Detailed examination of the Greek electricity sector nitrogen oxides emissions for the period 1995–2002

Abstract The importance of energy in economic development has been globally recognised. A considerable electricity consumption increase has taken place in Greece since the country's incorporation in the European Union. Unfortunately, the electricity generation up to now is mainly based on fossil fuels. As a direct result of this policy, electricity generation is one of the main contributors to the Greek air pollutant emissions. The present work is focused on investigating in detail the corresponding nitrogen oxides emissions for the period 1995–2002. One of the most negative observations resulting from the presented analysis is that the undesirable NOx emissions factors increase, mainly during the last 3 years of the period analysed. Moreover, annual NOx emissions continue to increase, as a result of the noteworthy electricity consumption amplification registered during the concerned period. Therefore, local data were compared with similar information from the literature regarding other territories and then used accordingly to evaluate the Greek compliance with the existing EU decisions (e.g. Directive 2001/80/EC). Finally, considering that more than 90% of national electricity production is based on carbon containing fuels, further emissions of noxious nitrogen oxides increase is expected for the next decade, unless the appropriate abatement technologies are promptly applied.