Thermal power has long been the largest consumer of coal, accounting for about 50% of the nation's total coal consumption. It is also a major source of atmospheric pollutants, with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions making up 30% to 40% of the national total. Despite ten years of sustained efforts in emission reduction, the power sector has made significant progress, with both sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions falling more sharply than the national average. However, the public still feels that ambient air quality is deteriorating. Why does this contradiction exist? The main reason lies in the lack of comprehensive strategies and approaches in emission control.
A comparison of electricity consumption between China and the United States reveals some interesting insights. According to data from the China Energy Statistics Yearbook 2011, China's coal consumption in the power sector increased from 1,063 million tons in 2005 to 1,512 million tons in 2010, at an annual growth rate of approximately 8.45%. During this period, the proportion of coal used in power generation remained relatively stable, averaging around 48.06%.
In contrast, the U.S. coal consumption in the power sector remained nearly flat, increasing slightly from 1,065 million tons in 2005 to 1,069 million tons in 2010. Meanwhile, the share of coal in total energy consumption rose significantly, from 90.19% in 2005 to 99.12% in 2010. This highlights a different approach to energy use and environmental management.
Looking at sulfur dioxide emissions, China's power sector reduced its emissions from 13.5 million tons in 2005 to 9.26 million tons in 2010, a decrease of 31.41%. The proportion of sulfur dioxide emissions from the power industry dropped from 52.96% in 2005 to 42.38% in 2010. In the U.S., sulfur dioxide emissions from the power sector fell from 10.34 million tons in 2005 to 5.4 million tons in 2010, a reduction of 47.78%, and their share of total emissions remained around 70%.
This raises several important questions. First, should coal consumption in the power sector be more strictly controlled? While the power industry uses about 50% of the country’s coal, the U.S. uses over 90% in the same sector, yet enjoys better air quality. This suggests that the total amount of coal consumed by the power sector is not the sole determinant of air quality.
Second, should the power sector be under stricter regulation due to high sulfur dioxide emissions? Although China’s power industry accounts for 42% of total sulfur dioxide emissions, the U.S. power sector emits about 70% of the country’s sulfur dioxide but maintains better environmental conditions. This is because the U.S. has effectively managed non-power coal consumption, whereas China has not. Addressing this imbalance is key to improving air quality.
Third, the coal consumption evaluation system in the power industry needs improvement. A more effective system should consider both coal usage and emissions. A new concept called “secondary re-comparison†could help. This metric compares sulfur dioxide emissions to coal consumption, helping to identify areas where efficiency can be improved.
Finally, the introduction of this new concept could lead to better policy decisions and more sustainable development in the power sector. By focusing on both coal use and pollution levels, we can move toward a cleaner and more efficient energy future.
Movie Water Fountain,Digital Water Curtain Fountain,Waterfall Fountain Wedding,Graphic Water Curtain
Guangzhou Dewy water fountain Technology Co., LTD , https://www.dewyfountain.com