EPA Rules Include Energy Efficiency to Reduce Boiler Emissions
On Feb. 21, 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new standards that aim to reduce hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) emitted from certain industrial, commercial and institutional boilers and process heaters.
“In these new rules, EPA is recognizing that energy efficiency works,” said Alliance Director of Policy Lowell Ungar. “Reducing the amount of fuel that facilities need and improving the combustion of that fuel will decrease pollutant emissions,” he added.
Standards to Cover Thousands of Boilers Nationwide
The EPA estimates that the rules will cover 13,800 boilers at major sources (facilities with potential to annually emit 10+ tons of any single HAP or 25+ tons of a combination of HAPs), as well as 187,000 smaller “area source” boilers.
These “maximum achievable control technology” (MACT) standards prescribe practices for facilities to prevent and control:
- emissions of mercury and other metals,
- organic air toxins including dioxin, and
- other HAPs
Energy Efficiency Provisions in the New Rules
The rules contain several important energy efficiency provisions:
- Regular Tune-Ups: Depending on facility details (boiler or process heater size and type, whether boiler or heater is new or existing, and fuels used), annual or biennial tune-ups will be required.
- One-Time Energy Assessment: Major sources and facilities with large boilers (fuel consumption of more than 10 million Btu per hour) may be required to have a one-time energy assessment performed to identify cost-effective energy efficiency options, although facilities will not be compelled to implement such options.
- Best Practices: Facilities will be required to follow good combustion practices.
- Output-Based Emissions Standard: Sources subject to the major source boiler MACT will have the option to meet an output-based emissions standard rather than an input-based standard.
Output-based standards define limits for pollution per unit of output, such as kilowatt hours of electricity, Btu of steam or useful heat, or unit of manufactured product. In contrast, traditional input-based standards allow a certain amount of pollution per unit of energy in the fuel that is consumed.
Output-based standards tie allowable emissions to the amount of product made – rather than the amount of fuel consumed. Therefore, such standards provide incentives for energy efficiency measures, including waste heat recovery and combined heat and power (cogeneration).
Boiling Down the Boiler MACTs
The boiler MACTs are complex. So, the Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Agriculture will offer technical assistance for boiler and process heater operators and owners who may be subject to these regulations. In addition, the EPA provides several fact sheets on the rules:
- Area Source Facilities: Overview of requirements, benefits and costs of the new standards
- Major Source Facilities: Overview of requirements, benefits and costs of the new standards
- Boiler Operators and Owners: Details of boiler classifications under the Clean Air Act, plus DOE and Department of Agriculture assistance
The rules, fact sheets, and related information – including a “notice of reconsideration,” which will allow additional opportunity for public input on the rules – are available at the EPA’s Emissions Standards for Boilers and Process Heaters and Commercial/Industrial Solid Waste Incinerators regulatory actions page.
