Germany’s Technologies to Combat Air Pollution
Technological methods that help improve the air in Germany.
New age Germany is currently known for their environmental awareness, and degradation to resolve pollution issues within the country. Specifically, Germany has been able to obtain new technology that reverses and halts the effects of air pollution.
In one study, Germany focus’ on the SO2 and NOx pollutants and establishes standards to regulate these particular chemical emissions. Germany’s approach involves using a post-combustion patent. This is a technique that changes the process in which NOx is formed. The method involves altering the fuel and air that is used in the process of burning something (a large reason for the existence of air pollution). Alteration results in a lower temperature which reduces the amount of NOx formed.
For SO2, Germany has combated this chemical emission by switching from coal burning power plants, to “cleaner coal” that inherently improves the atmosphere.
Germany has been able to watch these changes by using a database that tracks patents (inventions for new technology) and their effects on the environment. This database is called EPO (European Patent Office). The US also has access to this database, but unlike Germany, they do not report grants that were unsuccessful and not passed.
Germany has found SO2 and NOx pollutants to be reduced over the years since their implementation of their techniques and database, resulting in a positive effect on their domestic environment.
Germany’s positive outcomes on controlling air pollution reveals that their approach seems to be more effective than other countries and that their new technologies create an example for the U.S. to abide by.
Thus, both the German SO2 and NOX standards are more stringent than standards in the US and Japan.
References:
- “Germany air pollution country fact sheet.” European Environment Agency, 9 Oct. 2017, www.eea.europa.eu/themes/air/air-pollution-country-fact-sheets-2014/germany-air-pollutant-emissions-country-factsheet/view.
- “Clean Air.” The German Partnership for Sustainable Mobility (GPSM) , Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, www.german-sustainable-mobility.de/focus_area/cleanair/.
