Demand response programs improve air quality by reducing the need for electricity generation from high-emitting sources, such as coal and natural gas peaker plants, during peak demand periods. Here’s how they achieve this:
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Peak Demand Reduction:
- Demand response programs encourage consumers to reduce or shift their electricity usage during peak hours, typically by using less power or shifting it to off-peak times.
- This reduction in peak demand decreases the reliance on peaker plants, which are often less efficient and generate more pollutants like NOx, SO2, and particulate matter.
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Shift in Emissions Timing:
- By shifting electricity demand from peak to off-peak hours, demand response also helps shift emissions to times when they are less likely to contribute to ground-level ozone formation, improving air quality.
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Deferred Infrastructure and Emissions:
- Reducing peak demand helps defer the need for new power generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure, which can decrease emissions over time by limiting the expansion of high-emitting facilities.
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Combination with Clean Energy:
- Integrating demand response with renewable energy sources can further reduce emissions by ensuring that less of the electricity comes from fossil fuels during peak times.
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Health Benefits:
- Lower peak demand means fewer emissions of pollutants like NOx, SO2, and particulates, which can lead to better public health outcomes by reducing respiratory illnesses, especially in urban and lower-income communities.
However, there is also a need to ensure that demand response programs do not inadvertently increase emissions by relying on high-emitting backup generators, which can counteract these benefits. Proper structuring of programs is crucial to maximize air quality improvements.
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