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Environmental Effects

Atmospheric emissions

Verve Energy is committed to reducing the impact of atmospheric emissions on the environment by the responsible use of resources.

Electricity generation is a major source of atmospheric emissions.  Verve Energy generates electricity for supply to industrial, commercial and residential customers throughout the South West Integrated System of Western Australia.  In order to supply this electricity Verve Energy runs four major and several smaller thermal power stations and one wind farm with a total generating capacity of 3412MW.

With the closure of old plant, commissioning of new efficient generating plant and increased development of renewable energy resources, we are reducing our atmospheric emissions.

National Pollutant Inventory

Verve Energy supports the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) and provides to the public, through this national database, information on the emissions from our power stations.

The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) is a national database designed to provide the community with information on the types and amounts of specified pollutants emitted into the environment.  Through the NPI, the community, industry and government has access to consistent and reliable information about pollutant emissions in Australia.

Verve Energy submitted pollutant emissions information on eight of our facilities which were required to report for 2004/05.

The tables below provide information on the main atmospheric emissions from our major power stations. These figures were determined using NPI methodology.

SULFUR DIOXIDE EMISSIONS (Kgs emitted per MWh of electricity sent out).

NITROGEN OXIDES EMISSIONS (Kgs emitted per MWh of electricity sent out).

*  Increase in Nitrogen Oxide emissions for Pinjar due to increased use of distillate.

PARTICULATE (COAL ONLY) EMISSIONS (Kgs emitted per MWh of electricity sent out).

**  These emissions are principally due to Muja AB which was commissioned in the 1960s; plans are in place to decommission these units in 2008.

Energy and the environment

The combustion of fuel releases energy. 

Most power generation plants burn fossil fuels to drive generators.  Like most industrial processes, a power plant creates waste materials, producing a number of by-products including dust, ash particles and gases.

Some of the by-products of combustion can be collected and sold for useful purposes such as the use of flyash to build roads and in concrete mixes.  Others are difficult to collect or of little value.  Others must be monitored and controlled to avoid environmental impacts including sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. 

To find out more information on substances released into the environment by industry including energy utilities, visit the NPI website.

What type of fuel is used in our power stations?

The majority of electricity generated by Verve Energy comes from coal or gas fired steam turbines and gas or distillate fired gas turbines.

FACTS AND FIGURES

When a fuel burns in a power station elements, naturally occurring in the fuel and the products of its combustion, are released as emissions.  The major pollutant emissions from burning fossil fuels for power generation are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.  The main fuels burnt at our power stations are coal and natural gas with small amounts of distillate.

Collie coal, which is burnt at all of the steam turbine power stations, is a relatively clean burning coal due to its low ash and sulphur content.  This results in a relatively low amount of sulphur dioxide being released into the atmosphere compared to power stations using coal in other parts of the world.

The majority of steam turbine power stations in Western Australia are fitted with electrostatic precipitators (ESP).  These ESPs remove a large proportion (over 99%) of unburnt particulate matter (flyash) in the flue gas.  This reduces the overall amounts of PM10 and trace metals that would otherwise be emitted.

The other main fuel used at Verve Energy’s power stations is natural gas.  Natural gas is burnt at both the steam and gas turbine power stations. It is composed mainly of methane (over 85%).  Natural gas contains negligible levels of sulphur and produces no particulates during combustion.

Petroleum based products such as heavy fuel oil, distillate and recycled oil are used sparingly in power stations due to their high cost compared to other fuels.  Usage is confined to start-up operations and emergency situations.

Noise emissions

All "eligible" Verve Energy facilities have been assessed for noise impact in the context of the Western Australian Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997.

This involved site visits and inspection of site location drawings to determine the exact position of noise sources.  It also included investigation of existing and zoned land use around Verve Energy facilities, description of noise mitigating equipment and physical features such as walls or barriers and site environmental characteristics such as topography.

The information is being used to develop strategies to bring sites into compliance with the Regulations in timeframes agreed with the Department of Environment.  Most Verve Energy sites now comply with the Regulations and those that don't are subject to exemptions under Section 17 of the Regulations.

As a key part of Verve Energy’s environmental approval process noise assessments and modelling are undertaken for major Verve Energy construction projects and as required for other projects.