Incorporating upstream emissions into electric sector nitrogen oxide reduction targets

• Published in: Cleaner Engineering and Technology Vol. 1; p. 100017
• Main Authors: Babaee, Samaneh, Loughlin, Daniel H., Kaplan, P. Ozge
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2020; Elsevier
• Subjects: Electricity production; Global change assessment model (GCAM)-USA; Life-cycle analysis (LCA); Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions; Power generation; Life-cycle analysis (LCA); Electricity production; Power generation; Global change assessment model (GCAM)-USA; Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions
• ISSN: 2666-7908; 2666-7908
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2020.100017

Electricity production is a major source of air pollutants in the U.S. Policies to reduce these emissions typically result in the power industry choosing to apply controls or switch to fuels with lower combustion emissions. However, the life-cycle emissions associated with various fuels can differ considerably, potentially impacting the effectiveness of fuel switching. Life-cycle emissions include emissions from extracting, processing, transporting, and distributing fuels, as well as manufacturing and constructing new generating capacity. The field of life-cycle analysis allows quantification of these emissions. While life-cycle emissions are often considered in greenhouse gas mitigation targets, they generally have not been included in air quality policymaking. We demonstrate such an approach, examining a hypothetical electric sector emission reduction target for nitrogen oxides (NOx) using the Global Change Assessment Model with U.S. state-level resolution. When only power plant emissions are considered in setting a NOx emission reduction target, fuel switching leads to an increase in upstream emissions that offsets 5% of the targeted reductions in 2050. When fuel extraction, processing, and transport emissions are included under the reduction target, accounting for 20% of overall NOx reduction goal, the resulting control strategy meets the required reductions and does so at 35% lower cost by 2050. However, manufacturing and construction emissions increase and offset up to 7% of NOx reductions in electric sector, indicating that it may be beneficial to consider these sources as well. Assuming no legal obstacles exist, life-cycle-based approaches could be implemented by allowing industry to earn reduction credits for reducing upstream emissions. We discuss some of the limitations of such an approach, including the difficulty in identifying the location of upstream emissions, which may occur across regulatory authorities or even outside of the U.S. •Switching from coal to gas reduces power sector nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.•Gas extraction and transport activities are high NOx emitters.•GCAM-USA is modified to include upstream NOx emission factors.•NOx reduction targets for power sector are evaluated.•Including lifecycle emissions under the NOx targets lowers compliance costs.