Grantee Research Project Results
2012 Progress Report: Analysis of Dynamic, Flexible NOx and SO2 Abatement from Power Plants in the Eastern U.S. and Texas
EPA Grant Number: R835216Title: Analysis of Dynamic, Flexible NOx and SO2 Abatement from Power Plants in the Eastern U.S. and Texas
Investigators: McDonald-Buller, Elena , Webster, Mort D. , Allen, David T.
Current Investigators: McDonald-Buller, Elena , Webster, Mort D. , Craig, Michael T. , Allen, David T. , McGaughey, Gary , Kimura, Yosuke
Institution: The University of Texas at Austin , Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Current Institution: The University of Texas at Austin , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Pennsylvania State University
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: June 1, 2012 through May 31, 2016
Project Period Covered by this Report: June 1, 2012 through May 31,2013
Project Amount: $500,000
RFA: Dynamic Air Quality Management (2011) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Air
Objective:
- Time-differentiated dispatching strategies lead to reductions in ozone and fine particulate matter concentrations and exposure that are comparable to other technologies.
- Hybrid scenarios that combine time-differentiated trading and other technologies within a single electric grid provide more cost-effective control and greater air quality benefits than a single approach.
- The effectiveness of emissions trading strategies is sensitive to the selection of an air quality impact metric.
- An emissions pricing strategy can be developed that optimizes the joint abatement of multiple pollutants by considering the integrated impact.
Progress Summary:
Future Activities:
The second year of the project will continue to focus on the effects of dynamic emissions pricing of NOx and SO2, individually and in combination, on electricity dispatching and competitive decisions regarding technology installation (SCR and SNCR) in the ERCOT grid. Scenarios will consider the region-wide emissions reductions from EGUs that are achievable and their resulting impact on air quality, as well as dynamic pricing on days that exceed a threshold concentration for a single pollutant (i.e., either ozone or fine particulate matter) versus multiple pollutants (both ozone and fine particulate matter). The sensitivity of results to a range of air quality metrics will be considered, and for a subset of relevant metrics, an attempt will be made to develop an integrated approach capturing the combined impacts associated with multiple pollutants. Simulation of the PJM grid with the hybrid power plant dispatch and control technology installation model will also be initiated this upcoming year.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 11 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Electricity generation, emissions trading, ozone, particulate matter, Texas, CAMxProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.