Hourly emission inventories for air toxic emissions for eastern Australian electricity generators derived from energy distribution data

Emission inventories are a fundamental input for atmospheric chemical transport models in order to accurately simulate air pollution and its impacts. In Australia, emission currently not available electricity generators at high temporal spatial resolutions. this study, new resolution inventory Australian power plant emissions has been developed. The from coal- gas-fired plants have estimated using 5-min generation time-series data factors. 2010 2019 sulfur dioxide ( $$\hbox {SO}_2$$ ), nitrogen oxide {NO}_{2}$$ particulate matter (PM) mercury (Hg). We estimate that, 2019, the coal-fired Australia emitted significant amounts of (485.7 kTonne) (452 kTonne), as there no or controls place. contrast, PM mitigated by control devices emit an 27.48 13.46 kTonne {PM}_{10}$$ {PM}_{2.5}$$ , respectively. Coal-fired were responsible 3.13 tonnes Hg emissions. Gas-fired significantly lower than all pollutants. Temporal analysis showed that vary quite markedly during day over week. There is strong diurnal cycle emissions, which, if ignored assuming constant (such routinely done), will lead errors modeled pollution.