The mortality impacts of current and planned coal-fired power plants in India

Abstract

We examine the health implications of electricity generation from the 2018 stock of coal-fired power plants in India, as well as the health impacts of the expansion in coal-fired generation capacity expected to occur by 2030. We estimate emissions of SO2, NOX, and particulate matter 2.5 μm (PM2.5) for each plant and use a chemical transport model to estimate the impact of power plant emissions on ambient PM2.5. Concentration-response functions from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) are used to project the impacts of changes in PM2.5 on mortality. Current plus planned plants will contribute, on average, 13% of ambient PM2.5 in India. This reflects large absolute contributions to PM2.5 in central India and parts of the Indo-Gangetic plain (up to 20 μg/m3). In the south of India, coal-fired power plants account for 20–25% of ambient PM2.5. We estimate 112,000 deaths are attributable annually to current plus planned coal-fired power plants. Not building planned plants would avoid at least 844,000 premature deaths over the life of these plants. Imposing a tax on electricity that reflects these local health benefits would incentivize the adoption of renewable energy.

Spatial Distribution of PM2.5‐Related Premature Mortality in China

“…The increasing air pollution impacts visibility and contributes to long‐term climate change, besides, threats to human health. The correlation between health issues and PM 2.5 has been pointed out by many studies (Balakrishnan et al., 2019; Burnett et al., 2018; Cropper et al., 2021; Dandona et al., 2017; Li et al., 2018; Liang et al., 2020; Mehta et al., 2021; Wu et al., 2019; X. Yang et al., 2020; Y. Yang et al., 2018). According to the comparative risk assessment of the global burden of disease (GBD) 2019 project of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), globally, about 6.67 million premature deaths are due to air pollution in the year 2019 (GBD 2019 Risk Factors Collaborators, 2020).…”

“…PM 2.5 has been pointed out by many studies (Balakrishnan et al, 2019;Burnett et al, 2018;Cropper et al, 2021;Dandona et al, 2017;Li et al, 2018;Liang et al, 2020;Mehta et al, 2021;Wu et al, 2019;Y. Yang et al, 2018).…”

Field Crop Residue burning Induced Particulate Pollution in NW India – Policy Challenges & Way Forward

“…By 2025, the Indonesian biofuel policy intends to replace gasoline and diesel with 15% bioethanol and 20% biodiesel made from rice and sugarcane waste [50]. [53] suggests that the current plus planned thermal plants contribute ~13% of ambient PM2.5 in India, raising the absolute PM2.5 concentrations by 20 μg/m 3 in the IGP region. The Government recommends comprehensive incentivization and participation of the private and public sectors in sustainable residue management practices.…”

“…Besides these policy measures, the Environment Pollution (Control and Prevention) Authority (EPCA), in consultation with the NW state governments, also implement various stand-alone measures such as shutting down power plants, prohibiting construction, and enforcing odd-even car scheme to overcome severe air pollution during winters, particularly in Delhi-NCR. It is alarming to note that the vehicular emission rates in metro cities have increased by more than 70% and are among the primary sources of outdoor air pollution, producing poisonous gases like CO and PM [53]. The study by [54] reports that 30 % of deaths in India are attributable to air pollution caused by fossil fuels.…”

“…The study by [54] reports that 30 % of deaths in India are attributable to air pollution caused by fossil fuels. Thus, in totality, Delhi's severe air pollution is mostly attributed to stubble burning in the neighboring states, vehicular traffic, and thermal power plants emissions, among others [53] [55] [56].…”