Impacts Of Nox And Sox Emissions And Regulations Form Alberta's Power Generation Industry

Abstract

The electricity sector is one of the largest emitters of Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) generated mainly from fossil fuel based sources. Alberta’s electricity industry is powered mainly by coal and gas making the sector one of the largest contributors of air emissions. Regulatory bodies across the country have implemented policies to set higher standards as initiatives to combat air emissions. The impacts associated with NOX and SO2 include human health issues and environmental impacts including acidification and eutrophication. Studies have shown the economic implications associated with exposure to these pollutants have cost the nation millions in health and environmental costs. This research study found Alberta emits the highest amounts of NOX and SO2, largely due to the availability of fossil fuel based natural resources and the economic development from the energy sector. In the past ten years, Alberta’s progressive initiatives have seen implementation of higher efficiency technologies, greater use of natural gas for power generation, and implementation of renewables. Alberta implemented initiatives including the climate change and emissions management act and the specified gas emitters regulation to encourage use of new technologies such as the integrated gasification combined cycle to replace existing high NOX and SO2 emitting coal facilities while sustaining the provinces energy needs. However, Alberta has yet to set a target to reduce their total overall emissions like Ontario recently implemented.