Emissions Control at North-West University

Eskom operates coal-fired power stations, which emit approximately 230 million tons of CO2 and more than one million ton of SO2 into the atmosphere annually. International pressure and local legislation controlling pollutant emissions such as SO2, particulates, and NOx have become more stringent over the past decade.

Emissions control must be considered to optimise and, if necessary, modify old technology to perform beyond design capabilities for the existing fleet and ensure that plant emissions meet increasingly strict standards that have been set by government for new power stations currently under construction. The primary focus of this SC is (i) to understand existing emissions of SO2, NOx, CO2, Hg, and particulates into the local atmosphere from power stations and (ii) to research and develop effective pollution mitigation technologies for the retrofitting of current processes.

In addition, the SC will work closely with Eskom and OEM technology providers to ensure that new power plants meet future emission requirements. The main objectives are, therefore, to ensure that Eskom is at the forefront of understanding emission mitigation technologies to limit the total emissions into the atmosphere from its processes without making electricity unaffordable within the South African context.