VGB POWERTECH 10 (2020) - International Journal for Generation and Storage of Electricity and Heat

VGB PowerTech 10 l 2020
Developments in CCP management in Europe
after 1987 had to comply with the emission
limits in the LCPD and were either closed
or retrofitted with more effective flue gas
cleaning devices for de-dusting, de-nitrification
(de-NOx) and de-sulphurisation
(de-SOx). The technologies influence type,
amount and quality of the resulting coal
combustion products (ashes and de-sulphurisation
products). De-NOx technologies
cover catalytic (SCR in high dust or
tail-end installation) or non-catalytic reduction
(SNCR). For the proper operation
if the plant and to minimise the impact on
the CCPs proper maintenance of the system
is needed [12]. De-SOx technologies
cover dry and wet desulphurisation technologies
resulting in either spray-dry absorption
(SDA) product or flue gas desulphurisation
(FGD) gypsum. The wet process
is mostly used and in some cases
formerly installed SDA processes are meanwhile
replaced with wet FGD systems.
The IED aims to achieve a high level of protection
of human health and the environment
taken as a whole by reducing harmful
industrial emissions across the EU, in particular
through better application of Best
Available Techniques (BAT) [13]. Around
50,000 installations undertaking the industrial
activities listed in Annex I of the
IED are required to operate in accordance
with a permit (granted by the authorities
in the Member States). This permit should
contain conditions set in accordance with
the principles and provisions of the IED.
The IED is based on several pillars, in particular
an integrated approach, the use of
best available techniques, flexibility, inspections
and public participation.
The integrated approach means that the
permits must take into account the whole
environmental performance of the plant,
covering e.g. emissions to air, water and
land, generation of waste, use of raw materials,
energy efficiency, noise, prevention
of accidents, and restoration of the site
upon closure. To fulfill the approach also
other Directives as the Waste Directive [14]
for utilisation of waste and REACH Regulation
[15] and several product standards
and requirements for the use as products
have to considered. It is a continuous task
of ECOBA and its members to highlight
that CCPs are valuable resources which can
be and which are used as replacement for
natural materials in several applications
and to inform about related regulations.
The permit conditions including emission
limit values must be based on the Best
Available Techniques (BAT). In order to
define BAT and the BAT-associated environmental
performance at EU level, the
Commission organises an exchange of information
with experts from Member
States, industry and environmental organisations.
This work is co-ordinated by the
European IPPC Bureau of the Institute for
Prospective Technology Studies at the EU
Joint Research Centre in Seville (Spain).
This process results in BAT Reference Documents
(BREFs); the BAT conclusions contained
are adopted by the Commission as
Implementing Decisions. The IED requires
that these BAT conclusions are the reference
for setting permit conditions.
In 2011, the revision of the Best Available
Techniques Reference Document for Large
Combustion Plants (BREF LCP) BREF LCP
was started and major commenting work
via VGB and EURELECTRIC was organised
in addition to meetings with the
European Integrated Pollution Prevention
and Control (IPPC) Bureau (EIPPCB) in Sevilla.
In June 2016, the EIPPC has published the
final draft of the BREF LCP and the conclusions
(chapter 10 of BREF LCP) [16]. The
conclusions will provide stricter emission
limit values for all existing parameters. In
addition, requirements for Hg, HCl abd HF
will be implemented. Early 2017, the Comitology
procedure for the BREF LCP will be
started. After acceptance of the BREF LCP
it will be translated and published in the
Official Journal of the EU. With that the revision
may be concluded by midth of 2017.
After publication in the Official Journal
members states have to implement the conclusions
within four years, e.g. by midth
2021.
In Germany, producers formed the ‘Hgcapture
Initiative’ to publicly inform about the
success when using BAT as defined in the
BREF. This is of special importance as the
CCPs from hard coal are used nearly completely
in the construction industry and as
changes in compositions may complicate
continued use. The research work currently
at lab and pilot scale demonstrate that
the expected very low Hg emission values
may not be reached with only one BAT. In
addition, the systems has different effects
in different power plants which has not
been considered in the revision phase although
commented several times [17].
Impact by markets
As coal-fired power plants do not only produce
electricity and heat but also construction
materials the market developments
and demands for all markets have to be
considered.
To achieve the aims in CO 2 reduction the
side conditions for the operation of coalfired
plants were modified. In addition to
the legal framework described above also
national incentives for renewable production
were established aiming in “renewables
first” and based on this changing the
merit order (ranking of available sources of
energy production). In addition several national
energy markets are based on stock
prices.
The merit order or ranking achieve that
those with the lowest marginal costs are
the first ones to be brought online to meet
demand, and the plants with the highest
marginal costs are the last to be brought on
line. Dispatching generation in this way
minimizes the cost of production of electricity.
Sometimes generating units must
be started out of merit order, due to transmission
congestion, system reliability or
other reasons driving costs.
Furthermore, the spot markets for electricity
in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium,
Netherlands and the United Kingdom
are managed by EPEX Spot. The trade
for the spot market is all year through for
24 h of the next day, consist of intraday
(business the same day) and day-ahead
business (for the next day) and are especially
designed for integration of renewable
power. Phelix – the reference price for
the European trade market – is published
on a daily base for energy in base and peak
load [18]. In future, also power-to-purchase-agreements
may be used. As long
term direct marketing instruments they
will influence also the existing market systems.
Impact on coal combustion
products
For the utilisation of CCPs quality and
availability are important parameters for
the construction market. The quality is defined
by technical and environmental requirements
in standards and regulations
which have to be met all the time. A continuous
quality management including
auto and third party control is required.
The standards and requirements are subject
of regular updates to meet regulatory
as well as market needs.
In addition to quality, availability is important
to serve construction projects especially
in member states with existing markets.
Forecasting of production to serve
market needs cause more efforts in CCP
management. Stock management whether
in silo or on site as well as beneficiation for
fresh produced or stockpiled ash is being
discussed together with cross border transport
as options for safeguarding availability
of CCPs.
The figures for production and use in
EU15/EU28/EU are given in Ta b l e 2 .
Tab. 2. Production and utilisation of CCPs in
Europe (EU-15, EU-28, EU) [1].
Produktion
EU15 EU28* EU*
[mill.t]
CCPs total 40.4 >102 >140
Ashes 30,.1 >84 >120
Desulph. products 10.3 >20 >21
Utilisation rate
Construction ind. 50 % ** **
Constr. + reclam. 92 % ** **
* Estimate based on coal consumption
** Information on utilisation only partly available
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