Washington Berlin Delhi Already phased out Belgium Sweden California Ontario Scotland Beijing Coal-free and mostly renewable Costa Rica Ecuador El Salvador Iceland Latvia Norway Paraguay Switzerland Uruguay Idaho Vermont
- 23. UK: 5 years ago and now - 1000.0 2000.0 3000.0 4000.0 5000.0 6000.0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 万吨标准煤 煤炭消费量 英国 台湾
- 24. Investment in new coal power plants is collapsing globally
- 29. In a renewable future, inflexible coal plants make no economic sense
- 30. Conclusions • Health impacts and impacts of mercury emissions need to be assessed and accounted for when making decisions about future power supply • Shen Ao power project would expose 10+ million people to increased pollution levels and increase Taiwan’s dependence on coal - the dirtiest power generating option • Coal-fired power is highly polluting and needs to be phased out rapidly to protect public health and climate • Recent renewable energy breakthroughs mean new coal-fired power plants will be economically obsolete before they can be built