Emission allowances for NOx and SO2
Since the mid-80s, emissions of SO2 and NOx by large power stations have been regulated by allowances.
The allowances have been one of the main reasons for the reduction in emissions from 163.000 tonnes to 6.000 tonnes for SO2 and from 129.000 tonnes to 30.000 tonnes for NOx in the period 1987 to 2005 (corrected for import/export of electricity).
The large power stations have to reduce emissions further by 2014 to 20.000 tonnes of SO2 and 20.000 tonnes of NOx.