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Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air

Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air

We are an independent research organisation focused on revealing the trends, causes, and health impacts, as well as the solutions to air pollution.

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Comparison of coal power plant emissions standards

Coal-fired power plants are one of the largest sources of health-harming air pollutants into the atmosphere. This includes the three “major” air pollutants — SO2, NOx and particulate matter — as well as mercury and other toxic heavy metals. As large, stationary point sources, they represent a low-hanging fruit in efforts to protect public health from air pollution: as emissions originate from only a few thousand sites worldwide, the sector is relatively easy to monitor and regulate.

However, emissions standards and the degree to which they are enforced varies widely among both high- and low-to-medium income countries. As a part of our research efforts, CREA maintains an up-to-date database of emissions standards that aims to cover most of the world’s largest coal users.

The tables below simplify the complexity of regulation by only showing the emission limits applying to large (varyingly, >50MW to >500MW) plants. They also do not cover all exemptions either to individual plants or specific categories of plants which exist in many countries. The values are converted to 6% reference oxygen content, the most common basis used e.g. in the EU and China.

Emission limits for existing coal-fired power plants

JurisdictionSO2NOxPMHg
EU: from 2023, hard coal13015084
EU: from 2023, lignite13017587
China: from 202035501030
EU: from 201520020020–
U.S. 640640231.6
China: All plants2001003030
South Korea28630836–
Japan20037646–
India: units installed after 2003*2006005030
Turkey40020050–
Chile40050050–
South Africa*680102068–
India: units installed before 2003*20030010030
Indonesia589589107–
Australia–856109–
Philippines16071607214–
Vietnam5001000400–
Unit: mg/m3, except Hg as µg/m3, dry STP 6% oxygen.
*limits are technically in force but regulator has delayed or failed to require compliance

Emission limits for new coal-fired power plants

JurisdictionSO2NOxPMHg
China35501030
United States – MATS6099130.5
EU, hard coal758552
EU, lignite758554
India1001003030
Turkey1501501030
South Korea2291641830
Vietnam35045514030
Philippines594107116130
South Africa68010206830
Indonesia80480410730
Australia–85610930
Unit: mg/m3, except Hg as µg/m3, dry STP 6% oxygen.

References

EU: COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION establishing best available techniques (BAT) conclusions, under Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, for large combustion plants. 28 Apr 2017.
Industrial Emissions Directive.

China: 生态环境部 2015。全面实施燃煤电厂超低排放和节能改造工作方案。

火电厂大气污染物排放标准 (GB 13223-2011). Partial English translation.

U.S.: EPA 2012. 40 CFR Parts 60 and 63. National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants From Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units and Standards of Performance for Fossil-Fuel-Fired Electric Utility, Industrial-Commercial, Institutional, and Small Industrial-Commercial-Institutional Steam Generating Units; Final Rule.
South Korea: 대기환경보전법 시행규칙 [시행 2021. 7. 14.] [환경부령 제922호, 2021. 6. 30., 일부개정]

Japan: Emissions limits are set on the plant level, so limit values are based on compilation of actual emissions values – 90th percentile shown.

India: Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Gazette Notification SO 3305(E), 7th December 2015.

Turkey: Çevre ve Şehircilik Bakanlığı 2014. Değişik: RG-20/12/2014-29211 Ek-1. İşletmeler İçin Hava Emisyonu Esas ve Sınır Değerleri.

Chile: MINISTERIO DEL MEDIO AMBIENTE 2011. DECRETO 13 ESTABLECE NORMA DE EMISIÓN PARA CENTRALES TERMOELÉCTRICAS.

South Africa: DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS No. 248 31 March 2010. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: AIR QUALITY ACT, 2004 (ACT NO. 39 OF 2004). LIST OF ACTIVITIES WHICH RESULT IN ATMOSPHERIC EMISSIONS WHICH HAVE OR MAY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING HEALTH, SOCIAL CONDITIONS, ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS OR CULTURAL HERITAAGE.
Indonesia: PERMENLHK NO P.15 2019 BAKU MUTU EMISI PEMBANGKIT LISTRIK TENAGA TERMAL

Australia: National guidelines for control of emission of air pollutants from new stationary sources ; Recommended methods for monitoring air pollutants in the environment 1985 / Australian Environment Council, National Health and Medical Research Council
Philippines: DENR Administrative Order No. 2000 – 8. 1 November 07, 2000. SUBJECT : IMPLEMENTING RULES ANDREGULATIONS FOR RA 8749.

Vietnam: National Technical Regulation on Emission of Thermal Power industry QCVN 22: 2009/BTNMT.

Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air | 2022
  • Home
  • About us
    • Staff
    • Board
    • For Media
    • Jobs
  • What we do
    • On the map
    • Air quality standards tracker (global)
    • China targets tracker
    • COVID-19 Air Pollution Rebound Tracker
  • Partner with us
  • Publications
    • All
    • Financing Putin’s war
    • Ripe for Closure
  • Data Products
  • News
  • 中文 (中国)