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DEP > Air Bureau > EIP > Air-Inventory List Server > July 2004 Digest
-----Original Message-----
From: Gould, Tammy [mailto:Tammy.Gould@maine.gov]
Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 8:10 AM
To: air-inventory@informe.org
Cc: Hodsdon, Becky S
Subject: air-inventory i-Steps Version Issue, GHG Emissions Factors for
Biofuels, EI Tra ining - CHANGE IN LOCATION
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1. i-Steps Version Issue
2. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Factors for Biofuels
3. Emissions Inventory Training - CHANGE IN LOCATION
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1. i-Steps Version Issue
It has recently come to my attention that there may be multiple 5.0 versions
of Satellite i-Steps being used by facilities. The most recent version of
Satellite i-Steps (and the one everyone should be using) is Version 5.0.364.
We have found that previous version 5.0's do not "bubble up" all pollutants
when adding a new group and process and may produce some report errors. If
you have not downloaded Satellite i-Steps within the last few months, please
check the version you are using. You will find the version number on the
opening page just below the Audit/Security box as you log in or you can go
to HELP > ABOUT I-STEPS... If you need to download the correct version,
please go to http://sat.i-steps.com/ <http://sat.i-steps.com/> .
2. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Factors for Biofuels
We have received several calls since the mailing was sent last week asking
for greenhouse gas emission factors for wood and wood waste fuels. After a
little research, we have the following.
3814 lbs. CO2 / ton of wood and wood waste used
0.456 lbs. CH4 / ton of wood and wood waste used
0.152 lbs. N2O / ton of wood and wood waste used
Within the next few weeks, these factors will be added to the "Worksheet for
Small Combustion Sources" found on our website at
http://www.state.me.us/dep/air/emissions/ghg-tools.htm
<http://www.state.me.us/dep/air/emissions/ghg-tools.htm> .
3. Emissions Inventory Training - CHANGE IN LOCATION
Due to an unexpected and overwhelming response and registration for the
Augusta Emissions Inventory Training class on July 28, we have decided to
cancel the on-line training program scheduled for August 4 and, instead,
offer the training program in Bangor at the same date and time. Therefore,
Emissions Inventory Training will now be held on Wednesday, August 4, from 9
a.m. to noon, at the DEP Offices on the campus of BMHI, Conference Room 4B.
Registration is still required due to the interest in this program.
The Augusta program has filled and we will be contacting individuals from
the Bangor area and north in an effort to move some to the Bangor site. If
you were registered for the Augusta program and would like to change to the
Bangor site, please contact me.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-air-inventory@lists.state.me.us
[mailto:owner-air-inventory@lists.state.me.us] On Behalf Of David
Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 9:49 AM
To: 'Gould, Tammy'; air-inventory@informe.org
Cc: 'Hodsdon, Becky S'
Subject: RE: air-inventory i-Steps Version Issue, GHG Emissions Factors
for Biofuels, EI Training - CHANGE IN LOCATION
Regarding emission factors for wood burning in units of lbs/ton, it is necessary to specify the moisture content of the wood fuel. A ton of wet wood is not the same as a ton of dry wood, that is, a facility would burn two tons of wet wood to achieve the energy output it would get from burning one ton of dry wood (approximately). Most facilities will have consumption records based on the "as-fired" moisture content for which I believe the weight of the water is close to equal to the weight of the wood on a dry fuel basis. If the emission factor is based on the dry weight basis, and the use is based on "as-fired" wood, then greenhouse gas emissions will be greatly over-estimated. The guidance therefore should specify the fuel moisture content. The alternative is to specify the factor in terms of lbs per millions of Btu's.
-----Original Message-----
From: Gould, Tammy [mailto:Tammy.Gould@maine.gov]
Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 1:13 PM
To: David; air-inventory@informe.org
Cc: Karagiannes, Mike
Subject: RE: air-inventory GHG Emissions Factors for Biofuels
The emission factors for wood combustion were derived from the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc. (NCASI)(http://www.ncasi.org/miner.stm)calculations sheets for pulp and paper mills. Your point is well taken, and indeed, the worksheet is labeled "Typical Emission Factors." The biofuel emission factors are based on information from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2001, Appendix B and from IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, 1996, Volume II, Section 1.
Facilities wishing to derive a more precise emission estimate should feel free to refer to the NCASI sheet which also provides a carbon dioxide emission factor for burning of wood and wood waste in kg CO2/million btu fuel used.
We felt the typical emission factors used in the NCASI spreadsheet were appropriate for estimating emissions from wood, particularly for many of the smaller wood combustion sources in the state. While the Department will suggest appropriate emission factors and sources for factors, facilities should feel free to use others, as long as all supporting documentation for their use is included with their emission inventory summary form.
- Tammy Gould, DEP -----Original Message-----
From: owner-air-inventory@lists.state.me.us
[mailto:owner-air-inventory@lists.state.me.us] On Behalf Of David
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 11:04 AM
To: 'Gould, Tammy'; air-inventory@informe.org
Cc: 'Karagiannes, Mike'
Subject: RE: air-inventory GHG Emissions Factors for Biofuels
The referenced NCASI factors recognize the point I was making about moisture content of wood. It provides emission factors in terms of Tg/GJ (teragrams per gigajoule) i.e. in terms of mass of emissions per heat input. NCASI provides a table of energy content of wood at various moisture contents ranging from 0% to 40%. At 0% the heat content (HHV)is 20 GJ/ton while at 40% moisture it is 10.9 GJ/ton. The emissions are calculated on the basis of GJ, not tons, so moisture content must be factored into the calculation. Failing to take moisture into account can result in almost a 50% error (10.9/20 GJ/ton).
I assume that the reason for reporting greenhouse gas emissions under Chapter 137 is to enhance the precision and accuracy of the greenhouse gas emission baseline and projected emissions as used in the Stakeholder process for measuring progress toward meeting the prescribed goals for 2010 and 2020. The referenced NCASI guidance and the forestry and energy subcommittees of the Greenhouse Gas Stakeholder process are clear in their definition of greenhouse gas stating that CO2 emissions from biomass combustion should not be included in the inventory because the emissions are "carbon neutral", that is they are part of the natural carbon cycle. I would like to suggest that the Department provide guidance at the July 28 training program to make it clear that CO2 from biomass is not a greenhouse gas by definition and that only methane and nitrous oxide need to be included in the calculation of greenhouse gases from biomass combustion. -----Original Message-----
From: Gould, Tammy [mailto:Tammy.Gould@maine.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2004 7:59 AM
To: air-inventory@informe.org
Cc: Karagiannes, Mike; dwdixon@gwi.net
Subject: FW: air-inventory GHG Emissions Factors for Biofuels
To the list:
Mike Karagiannes represents the Department of Environmental Protection on the Maine Greenhouse Gas Initiative stakeholder group and is a member of the Buildings and Facilities workgroup. I asked him to respond to Dave Dixon's inquiry about biomass being "carbon neutral" and the moisture content of wood. Here are his responses.
- Tammy Gould, DEP
-----Original Message-----
From: Karagiannes, Mike
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 11:59 AM
To: Gould, Tammy
Subject: RE: air-inventory GHG Emissions Factors for Biofuels
David,
I don't think your assessment on CO2 is as clear cut as you define it. CO2
by definition is a greenhouse gas it is only carbon neutral in the big
picture. At the facility inventory level it is necessary to report your CO2
emission and it only becomes neutral when put into the broader scheme. I
have had several discussion with facilities that support the neutrality
assumption but plan to report the CO2 emission in the context of the
inventory.
As for the moisture content of the wood, you are correct that moisture does
effect the amount of CO2 released. The figure that Tammy had was a last
resort factor for facilities that don't have the expertise to use the other
factors. Your average boiler operator wouldn't have clue on what a teragrams
per gigajoule was.
Thank You for your input.
Mike Karagiannes
-----Original Message-----
From: Gould, Tammy [mailto:Tammy.Gould@maine.gov]
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2004 10:11 AM
To: air-inventory@informe.org
Subject: air-inventory CO2 Emission Factor for Waste Oil
I had a question earlier this week about a CO2 emission factor for waste oil. Waste oil is generally classified on greenhouse gas emission factor pages as an "Alternative fossil fuel." The CO2 emission factor is influenced greatly by the waste oil mixture and water content.
To calculate a CO2 emission factor for waste oil:
84.29 kg CO2/mmBtu x heat content (expressed as mmBtu/gal) = EF kg CO2/gal
waste oil used
Many of you have your waste oil analyzed and may have the heat content number readily availlable. In the absence of analytical information, we recommend that you use the heat content of diesel - 0.137 mmBtu/gal. Our licensing engineers believe that waste oil is more similar to diesel than to #2 or #6 fuel oil.
Therefore, the default CO2 emission factor for waste oil is:
84.29 kg CO2/mmBtu x 0.137 mmBtu/gal = 11.5 kg CO2/gal waste oil used
------
If you were thinking of attending on of the Emissions Inventory training programs and had not signed up, do so soon! As of this morning, we had one slot available in Augusta and seven available in Bangor.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-air-inventory@lists.state.me.us
[mailto:owner-air-inventory@lists.state.me.us] On Behalf Of Gould, Tammy
Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2004 9:51 AM
To: air-inventory@informe.org
Subject: air-inventory Missing Pollutants on Summary Report
To AIR-Inventory List:
We've received several comments recently that when the Summary Report in Satellite i-Steps is printed, one or more pollutants and emission totals are missing, ususally PM2.5 and ammonia. Also, people have remarked that the i-Steps Summary Report looks different from the facility report you may have received during the recent QA process.
The summary report sent to facilities as part of the QA process is actually generated by a report software (Crystal Reports) and not from Satellite i-Steps. It appears that the report function of i-Steps has not kept pace with the additional criteria pollutants. In the interim, we'd ask that you just write any missing pollutants and their emission totals on the Summary Report or separate certification statement (if you are already sending one). Emissions totals by pollutant can be found from the Map > Facility Emisisons button (for facility wide total) and Map > Group Emissions button(for group totals). We will accept either data set.
We're going to be contacting MACTEC, the company that services the i-Steps software, and find out if there is a work-around or when their expected fix date is.
- Tammy Gould, DEP
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