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_2eq, 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_2eq 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.

L. Janicke, D. Nock, K. Surana, S. M. Jordaan, Air pollution co-benefits from strengthening electric transmission and distribution systems, Energy 269 (2023) 126735.