Utilizing solar energy to reduce air pollution in Ulaanbaatar

Abstract

Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, is among the top 5 cities with worst air quality in the world. Particulate matter pollution is extreme during winter with PM2.5 and PM10 reaching 436 μg/m3 and 1100 μg/m3, respectively. One of the major air pollution sources is suburban traditional housing areas called 'ger districts'. Households of ger districts consume approximately 850,000 tons of coal per year primarily for heating purposes, emitting tons of pollutants into the atmosphere. This thesis presents possibilities of utilizing solar energy to reduce air pollution from ger districts. Solar heating systems are inexpensive and simple. With combination of conventional heating systems it can provide reliable and stable energy and reduce fossil fuel consumption. The emission coefficient, calculated and measured by the City Air Quality Department was used to determine current total emissions and potential emission reductions from ger districts. The thesis concludes that solar heating systems have potential to reduce total coal consumption in ger districts by a factor of two and would reduce the overall emissions of PM10 by 6%, SO2 by 12%, NOX by 5% and CO by 23%.