Key Environmental Issues in Sri Lanka
GM Food
Air Pollution from Vehicles
Human Elephant Conflict
Challenges and opportunities in Forestry for the new millennium

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES RELATING TO COAL POWER GENERATION
with special reference to proposed power plant at Kalpitiya

Dr Hiran Amarasekera, Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura

Electricity constitutes a critical input in sustaining he Nation's economic growth and development and the well being of its inhabitants. However, there are by-products of electricity production that have an undesirable effect on the environment.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES (Kalpitiya Plant)

Key issues

Emission of gases
Green house gases - CO2 and CO
Acid rain - due to SOx and NOx
Ash and coal dust
Discharge of warm water to sea
Coastal erosion
Socio-economic impacts


Other issues

Waster water/ effluents
Solid waste management
Noise
Land use and aesthetics


EMISSION OF GASES

The combustion of coal results in exhaust gases containing carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrous oxides (NOx) and particulates.

GREEN HOUSE GASES

CO2 and CO are greenhouse gases associated with global warming
Coal gives off more CO2 per unit of electricity produced than any other fuel. At the present time, coal is responsible for 30-40% of world CO2 emissions from fossil fuels.

However in the global terms emission of green house gases from developing countries are very low.

Per capita carbon emissions (Tons of carbon) World average 1.3 USA 6.1 Canada 5.1 Sri Lanka Before proposed coal plant 0.0097 After proposed coal plant 0.003
USA more than 200,000 MW coal power plants
India 63,000 MW
Proposed power plant in Sri Lanka 900 MW
Therefore Global effects on the proposed plant is negligible.

OTHER GASES

SO2 and NOx contribute to acid rain. When burned in a relatively uncontrolled fashion, as has been the case in much of eastern Europe, coal can cause a lot of damage due to smog and acid rain. With modern technologies and strict controls it is possible to remove most of the CO, SO2 and NOx before they are emitted from a power plant.



PROPOSED MITIGATION MEASURES FOR GAS EMISSIONS

Use of low Sulfur containing coal ·
NOx are controlled by using low NOx burners. ·
Smoke emissions will be released from 150 meter tall chimneys ·
Electrostatic precipitators are used to collect emissions to atmosphere ·
The quantity of ash particles, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide gases emitted will adhere to all Sri Lanka and international standards (WHO standards).


PARTICULATES

Fly-ash

The toxicity of fly ash occurs when ash particles become enriched with trace elements while collected in electrostatic precipitators of power plants. Trace elements and other pollutants from the combustion of coal in the furnaces cool and condense upon the ash particle surfaces. Of iron and trace metals such as aluminum, cadmium, zinc, and selenium are leached or dissolved from ash particle coatings into ground water they can affect human health and aquatic life.

It is proposed to remove fly ash using electrostatic precipitators and subsequently used in cement, brick, road construction and other industries.

Bottom ash

It is proposed to deposit these in a dedicated landfill facility.

Coal dust

It is proposed to suppress coal dust by spraying water.
Planting trees around site perimeter


DISCHARGE OF WARM WATER TO SEA

Kalpitiya is an area with fisheries activities. There is a major concern that whether the traditional fisheries industry collapses with this power plant.

The power plant will require cooling water. This water is obtained from the sea, and after usage it is released back to the sea. Warm water discharged will be more than 7oC above the intake temperature.

Mathematical studies have shown that temperature difference of 7 oC drops to half (3.5 oC) immediately after release. At 100 m away from the discharge, the temperature difference will be 1.5 oC. If there are any impacts of warm water on fishing such impacts will be limited to 1000 sq meters (2.5 acres) of the Indian Ocean.



COASTAL EROSION DUE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF COAL UNLOADING JETTY

Power plant requires a 4.2 km long jetty, supported on pillars to carry coal from the ships to the shore.

Concern:
Jetty may cause coastal erosion
It may affect buildings in the coastline including St Anne's Church, Talawila
·
This jetty is constructed on cylindrical piles, and these will cause small change in the waves as they pass the jetty. It has been shown that the jetty will not cause any adverse effect in terms of increased erosion. It was shown that the possibility of affecting St. Anne's Church being affected is very remote.

Continuous monitoring system is proposed in order to rectify any adverse effects.

However this is the major concern among local people.


OVRERVIEW OF POWER GENERATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Important considerations in power generation are energy security, its price and environmental effects.

There are negative environmental effects if we do not plan clean coal plants. This results in environmental degradation and consequently affecting the economy. It has been claimed by the environmentalists that environment in the area close to Kalpitiya will be heavily degraded due to this proposed power plant.

Alternatives ·
Energy efficiency should be improved to promote better utilisation of electricity in the various sectors of the economy. However energy efficiency alone will not solve the power requirement problem.
·
Hydro-resources in Sri Lanka have found to be insufficient to meet the electricity demand in future.
·
There are other forms of energy - especially renewable sources such as solar, wind, wave, biomass, and small hydro-electricity power plants. These sources have a role in complementing other sources but they cannot contribute to meet entire electricity requirement in the country.

Hence, large scale coal-fired power plants represent the most cost-effective way to expand power generation capacity for the future.

Clean Technologies ·
Technologies to control effects due to adverse environmental effects from coal fired plants are well established and presently used in modern power plants in the other parts of the world.

Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed power plant has already approved after public hearing of comments and the recommendations by the independent panel of experts.

All the concerned authorities have granted the environmental clearance to the project.

However there is a strong environmental lobbying by the NGOs and some parts of the local people. ·

Challenge to be faced in the energy sector is to source the energy, in terms of keeping its PRICE DOWN and REDUCING ITS EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT. It is important that we address all of these issues in order for the country to maintain its growth and economy.

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