Abstract

The electric power production in Italy mainly relies on fossil fuels (oil, coal and natural gas) for its 80%. This situation, that is quite peculiar compared to the rest of Europe, where electricity is extensively produced from nuclear power and renewable energies, leads to high emissions of combustion related pollutants, namely NOx, SO2 and secondary pollution precursors, like VOCs. These, in turn, are responsible for the formation of Ozone and secondary fine particles. While SO2 emissions are being largely controlled, nitrous oxides and organic compounds emissions are still very high, making the power sector one of the major contributor to national emissions of Nitrogen Oxides and fine particles.

As indicated in the EU legislation and guidelines on the subject, the most suitable way to reduce environmental impacts from these sources and improve air quality related to power sector, is a positive mechanism that involves prevention of the negative impacts, through the adoption of the best available technology, and impact assessment tools, which include accurate measurements and estimates in terms of emissions and ambient air concentrations.

Monitoring activities needs to be particularly reliable and accurate in Italy, where recent public concern on the impacts of electricity generation plants on the air pollution, often put at stake the economy of entire regions and may put in danger the power availability of the whole Country. In this sense experts have developed highly advanced and innovative monitoring tools that can guarantee the effectiveness of the prevention and control system, providing readily available and useful information for the legislators, political decision makers and the population, based on solid technical and scientific basis.

Presentation: http://www.cleanairnet.org/baq2006/1757/docs/SP3_3.ppt