US CO2 emissions lowest since 1998 in April
Published by Jonathan Rowland,
Editor
World Coal,
Emissions of CO2 from the US electric power sector dropped to their lowest levels in April since 1998, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Emissions fell to 128 million t of CO2 on the back of low demand and greater fall in coal-fired generation relative to gas.
April is traditionally the lowest month for CO2 emissions as low heating and cooling demand is reflected in low power demand. April 2015 also saw natural gas surpass coal in the energy mix, which further depressed CO2 emissions.
More electricity is also being generated from sources that do not release CO2. Nuclear increased 3% for the first four months of this year, as fewer plants entered maintenance, while renewable generation grew by 2% over the same time frame.
Taking a longer-term view and more significant changes in the energy mix can be seen with coal consumption down 17% from April 1988. Over the same period, natural gas usage has tripled, renewable energy consumption more than doubled and nuclear energy consumption increased by 47%.
Written by Jonathan Rowland.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/power/11082015/us-carbon-emissions-lowest-since-1998-in-april-2709/
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