Statistics from COMEAP, the advisory committee that provides advice to government departments, has calculated that 29,000 early deaths in the UK are caused by PM2.5 particulate matter alone each year. It’s a public health crisis that councils and government departments need to address urgently.
Indeed, if mortalities from NO2 are factored into this statistic, the combined effect of NO2 emissions and particulate matter on the nation’s health is largely expected to rival smoking as the UK’s number one killer, once figures are published later this year.
Late in 2014, the Environmental Audit Committee recommended the setting up a national framework for Low Emission Zones (LEZ) across the UK – as well as new planning guidance to restrict the exposure of schools and hospitals to pollution. This could all take time to implement and is certainly no quick fix where air quality is concerned. Local government departments and councils are well aware of this as an impending challenge.
Moreover, current legal action against the UK, which may result in a fine of £300m, is focusing minds in both central and local government, to bring down NO2 pollution levels, fast.
Legal action by the European Commission focuses on 16 largely urban zones in the UK which have failed to meet minimum standards of air quality. Via the Localism Act, councils are now firmly in the firing line and are understandably looking for solutions that can reduce these harmful pollutant levels.
So, what are the options open to hard pressed local authorities that are already under significant financial pressures? Buses are a key part of encouraging modal shift, but some older vehicles are manufactured to less strict emissions limits. Replacing existing bus fleets with new, hybrid or electric vehicles is a long term goal, but today only 2% of the UK bus fleet is ‘Low Carbon’.
Most councils and bus operators simply don’t have the finances available to replace an otherwise perfectly operational fleet. One pragmatic solution, that many operators have already opted for, is the adoption of retrofit technology that can reduce NOx and NO2 by more than 95%, also particulate emissions by over 90%
Combined Selective Catalytic reduction and Diesel Particulate Filter (SCRT) systems, which are easily retro-fitted to buses, are a pragmatic, proven technology that should be considered as a medium-term solution to current pollution challenges. Indeed, our experience shows that 15 buses can be fitted with SCRT® technology, bringing them up to the latest Euro 6 NOx standard, for the same cost of a single new vehicle.
The technology is widely adopted – unlike many other emerging technologies – and has been proven both on test cycles and real-world scenarios. A 2014 report from engineering consultancy Ricardo looked at the effectiveness of retro-fitted SCRT® systems used by Brighton & Hove’s bus fleet, proving that even their oldest vehicles can be upgraded to be the cleanest in terms of NOx emissions. Fitted with SCRT® technology, buses that previously operated to a Euro 3 level were able to achieve the lowest NOx emissions of any bus tested, including a Euro 5 hybrid vehicle.
Real world air quality improvements have also been demonstrated, a report published by the Kings College in June 2014 supported the robust performance of retro-fitted SCRT® systems adopted by buses on Putney High Street. Here, a reduction in kerbside NOx levels of 23% was seen, while NO2 levels dropped by 16% during the period of the study. In all, this technology cut the number of NO2 exceedences by an impressive 42%.
Councils need to act quickly to improve air quality and remove the threat of fines. SCRT technology is a proven solution that can provide a cost effective route to making immediate air quality improvements.
Steve Rawson is head of retrofit engineering at Eminox
