HIDDEN COSTS of COAL 

CASE STUDY – PLANNED COAL POWER PLANT Plomin C

The methodology used by Greenpeace to quantify the health impacts of air pollution from coal-fired power plants in EU has been developed for the European Environment Agency by a consortium led by the UK consultancy firm AEA

obtaining data on air pollution emissions:

Environmental Impact Assesment for Plomin C:

Annual emissions of power plant Plomin (tonnes):Particles 100 tonnes NOX 800 tonnesSO2 1200 tonnes

First step

estimating how the emissions affect the ambient concentrations of particulate matter and ozone that the population is exposed to.

Done with atmospheric modeling carried out by the EMEP programme (Co-operative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe). The models include average data on population density and weather patterns.

exposure PM2.5 and ozone ( μg/m3/person) resulting from the emission of one tonne of SO2, NOx or PM2.5

Second step

Results

Greenpeace uses new matrices that were prepared for the European Environment Agency (2011) report “Revealing the costs of air pollution from industrial facilities in Europe”.

Using risk factors based on epidemiological studies to estimate health impacts resulting from the increases in ambient PM2.5 and ozone concentrations.

Third step

Total health impacts (cases per year)

Premature deaths 17 cases

Asthma attacks 2671 cases

Sickness days 27259 (of which 3970 lost workdays)

Respiratory symptoms, including cough 36163 cases

Results for Plomin C

Air pollution is associated with asthma attacks in children and adults with an existing asthma. Thisis measured as the amount of asthma symptoms requiring medication.

What is “asthma cases”  

Air pollution increases the risk of several diseases and health problems that can force people to take additional sick leave. This ranges from minor respiratory infections and coughs to recovery from heart attacks.

Sickness days include lost work days, sickness days of non-working population, as well as sickness days during weekends and holidays.

What is „sickness days“ 

External costs of air pollution caused by Plomin C37,2 (mil. euro per year)

External costs of CO2 - caused by climate change 87,6 (mil. euro per year)

Total external costs 124,8 (mil. euro per year)

External costs 

- Greenpeace energy scenarios for the EU:

Energy (R)evolution

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0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

REF E[R] REF E[R] REF E[R] REF E[R] REF E[R] REF E[R]

2009 2015 2020 2030 2040 2050

Ocean Energy

Solar Thermal

Geothermal

Biomass

PV

Wind

Hydro

Nuclear

Diesel

Oil

Gas

Lignite

Coal

Title

- yes

Source: EWEA

- Reduces environmental destruction and climate change

- Improves security (wars for energy resources)

- Decentralization and more democracy- Green jobs and benefits for local economy- Reduced dependency on energy imports

and energy prices

Energy (R)evolution 

Thank you for your attention!

Jiri JerabekRegional Climate & Energy Expert

Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europejiri.jerabek@greenpeace.at

Aerial photograph documenting mountain top removal mining atop Cherry Pond Mountain.

Other environmental impacts 

0

6.000

12.000

18.000

24.000

30.000

36.000

42.000

48.000

54.000

REF E[R] REF E[R] REF E[R] REF E[R] REF E[R] REF E[R]

2009 2015 2020 2030 2040 2050

Efficiency

Other Sectors

Industry

Transport

figure X.X: EU27: Projection of total final energy demand by sector – scenarios REF, E[R]

Title

- EU Energy Roadmap 2050

„ Air pollution is causing more deaths than HIV or malaria combined,”

„If we increase access to clean energy ... the health benefits will be enormous“

Kandeh Yumkella, director general of the U.N. Industrial Development Organization, April 2013

In the largest and most well-known study on particulate air pollution and risk of death, 500 000 adults in 50 U.S. states with different air pollution levels were followed between 1982 and 1998.

People living in more polluted environments have a significantly higher risk of fatal heart and lung disease and lung cancer. .

Findings