If you face frequent power outages in your area, diesel generators (DGs) are possibly your only saviour during such times. They are known to provide reliable and uninterrupted power supply, which is especially needed in rural regions or areas with limited access to the grid. DG sets are an important tool, particularly for sectors such as telecommunications and healthcare.
But have you wondered about their emissions and how harmful they are to humans and the environment?
The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in their 2019 report on the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) reported that 7%–18% of the total air pollution in non-attainment cities (cities consistently exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for 5 years in a row) in India could be attributed to DG sets. A DG set can roughly emit 2.7 kg of carbon dioxide (CO₂) per litre of diesel consumed (Carbon Footprint). It also releases particulate matter (PM), including black carbon (BC), and pollutant gases such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HCs), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Exposure to diesel exhaust can result in health impacts such as lung inflammation, aggravating chronic respiratory symptoms and increasing the frequency of asthma attacks. Short-term exposure can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation; coughing; light-headedness; and nausea (Aderibigbe et al., 2017). Moreover, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified diesel exhaust as a Group 1 carcinogen.
To reduce the environmental impact of DG sets, several measures such as performing regular maintenance, installing emission control devices, and exploring renewable alternatives (substituting DG with solar for load sharing) can be adopted by offices, commercial spaces, and residential zones. A shift to greener options, such as batteries and hydrogen fuel cells, is also crucial for lowering carbon emissions. For example, Google has successfully switched to 100% renewable energy in their office spaces, and Microsoft plans to do so by 2025.
A cleaner and more sustainable future can be achieved by reducing the use of DG sets and switching to cleaner alternatives.
