engleski

Airborne Pollution in Croatian Power System Development Scenarios

Each energy resource use is connected to certain environmental impacts and risks which can not be avoided. In recent years attention has been focused on the climate change effects of burning fossil fuels, especially coal, due to the carbon dioxide which this releases into the atmosphere. Although the uncertainties surrounding enhanced greenhouse effect and its consequences are still very high, the scientific community is unanimous in the opinion that greenhouse gases emissions must be limited. A number of international conferences was held in order to fulfil this challenging task, but no comforting conclusion was reached. Here are some indisputable facts: carbon dioxide is responsible for the largest share of the phenomenon known as the enhanced greenhouse effect; energy production is one of the major sources of carbon dioxide emissions; global energy consumption will rise as the world's populations increases; countries in transition and particularly undeveloped countries will continue their development striving to reach the developed countries social standard. As a result, greenhouse gases emissions will continue to rise. Because energy production plays a significant role in global greenhouse gases emissions, possibilities for their reduction must be carefully evaluated. It is important to keep in mind that the carbon dioxide emission decrease is associated with other airborne pollution reductions, such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter emissions. There are several paths to follow, each of them having its own advantages and drawbacks: energy efficiency enhancement, increased renewable energy resources share and nuclear energy option. Future carbon dioxide emission trends, as well as other industrial pollutants future emissions in Croatia resulting from several power sector development scenarios are presented in this paper. Possible carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates emissions decrease which would be a result of fossil fuel energy substitution by other energy sources is calculated and discussed.

airborne pollution; nuclear power; Croatian power system

nije evidentirano