Cutting air pollution by improving energy efficiency of China's cement industry

In this study, the energy conservation supply curves (ECSC) combined with the GAINS (Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies) was used to estimate the co-benefits of energy savings on CO2 and air pollutants emission for implementation co-control options of energy efficiency measures and end-of-pipe options in the china's cement industry for the period 2011-2030. Results show the cost-effective energy saving potential (EEP1 scenario) and its costs is estimated to be 3.0 EJ and 4.1 Billion $ in 2030. The technical energy savings potential (EEP2 scenario) and its costs amounts to 4.2 EJ and 8.4 Billion $ at the same time. Energy efficiency measures can help decrease 5-8% of CO2, 3-5% of PM, 15-25% of SO2, and 12-20% of NOx emissions by 2030. Overall, the average marginal costs of energy efficiency measures will decrease by 20%, from 1.48 $/GJ to 1.19 $/GJ, when taking into account avoided investments in air pollution control measures. Therefore, implementation of energy efficiency measures is more cost-effective than a solely end-of-pipe based policy in China's cement industry. The plant managers and end users can consider using energy efficiency measures to reach new air pollutants emission standards in China's cement industry. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.