International Experience and Implications of Continuous Monitoring of CO2 Emissions from Thermal Power Plants

Abstract

To promote the development and application of continuous monitoring technologies for CO2 emissions from thermal power plants in China and support the establishment of a carbon emission statistics and accounting system in the country, this study analyzes the international experience in the continuous monitoring of CO2 emissions from thermal power plants using literature research, expert discussion, and technical interpretation, with a focus on the United States and the European Union. The analysis covers eight aspects: types of units applying the technology, formulation of implementation standards, measures for dealing with failures, selection of monitoring technologies, research on key technologies, support for the low-carbon development of thermal power plants, verification of monitoring reports, and evaluation of measurement accuracy. Drawing on international beneficial experience and considering the current status of continuous monitoring of CO2 emissions from thermal power plants in China, the study proposes the following suggestions: (1) formulating supporting policies and regulations while considering the characteristics of technology application and the actual situation of thermal power plants in China, (2) accelerating the improvement in technical implementation standards and specifications to enhance the guiding and supporting role of standards, (3) strengthening the statistical analysis of the measurements using existing flue gas flow meters to provide references for relevant work, (4) enhancing research on flue gas flow measurement in thermal power plants to improve the technical level of continuous monitoring of CO2 emissions, (5) promoting the application of digital technologies in the verification of monitoring reports to support closed-loop management of continuous monitoring of CO2 emissions, and (6) improving the evaluation standards system for measurement accuracy of continuous emission monitoring systems to enhance the international recognition of China’s carbon emission data.

Keywords

• carbon emission statistics and accounting system
• thermal power plant
• CO2 emissions
• continuous monitoring
• continuous emission monitoring systems
• carbon market