U.S. sulfur dioxide emission reductions: Shifting factors and a carbon dioxide penalty

Journal Article · Tue Jan 17 23:00:00 EST 2017 · Electricity Journal

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tej.2016.12.007 · OSTI ID:1342687

Brown, Marilyn Ann ^[1]; Li, Yufei ^[1]; Massetti, Emanuele ^[1]; Lapsa, Melissa Voss ^[2]

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1. Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)
2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

For more than 20 years, the large-scale application of flue gas desulfurization technology has been a dominant cause of SO₂ emission reductions. From 1994–2004, electricity generation from coal increased, but the shift to low-sulfur coal eclipsed this. From 2004–2014, electricity generation from coal decreased, but a shift to higher-sulfur subbituminous and lignite coal overshadowed this. Here, the shift in coal quality has also created a CO₂ emissions penalty, representing 2% of the sector’s total emissions in 2014.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Building Technologies Research and Integration Center (BTRIC)
• Sponsoring Organization: PI USDOE - Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1342687
• Journal Information: Electricity Journal, Journal Name: Electricity Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 30; ISSN 1040-6190
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English