Technology assessment of solar energy systems: air-quality effects of direct-solar and biomass systems in high- and low-deployment scenarios
The potential benefits and damages to air quality that are related to utilization of solar and biomass technologies as alternatives to more conventional energy-producing technologies are evaluated. A compilation of emission levels from various biomass technologies is included. Secondly, it evaluates and compares national and regional cumulative emissions for two solar and biomass growth scenarios in the year 2000: a low-growth scenario of 6 Quad and a high-growth scenario of 14.2 Quad. For the high-growth solar scenario, both the national sulfur-dioxide and nitrogen-oxide emissions were projected to be approximately 5% lower than for the low-growth scenario. In contrast, particulate emissions were estimated to be approximately 10% larger for the high-growth scenario, primarily due to emissions from direct combustion of forest and agricultural residues in small, poorly controlled units. Both scenarios project an increase from 1975 national levels of sulfur-dioxide and nitrogen-dioxide emissions, and both project a decrease from 1975 national levels of particulate emissions. Air-pollutant implications of the solar and biomass scenarios for the ten federal regions are also discussed. This indicates significant regional differences in technology mix and the relation of emission changes to attainment and maintenance of air-quality standards within the regions.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 6487947
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/EES-TM-140
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
14 SOLAR ENERGY
140400* -- Solar Energy-- Environmental Aspects
140504 -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Solar-- (1989-)
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
AIR POLLUTION
AIR QUALITY
APPLIANCES
BIOMASS CONVERSION PLANTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FORECASTING
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANIC WASTES
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
POLLUTION
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WASTES
WOOD BURNING APPLIANCES