High Level Summary of Statistics Trend Last update: Wednesday, October 22, 2008
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% of the SO2 emissions and 24% 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% reduction in SO2 emissions by 2003 and a 30% reduction in NOx emissions by 1998, from a 1980 baseline. By 2002, UK emissions for SO2 and NOx were 78% and 64% respectively below 1980 levels1.
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 and 2007 there has been a 58% decrease in emissions of SO2 and and 18% decrease in emissions of NOx.
Source: SEPA
Note: 2007 data is provisional data
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