Graphic Yearbook 2014
II. AIR POLLUTION
The term air pollution (emission) includes a whole range of processes during which pollutants are released into the air. The sources of air pollution can be of natural or anthropogenic origin; the boundary between these types of sources is not always entirely clear. Natural sources include, for example, volcanic activity, fires or the production of pollutants by plants. Activities carried out by humans are referred to as anthropogenic sources. There are two types of air pollution: primary air pollution, when pollutants are released into the air directly from their sources, and secondary air pollution, when air pollutants are formed as the result of physical and chemical reactions in the atmosphere.
The CHMI, being mandated by the Ministry of the Environment, evaluates ambient air pollution levels of anthropogenic pollutants and GHG. The assessment of the level of air pollution is based on the so-called emission inventory. The inventory combines the direct approach, i.e. the collection of data reported by the sources operators with data from model calculations based on data reported by the operators of sources or gained within statistical surveys carried out primarily by the CSO. The results of emission inventories are presented as emission balances processed according to various territorial and sector structures. The methods of compiling emission inventories and the emission inventories themselves are published on the CHMI website1.
Emissions of air pollutants
Emission database – the Register of emissions and stationary sources (REZZO), used for archiving and presentation of data on stationary and mobile sources of air pollution, is, pursuant the valid legislation (Section 7 of the Air Protection Act) part of the Air Quality Information System (AQIS) operated by the CHMI. Air pollution sources are divided into individually monitored sources and sources monitored as area sources. Since 2013, in connection with changes to the categorization of sources pursuant to Annex 2 to the Air Protection Act, REZZO sources have been newly categorized (Table II.1).
The international reporting of summary emission data uses the so-called sector classification of sources based on the Nomenclature for Reporting Codes – NFR. The main monitored groups of sources include combustion sources including transportation (NFR 1), technological sources without combustion (so-called process emissions; NFR 2), sources using solvents (NFR 2D), agricultural activities, including farm animals breeding (NFR 4B) and waste treatment (NFR 5). In addition emissions of major pollutants, emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 particles, heavy metals and POP are also reported. More detailed information, including emissions reported in the NFR structure, are available in English at www.ceip.at.
Emissions from individually monitored sources in the Czech
Republic
Sources monitored individually are specified in Annex No. 2
to the Air Protection Act. The operators of these sources are
obliged, pursuant to Section 17 (3)(c), to keep operational
records of constant and fluctuating information on the
stationary source describing the said source and its operation,
as well as information on inputs and outputs from the said
source, and report data each year as the summary operational
records (SPE) through the Integrated system of the fulfilment of
notification obligations (ISPOP). The data from ISPOP are then
submitted to the REZZO 1 and REZZO 2 databases. Data are
collected from January to the end of March. The reported data
are thus available already in early April. In the following
months the reported data are reviewed and processed, and, if
necessary, the suppliers are asked to correct the erroneous
data. More detailed information on the control mechanism of the
summary operational records is presented on CHMI website2.
For the purposes of international reporting and air quality
modelling, emissions of pollutants for which the operators are
not required to ascertain the level of polluting are calculated
for each source in the emission database on the basis of
reported activity data and emission factors. Emission factors
for stationary combustion sources are divided according to the
type of combustion plant and output of heat as activity data
fuel consumption expressed in t.year-1, thousand.m3.year-1, or
the content of heat in fuel in GJ.year-1 are used. For other
sources, emission factors are related to the amount of the
product in tonnes.
To determine the emissions of PM10 and PM2.5, emission factors expressed as the percentage of PMx fraction in total emissions of solid pollutants (TSP) are used. If a source is equipped with a device for the reduction of TSP emissions, the share of particles depends on the separation principle of the device. In the combustion sources not equipped with a separator, the share of the particles is determined according to the type of fuel; in other sources the origin of TSP is a crucial factor (Hnilicová 2012).
Emissions from the collectively monitored sources in the Czech
Republic
The air pollution sources monitored collectively are registered in REZZO 3 and include emissions from local household heating, fugitive TSP emissions from building and agricultural activity, ammonia emissions from the breeding of farm animals and application of mineral nitrogenous fertilizers and VOC emissions from the use of organic solvents and emissions of TSP and VOC from coal mines and landfills.
With the exception of emissions from household heating, emissions from collectively monitored sources are calculated exclusively with the use of data obtained within the national statistical monitoring, and the potential year-to-year changes ensue usually from the development of the respective statistical indicators. On the contrary, the year-to-year changes of the amount of emissions from local household heating are dependent primarily on the character of the heating season, which is expressed in the emission model by the number of degree days (see Chapter III.), and on the changes of the composition of combustion plants. The calculation of emissions from local household heating is based mainly on the results of the population and housing census statistical survey (SLBD). Fuel consumptions in households for the period 1990–1999 were estimated according to the methodology of 1997 (Machálek, Machart 1997) and for the period 2000–2013 according to the methodology of 2007 (Machálek, Machart 2007).
Data on mobile sources registered in REZZO 4 are monitored collectively. This category of sources includes emissions from road, railway, water and air transport, off-road vehicles (machines used in agriculture, forestry and building industry, military vehicles etc.). The database includes also emissions from tyre and brake wear and road abrasion calculated from data on transport performance. Since 1996 the emission balance from mobile sources has been carried out by the CDV based on the data on the sale of fuels submitted by the ČAPPO (since 2000 based on data from the CSO) and their own emission factors (Dufek 2006). Emissions from mobile sources in agriculture and forestry are processed by the VÚZT. The consistent time series of emissions from traffic are available since the year 2000. It was difficult to update of the emission inventory for the period 1990–1999 due to a lack of input data on fuel sales.
Recalculation of emissions
The emission inventory in NFR format for the period 2000–2013 was completed in the first half of 2015. Emissions produced during this period are now reported using a unified methodology in a consistent time series. These changes most strongly influenced reported emissions of heavy metals and persistent organic compounds. The emission inventory now also includes newly monitored sources of solid pollutants and VOC emissions from coal mines and landfills. Reported emissions of suspended particles from tyre and brake wear and road abrasion are lower due to an update of emission factors (EEA 2013c).
The development of emissions
The development of air pollution is closely connected with the economic and socio-political situation and with the improvement of knowledge about the environment, which has enabled the compilation of more complete and more accurate emission inventories. The trend of emission development in the period 1990–2013 can be generally characterized by the reduction of emissions from stationary sources of REZZO 1 and REZZO 2 categories due to the implementation of the air quality control system, implementing a number of tools at various levels (normative, economic, information, etc.). The impacts of these tools was most evident in late 90s of the last century, i.e. in the period when the emission limit values implemented at the time by new legislation came into force. The significant decrease in emissions produced by the most important sources resulted i. a. in the reduction of long-range transport of pollutants from the most significant sources. However, there remain the problems in the field of maintaining the air quality parameters, and therefore attention has been focused recently also on the sources of REZZO 3 and REZZO 4 categories; for their regulation, no effective measures have yet been implemented.
The trend in the development of emissions in the period
1990–2001
Act No. 309/1991 Coll. on air protection, supplemented by Act No. 389/1991 Coll. on air protection authorities of the state and air pollution charges, came into force in 1991. This act, for the first time in the history of the Czech Republic, implemented emission limit values effective from the year 1998. This schedule was arranged to help prepare pollution sources for the new operating conditions. The national economy was restructured, the sources were modernized, and many of them closed or reduced their operations. These changes were reflected, for example, in the sector of iron and steel production, where in 1992–1994 a significant decrease of production occurred (Fig. II.3). For instance, the termination of pig iron production in the Vítkovice ironworks in 1998 contributed to the improvement of ambient air quality in the city centre. Since 1991, in the sector of electricity and heat production, old boilers have been retired, modernized, or replaced by new low-emission fluid boilers. In the period 1996–1998, all coal burning power stations were equipped with desulphurization units. Combustion sources with lower thermal output (heating plants/boiler houses) gradually replaced solid and liquid fossil fuels with natural gas. The number of pollutants for which fees were charged increased, as did the fees for emission releases. These measures resulted in a decrease of emissions of all pollutants belonging to the categories REZZO 1 and REZZO 2.
In the sector of local household heating, the greatest decrease
of emissions was recorded in 1993–1997 due to the gasification
and government subsidies for electricity heating. The
consumption of solid fossil fuels in the year 2001 was by 60 %
lower in comparison with the year 1990 (Fig. II.4).
Country-wide emissions in 2001 were lower compared to the year 1990 by 87 % for TSP, by 88 % for SO2, by 68 % for NOx, by 39 % for CO, by 45 % for VOC and by 37 % for NH3 (Fig. II.1).
The trend in the development of emissions in the period
2002–2012
New legislation, reflecting a number of European directives, came into force in 2002. Act No. 86/2002 Coll. on air protection was adopted, which together with Act No. 76/2002 Coll. on the integrated prevention and limitation of pollution created the basic framework for the solution of air pollution problems. The Czech Republic committed itself to meeting the national emission ceilings for emissions of SO2, NOx, VOC and NH3 pursuant to Directive No. 2001/81/EC as from 2010. A more significant decrease of emissions from sources belonging to the REZZO 1 category resulted from the fulfilment of the National programme to reduce emissions from existing extra-large combustion sources (Government Order No. 372/2007 Coll.), which implemented the emission ceilings for TSP, SO2 and NOx set for individual sources of LCP3 since 2008. The reduction of emissions from industrial processes was influenced by the decline of a number of branches of production after the year 2007 caused by the economic crisis (Fig. II.3).
The favourable trend of decreasing consumption of solid fossil fuels in the sector of local household heating did not continue after 2001, mainly due to growing prices of natural gas and electricity. In the period 2002–2007, the consumption of coal decreased, as it was replaced by increasingly popular firewood. These changes caused a reduction of TSP and SO2 emissions. Since 2009, funded by government subsidies within the Green Savings Programme, thermal insulation was installed on buildings, and unfriendly heating was replaced by low-emission sources. So far, however, the effect of these measures on the total emission balance of this sector has been marginal.
The level of air pollution in 2012 decreased in comparison with the year 2001 as follows: TSP by 34 %, SO2 by 31 %, NOx by 35 %, CO by 29 %, VOC by 38 % and NH3 emissions by 22 % (Fig. II.2).
The trend in the development of emissions since 2013
In 2012 a new act on air protection came into force, which implemented stricter emission limit values for combustion sources pursuant to Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions. Some new emission limit values come into force step by step in order to allow the operators of sources to prepare for their fulfilment. Thus, by 2016 it can be expected that the decreasing trend of emissions from listed stationary sources will continue. For instance, in September 2012 the comprehensive renewal of three reactor units of Power plant Prunéřov II of ČEZ group, a. s., was commenced, which was reflected in the emission balance for the year 2013 (Table II.2).
The greatest overall amount of emissions of the main pollutants (Table II.2) comes from the production of pig iron. Agglomeration plants and blast furnaces – TŘINECKÉ ŽELEZÁRNY, a. s. and ArcelorMittal Ostrava, a. s. – reported 5% lower emissions of TSP in 2014 (ca 770 t) than in the year 2013. The greatest amount of emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are emitted into the air by the sources within the sector of public electricity and heat production (power plants: Elektrárna Chvaletice, a. s., Elektrárna Počerady, a. s., elektrárny ČEZ, a. s., Elektrárna Opatovice, Veolia Energie ČR, a. s. - Elektrárna Třebovice and others) and energy industries (Sokolovská uhelná, a. s., UNIPETROL RPA, s. r. o., TAMEH Czech s. r. o. and others).
The Air Protection Act is also focused on reducing emissions belonging to the sector of local household heating and sets minimum values of emission parameters for combustion sources with total nominal thermal input of up to 300 kW when they are placed on the market between 2014 and 2018. In this group of sources, starting from the year 2022, it will be possible to operate only the boilers complying with the 3rd emission class, which should result in the shutdown of old types of boilers and their replacement by modern devices.
The Czech Republic is obliged to further reduce emissions within the revised Göthenburg Protocol, which prescribes the following reductions of emissions by the year 2020 as against the year 2005: PM2.5 by 17 %, SO2 by 45 %, NOx by 35 %, VOC by 18 % and NH3 by 7 %. A directive on the reduction of emissions of certain pollutants from combustion sources with thermal imput between 1 and 50 MW, and the ecodesign directive, aimed at combustion sources with thermal input of up to 1 MW, are being prepared within the EU.
Tab. II.1 The classification of air pollution sources
according to the method of emission monitoring
Tab. II.2 The comparison of emissions of main pollutants, 2013–2014 (preliminary data)
Fig. II.1 The development of total emissions, 1990–2001
Fig. II.2 The development of total emissions, 2002–2013
Fig. II.3 The output of basic industrial products, 1990–2013
Fig. II.4 Fuel Consumption in REZZO 3 sources, 1990–2014
1portal.chmi.cz/files/portal/docs/uoco/oez/emisni
bilance_CZ.html.
2http://portal.chmi.cz/files/portal/docs/uoco/oez/emise/evidence/
aktual/spe_uvod_cz.html.
3LCP – Large Combustion Plants –
combustion plants with nominal heat consumption of 50 MW and
higher.
