The effect on the environment of electricity privatisation

Author

Lidgate, David

Author_Institution

Sch. of Eng., Napier Univ., Edinburgh, UK

Volume

9

Issue

2

fYear

2000

fDate

4/1/2000 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

93

Lastpage

95

Abstract

The UK´s electricity supply industry (ESI) was privatised in 1989 with, it was thought at the time, little, if any, thought being given to its effect on the environment. This paper examines the effect of the Electricity Act on the fuels used in power stations, the gaseous emissions from these stations and the growth of renewable energy sources for electricity generation. It finds that, because of the increase in gas-fired generation, sulphur and carbon dioxide emissions have reduced, as has the quantity of solid wastes produced. The effect of the nonfossil fuel obligation has been to increase and diversify the use of renewable sources for electricity generation

Keywords

air pollution control; electric power generation; electricity supply industry; fuel; renewable energy sources; Electricity Act; UK; carbon dioxide emissions reduction; electricity generation; electricity privatisation; electricity supply industry; environmental effects; gaseous emissions; nonfossil fuel obligation; power station fuels; renewable energy sources; solid wastes reduction; sulphur dioxide emissions reduction;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Engineering Science and Education Journal

Publisher

iet

ISSN

0963-7346

Type

jour

DOI

10.1049/esej:20000207

Filename

843230