High Level Summary of Statistics Trend Last update: Monday, September 07, 2009
Emissions of Sulphur Dioxide and Oxides of Nitrogen from Large Combustion Plants
Sulphur dioxide ( SO2) and oxides of nitrogen ( NOx) affect human health through respiratory damage, and ecosystem health through acidification. SO2 and NOx are released into the atmosphere through the combustion of fossil fuels. In 2006, large combustion plants (LCPs) accounted for 54 per cent of the SO2 emissions and 24 per cent of NOx emissions in the UK. (Large combustion plants have a rated thermal output of over 50 megawatts.)
The revised EC Large Combustion Plants Directive (2001/80/ EC) called for a 60 per cent reduction in SO2 emissions by 2003 and a 30 per cent reduction in NOx emissions by 1998, from a 1980 baseline. By 2002, UK emissions for SO2 and NOx were 78 per cent and 64 per cent respectively below 1980 levels.
In Scotland, SO2 emissions from the electricity supply industry fell between 1996 and 1999, but rose in 2000. This was due to the increased use of coal-fired power stations, necessary to offset the reduced capacity of the nuclear sector because of refurbishment work at certain plants. Similarly, in 2006, emissions rose due to an increased use of coal-fired power stations. Over the period 1996 to 2008 there has been a 62% decrease in emissions of SO2 and and 29% decrease in emissions of NOx. In 2008 emissions of SO2 and NOx decreased by 16% and 26% respectively since 2007. This second consecutive year of reductions means that SO2 and NOx emissions are now at the lowest they have been since records began in 1996.
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Source: SEPA
Note: 2008 data is provisional
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