Air pollution co-benefits from strengthening electric transmission and distribution systems.

Inefficiencies in the transmission and distribution (T&D) of electricity between suppliers and customers can lead to higher compensatory electricity generation and unanticipated air pollution. Using both life cycle assessments and uncertainty analyses, we estimate the compensatory air pollutants – CO 2 eq , SO x , NO x , and PM 2.5 – associated with aggregate and non-technical T&D losses at national and subnational scales. Our global analysis estimates that 1 Gigatonne of CO 2eq and 1.3 Megatonnes (Mt) NO x , 1.6 Mt SO x , and 2 Mt PM 2.5 are associated with annual aggregate T&D losses. We also find that approximately 274 Mt CO 2eq , 367 kilotonnes (kt) NO x , 486 kt SO x , and 535 kt PM 2.5 are emitted due to non-technical T&D losses. Our subnational analysis in the United States demonstrates the variation of emissions savings across regulatory jurisdictions. We present an initial deployment cost analysis for CO 2 eq reduction which compares deploying smart meters (i.e., reducing non-technical T&D losses) to renewable energy generation expansion. Investments in T&D infrastructure are beneficial in a completely decarbonized system because improvements in the T&D grid can make investments in renewable energy more cost-effective. • We investigate air pollution emissions from inefficiencies in electric transmission and distribution systems. • Approximately 274 Mt CO 2eq , 367 kt NO x , 486 kt SO x , and 535 kt PM 2.5 result from non-technical transmissions losses. • Subnational analysis in the United States demonstrates the variation of emissions savings across regulatory jurisdictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]