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Comparison of Sino-U.S. Electricity Consumption and SO2 Emissions
Thermal power has long been the largest consumer of coal, accounting for approximately 50% of the country's total coal consumption. It is also a major source of atmospheric pollutants, with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions making up 30% to 40% of the national total. Over the past decade, the power sector has made significant progress in reducing emissions, with both sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides decreasing at a faster rate than the national average. However, despite these improvements, many people still feel that air quality is deteriorating. This contradiction raises an important question: why is there such a gap between official data and public perception?
The root cause lies in the incomplete approach to emission reduction. While the power industry has achieved notable results in cutting emissions, the overall coal consumption has continued to rise. According to the China Energy Statistics Yearbook 2011, coal consumption in the power sector increased from 1,063 million tons in 2005 to 1,512 million tons in 2010, growing at an annual rate of about 8.45%. During this period, the proportion of coal used by the power industry remained relatively stable, averaging around 48.06% of total coal consumption.
In contrast, the U.S. saw little change in its total coal consumption during the same period, increasing from 1,065 million tons in 2005 to just 1,069 million tons in 2010. However, the share of coal used in the power sector rose sharply, from 90.19% in 2005 to 99.12% in 2010. Despite this high reliance on coal, the U.S. has much better air quality, suggesting that coal use alone is not the main driver of environmental degradation.
Looking at sulfur dioxide emissions, China’s power sector reduced its emissions from 13.5 million tons in 2005 to 9.26 million tons in 2010—a decrease of 31.41%. Meanwhile, the proportion of sulfur dioxide emissions from the power industry dropped from 52.96% to 42.38%. In the U.S., power sector sulfur dioxide emissions fell from 10.34 million tons to 5.4 million tons, a 47.78% decline, while the share of power sector emissions in total sulfur dioxide remained around 70%.
This comparison highlights several key issues. First, even though the power sector consumes a large share of coal, it is not the only factor affecting air quality. In China, over 50% of coal is used outside the power sector, and these non-power industries have not seen the same level of emission control. Second, while the power sector emits a significant portion of sulfur dioxide, the U.S. manages its emissions more effectively due to stricter regulations across all sectors.
To improve air quality, the focus should shift from simply reducing total emissions to managing the concentration of pollution sources. A new evaluation system is needed—one that takes into account both coal consumption and emissions. The concept of "secondary re-comparison" could be introduced, which measures the ratio of sulfur dioxide emissions to coal consumption in the power sector. This would help identify areas where efficiency and emission control can be further improved.
By adopting a more comprehensive and targeted approach, China can continue to reduce emissions while improving air quality and meeting the expectations of its citizens.