The Impact of Air Quality Regulations on Distributed ... - NREL

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Microturbine Small Turbine Fuel Cell Lean Burn Gas Engine Rich Burn Gas Engine/3-way Catalyst Diesel Engine U.S. Average All Generation 0.008 0.008 0.006 0.006 0.007 0.45 Figure 2-3 shows that the SO2 emissions from DG technologies are much lower than the SO2 emissions from the average <strong>of</strong> central station power plants. <strong>The</strong> emissions from the gas technologies are more than 1000 times lower. Even the emissions from the diesel technologies are 10 times lower than average <strong>of</strong> central station plants. 7.9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 lb/MWh Figure 2-3 SO2 Emissions Comparison 13 Line Losses Particulate Matter—<strong>The</strong> primary DG technology <strong>of</strong> concern with regard to particulate emissions is the diesel engine. Diesel particulates are regulated in their own right for highway and non-road engines. Several states may also designate diesel particulates as hazardous air pollutants. (California has already made this designation.)
Microturbine Small Turbine Fuel Cell Lean Burn Gas Engine Rich Burn Gas Engine/3-way Catalyst Diesel Engine U.S. Average All Generation 0 0.03 0.03 0.19 0.09 0.08 Line Losses 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 <strong>The</strong> different sizes and types <strong>of</strong> particulates create some inconsistencies in comparing technologies. Nevertheless, as Figure 2-4 shows, DG technologies other than diesel have particulate emissions less than half the central station average. Particulate emissions from DG technologies other than diesels are low enough that they are not usually an issue. New regulations, however, are being developed by the EPA to address very fine particulates (less than 2.5 micron diameter or PM2.5). <strong>The</strong>se very fine particulates are not the ash and unburned fuel components <strong>of</strong> larger particulates but are sulfates, hydrates, and other combustion products that may be more significant in the combustion products <strong>of</strong> gas technologies. <strong>The</strong> new regulations could create PM control issues for more DG technologies in the future. Nitrogen Oxides—Control <strong>of</strong> NOx emissions is a significant environmental issue for most 14 lb/MWh 0.78 Figure 2-4 PM Emissions Comparison DG technologies. Although NOx emissions are partially a function <strong>of</strong> fuel characteristics, combustion temperature and other aspects <strong>of</strong> combustion design are the primary determinants <strong>of</strong> NOx formation. To reduce NOx emissions, one can either modify the combustion process or add post-combustion controls. For the same reasons discussed in Section 2.3—that DG technologies need to minimize capital cost and complexity in order to be successful— the primary focus for DG technology developers has been on minimizing the formation <strong>of</strong> NOx through basic combustion design rather than with addon equipment. Figure 2-5 shows that DG technologies vary more in their NOx emission levels than they do for the other emissions <strong>of</strong> concern. Still, all <strong>of</strong> the DG technologies except diesel engines have much lower NOx emissions than the U.S. average for central station plants.
Page 1 and 2: The Impact
Page 3 and 4: NOTICE This report was prepared as
Page 5 and 6: Foreword Air quali
Page 7 and 8: natural gas from oil fields or meth
Page 9 and 10: Key Findings and Recommendations Em
Page 11 and 12: Chapter 5. Recommendations and Conc
Page 13 and 14: quality permitting requirements app
Page 15 and 16: 1.5 Organization of</strong
Page 17 and 18: site generators provide power when
Page 19 and 20: 2.2.2 Waste and By-product Fuels DG
Page 21 and 22: anticipation of th
Page 23: upon which this report focuses emit
Page 27 and 28: Microturbine Small Turbine Fuel Cel
Page 29 and 30: used when there is no excess oxygen
Page 31 and 32: around $3,000/ton. This is much low
Page 33 and 34: New Source Review—The</st
Page 35 and 36: Table 3-2 Potential NOx Emissions <
Page 37 and 38: affects generators less than one MW
Page 40 and 41: 4.1 Introduction The</stron
Page 42 and 43: Example: Fact Summary Issue: Credit
Page 44 and 45: 4.4 Complex Case-by-Case Permitting
Page 46 and 47: 4.5 No Consideration of</st
Page 48 and 49: ton of emissions s
Page 50 and 51: Chapter 5. Recommendations and Conc
Page 52 and 53: sources, usually with more efficien
Page 54 and 55: Clean Air Act: <st
Page 56 and 57: Distributed generation or DG: Relat
Page 58 and 59: Minor source review: If emissions a
Page 60 and 61: SB 1298: Senate Bill 1298, a Califo
Page 62: REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Appr

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