Temporal evolution of the sulphur oxides emissions from the Greek electricity generation sector

The Greek electricity production sector is based--as far back as the early 60s--on the usage of local lignite and imported heavy-oil. Hence the electricity production process is assumed responsible for a significant contribution to air pollution, including 80% of the national sulphur dioxide emissions. In this context, an extensive and thorough analysis is carried out concerning the SO2 effluents coming from the electricity generation sector during the 1995-2002 period. For this purpose, the available long-term official measurements are taken into consideration and analysed in depth. According to this analysis, the SO2 emissions factor ratio between Southern Greece and Northern Greece lignite fired stations is in the order of 25:1. Additionally, one may definitely state that there is a considerable surcharge of sulphur oxides released by the Greek electricity production system, which although showing a fairly decreasing tendency, is still above the 8.5gr kWh(-1) consumed. Finally, the positive contribution of the natural gas, gradually replacing other fuels, and the operation of a new desulphurisation unit in S. Greece are clearly counterbalanced by the significant and constant annual electricity consumption amplification of the last decade.