Thermal power has long been the largest consumer of coal, accounting for approximately 50% of the country's total coal consumption. It is also a major source of atmospheric pollutants, with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions each making up 30% to 40% of the national total. Over the past decade, significant progress has been made in reducing emissions from the power sector. Both sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide levels have dropped more sharply than the national average, and emission standards have become increasingly strict. However, many people still feel that air quality is deteriorating. Why is there such a discrepancy? The answer lies in the fact that current emission reduction strategies are not comprehensive enough.
A comparison of electricity consumption between China and the United States reveals some interesting insights. According to the China Energy Statistics Yearbook 2011, China's coal consumption in the power sector rose from 1,063 million tons in 2005 to 1,512 million tons in 2010, representing an annual growth rate of about 8.45%. During this period, the proportion of coal used in the power industry remained relatively stable at around 48.06%.
In contrast, the U.S. saw little change in coal consumption during the same period, increasing from 1,065 million tons in 2005 to just 1,069 million tons in 2010. Meanwhile, the share of coal in the U.S. power sector grew steadily, rising from 90.19% in 2005 to 99.12% in 2010.
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 share of sulfur dioxide emissions from the power sector fell from 52.96% in 2005 to 42.38% in 2010. In the U.S., power sector emissions of sulfur dioxide dropped from 10.34 million tons in 2005 to 5.4 million tons in 2010, a reduction of 47.78%. Despite this, the share of sulfur dioxide emissions from the power sector remained around 70%, showing that even with high emissions, environmental quality can still be better if other sectors are managed effectively.
This leads to several important questions. First, should coal consumption in the power sector be more strictly controlled? While China’s power industry uses about half of the nation's coal, the U.S. uses over 90% but has much better air quality. This suggests that total coal use alone is not the main factor affecting air quality.
Second, should the power sector face stricter controls on sulfur dioxide emissions? Although China's power sector accounts for about 42% of national sulfur dioxide emissions, the U.S. power sector emits about 70% but maintains better environmental conditions. This is because the U.S. has successfully managed emissions from non-power sectors, whereas China has not.
Third, should the evaluation system for coal consumption in the power sector be improved? A more effective approach would consider both coal consumption and emissions together. A higher ratio of sulfur dioxide emissions to coal consumption indicates greater efficiency in pollution control.
Finally, a new concept called "secondary re-comparison" should be introduced. This concept evaluates the ratio of sulfur dioxide emissions to coal consumption in the power sector, serving as a key indicator for assessing performance and guiding future improvements. By focusing on this metric, the power industry can continue to reduce emissions while maintaining energy supply.
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