Influence of the Heat-and-Power Plants of Ukraine on the Environment and Primary Ways of Pollution Reduction

Heat-and-power plants form the basis of this country’s power engineering which in turn is the principal sector of the National Fuel & Energy Complex (FEC) and will do so for the foreseeable future. Apart from power, the heat and power plants (HPPs) also generate an unwanted by-product – toxic releases into the air basin of Ukraine in quantities beyond tolerable limits. In fact, the contribution of HPPs in this respect runs to 30% of the total emissions coming from stationary sources.

A threat to human health and environmental hazards are strongly amplified by the concentrated locations of HPPs in densely populated industrial and agricultural regions as well as by the presence in the emissions of such toxic compounds as sulfurous anhydride (70% of total emissions in Ukraine), nitrogen oxides, ash, and carcinogenic substances (benzopyrene, vanadium oxide, high-molecular compounds).

In an effort to reduce the adverse environmental impact the power engineering enterprises focus their activity on the retrofit of energy units, introduction of new technologies for solid fuel combustion, maintaining flue gas purifying facilities in proper working condition and other environmental protection measures.