Facility-Level Emissions and Synergistic Control of Energy-Related Air Pollutants and Carbon Dioxide in China

Boilers involve similar to 60% of primary energy consumption in China and emit more air pollutants and CO2 than any other infrastructures. Here, we established a nationwide, facility-level emission data set considering over 185,000 active boilers in China by fusing multiple data sources and jointly using various technical means. The emission uncertainties and spatial allocations were significantly improved. We found that coal-fired power plant boilers were not the most emission-intensive boilers with regard to SO2, NOx, PM, and mercury but emitted the highest CO2. However, biomass- and municipal waste-fired combustion, regarded as zerocarbon technologies, emitted a large fraction of SO2, NOx, and PM. Future biomass or municipal waste mixing in coal-fired power plant boilers can make full use of the advantages of zero-carbon fuel and the pollution control devices of coal-fired power plants. We identified small-size boilers, medium-size boilers using circulating fluidized bed boilers, and large-size boilers located in China's coal mine bases as the main high emitters. Future focuses on highemitter control can substantially mitigate the emissions of SO2 by 66%, NOx by 49%, PM by 90%, mercury by 51%, and CO2 by 46% at the most. Our study sheds light on other countries wishing to reduce their energy-related emissions and thus the related impacts on humans, ecosystems, and climates.

Automated summary

Chinese boilers account for 60% of primary energy consumption, emitting more air pollutants and CO2 than any other infrastructures. Through the integration of multiple data sources and various technical means, we established a nationwide facility-level emission dataset of over 185,000 active boilers in China, significantly improving emission uncertainties and spatial allocations. It was found that coal-fired power plant boilers emitted the highest CO2, while biomass- and municipal waste-fired combustion, considered zero-carbon technologies, emitted a large fraction of SO2, NOx, and PM.