How much Nitrogen Oxide is given off to make electricity from natural gas and coal?
8.6 million tons of Nitrogen oxides were given off in 1999.
http://iaspub.epa.gov/airsdata/adnet.ranking?geotype=us&geocode=USA&geoinfo=us%7EUSA%7EUnited+States&pol=NOX&year=1999&fld=percent&fld=plt_name&fld=addr&fld=county&fld=state&fld=sic&rpp=25
To determine the amount of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions generated to produce electricity from natural gas and coal, we would need to consider a few factors such as the type of power plant technology used, the combustion process, and the emission control systems installed.
1. Natural Gas Power Plants:
Natural gas power plants typically release lower levels of NOx compared to coal-fired power plants. The amount of NOx emissions can vary based on the specific technology used, such as a combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) or a simple-cycle gas turbine.
To obtain accurate data on the NOx emissions from natural gas power plants, you can refer to emission factors provided by authoritative sources like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or other regulatory bodies in your country. These emission factors provide estimates of the average NOx emissions per unit of electricity generated from natural gas.
2. Coal-fired Power Plants:
Coal combustion is a significant contributor to NOx emissions due to the high nitrogen content in coal. However, newer coal-fired power plants equipped with modern pollution control equipment can have lower NOx emissions compared to older or less advanced plants.
Similar to natural gas, reliable sources like the EPA or other national/regional regulatory agencies provide emission factors specific to different types of coal-fired power plants. These factors can help estimate the average NOx emissions associated with electricity generation from coal.
It is important to note that NOx emissions can also be influenced by other factors, including fuel quality, combustion efficiency, and the effectiveness of emission control technologies. The specific emissions from a power plant may vary, but the data from reliable sources will help provide a general understanding of the NOx emissions associated with natural gas and coal-fired electricity generation.