List of least carbon efficient power stations

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This is a list of least carbon efficient power stations in selected countries. Lists were created by the WWF and lists the most polluting power stations in terms of the level of carbon dioxide produced per unit of electricity generated. In general lignite burning coal-fired power stations with subcritical boilers (in which bubbles form in contrast to the newer supercritical steam generator) emit the most.{{Cite journal|last1=Kittel|first1=Martin|last2=Goeke|first2=Leonard|last3=Kemfert|first3=Claudia|last4=Oei|first4=Pao-Yu|last5=von Hirschhausen|first5=Christian|date=2020-04-20|title=Scenarios for Coal-Exit in Germany—A Model-Based Analysis and Implications in the European Context|journal=Energies|language=en|volume=13|issue=8|pages=2041|doi=10.3390/en13082041|issn=1996-1073|doi-access=free|hdl=10419/222434|hdl-access=free}}{{Cite web|last=Witkop|first=Nathan|date=11 May 2020|title=Old German lignite units have entered death zone|url=http://www.montelnews.com/en/story/old-german-lignite-units-have-entered-death-zone-/1113616|access-date=2020-06-10|website=Montel News}} The Chinese national carbon trading scheme may follow the European Union Emission Trading Scheme in making such power stations uneconomic to run.{{Cite web|last=Slater|first=Huw|date=5 May 2020|title=Despite headwinds, China prepares for world's largest carbon market|url=https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/despite-headwinds-china-prepares-world-s-largest-carbon-market|access-date=2020-06-10|website=The Interpreter|publisher=The Lowy Institute|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=International Carbon Action Partnership|date=5 May 2021|title=China National ETS|url=https://icapcarbonaction.com/en/?option=com_etsmap&task=export&format=pdf&layout=list&systems%5B%5D=55|access-date=8 May 2021}} However some companies such as NLC India Limited and Electricity Generation Company (Turkey) generate in countries without a carbon price. Lignite power stations built or retrofitted before 1995 often also emit local air pollution.{{Cite web|title=Tuzla 7 lignite power plant, Bosnia and Herzegovina|url=https://bankwatch.org/project/tuzla-7-lignite-power-plant-bosnia-and-herzegovina-2|access-date=2020-06-10|website=Bankwatch|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Balkan Green Energy News|date=2019-11-04|title=KEK to get EUR 76 million grant to cut pollution from Kosovo B power plant|url=https://balkangreenenergynews.com/kek-to-get-eur-76-million-grant-to-cut-pollution-from-kosovo-b-power-plant/|access-date=2021-05-08|website=Balkan Green Energy News|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|last=Mohan|first=Vishwa|title=CPCB threatens to shut down 14 coal-fired power plants which failed to limit emissions|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/environment/pollution/cpcb-threatens-to-shut-down-14-coal-fired-power-plants-which-failed-to-limit-emissions/articleshow/73968247.cms?from=mdr|access-date=2020-06-10}} In early 2021 the EU carbon price rose above 50 euros per tonne, causing many of the European plants listed below to become unprofitable,{{Cite web|date=2021-05-04|title=EU carbon price breaches record €50 per tonne mark|url=https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4030740/eu-carbon-price-breaches-record-eur-tonne-mark|access-date=2021-05-09|website=www.businessgreen.com|language=en}} and close down.{{Cite web|title=The new EU climate target could phase out coal power in Europe as early as 2030|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210427094822.htm|access-date=2021-05-09|website=ScienceDaily|language=en}} However, because many countries outside Europe and the USA do not publish plant level emissions data it was difficult to make up to date lists. Public information from space-based measurements of carbon dioxide by Climate Trace is expected to quantify {{CO2}} from individual large plants before the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference,{{Cite news|title=Transcript: The Path Forward: Al Gore on Climate and the Economy|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live/2021/04/22/transcript-path-forward-al-gore-climate-economy/|access-date=2021-05-06|issn=0190-8286}} thus enabling large polluters to be identified.{{Cite web|title=A tidal wave of new carbon emissions data soon will be upon us {{!}} Greenbiz|url=https://www.greenbiz.com/article/tidal-wave-new-carbon-emissions-data-soon-will-be-upon-us|access-date=2021-05-09|website=www.greenbiz.com|language=en}}