Technological Options for Reducing Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Jeff Kuo, Ph.D., P.E.Jeff Kuo, Ph.D., P.E.Dept. of Civil and Environmental EngineeringDept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering

College of Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering and Computer Science, CSUFCSUF

What are the Greenhouse Gases?What are the Greenhouse Gases?

What are the Greenhouse Gases?What are the Greenhouse Gases?

Properties of Greenhouse Gases

Gas Conc.1750

Conc. 1998

Lifetime (yrs)

GWP

CO2 278 ppmv 365 ppmv 50-200 1

CH4 700 ppbv 1745 ppbv 10 23

N2O 270 ppbv 314 ppbv 120 296

CFC-11

0 268 pptv 50 4600

CFC-12

0 533 pptv 102 5200

CFC-13

0 4 pptv 400 14,000

Kyoto Agreement – A legally binding Protocol: industrialized countries to reduce their collective GHG emissions by 5.2% by 2012.

Cuts to most important gases: CO2, methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) - measured against 1990 baseline.

Cuts in high global warming potential (GWP) gases - hydrofluoro-carbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) - measured against 1990 or 1995 baseline.

What Have We Done?What Have We Done?

USA ???USA ???

CA - CA - On June 1, 2005 the California On June 1, 2005 the California Governor signed Executive Order S-3-Governor signed Executive Order S-3-05 that established the GHG targets. 05 that established the GHG targets. The targets call for a reduction of GHG The targets call for a reduction of GHG emissions to 2000 levels by 2010; a emissions to 2000 levels by 2010; a reduction to 1990 levels by 2020; and reduction to 1990 levels by 2020; and a reduction to 80% below 1990 levels a reduction to 80% below 1990 levels

by 2050.by 2050.

What Have We Done?What Have We Done?

Clearinghouse of Technological Options Clearinghouse of Technological Options for Reducing Anthropogenic Non-COfor Reducing Anthropogenic Non-CO22

GHG Emissions from All SectorsGHG Emissions from All Sectors..

Funded by California Air Resources Funded by California Air Resources Board.Board.

A one-year project by CSUF.A one-year project by CSUF.

The ProjectThe Project

Climate mitigation studies have been Climate mitigation studies have been focused on COfocused on CO22, especially energy-related , especially energy-related sources. sources.

NCGGs have gained attention recentlyNCGGs have gained attention recently

– Higher global warming potentials (GWPs)Higher global warming potentials (GWPs)

– Abundance of cost-effective and readily-Abundance of cost-effective and readily-implementable technological options implementable technological options

– A more rapid response in avoiding A more rapid response in avoiding climate impacts by focusing on short-climate impacts by focusing on short-lived gaseslived gases

BackgroundBackground

Project ObjectivesProject Objectives

To develop a clearinghouse of To develop a clearinghouse of technological options for reducing technological options for reducing anthropogenic, NCGG emissions from anthropogenic, NCGG emissions from sectors that are relevant to CA.sectors that are relevant to CA.

To provide To provide better characterization of better characterization of cost-effective opportunities for emission cost-effective opportunities for emission reductions of NCGGs from all sectors.reductions of NCGGs from all sectors.

The findings can serve as a basis for a The findings can serve as a basis for a website to disseminate information on website to disseminate information on NCGG emission control technologies.NCGG emission control technologies.

Project TasksProject Tasks

Identification of sources of NCGG Identification of sources of NCGG emissions from various sectors in emissions from various sectors in CaliforniaCalifornia

Identification of available technological Identification of available technological options for NCGG emission reductions options for NCGG emission reductions through a comprehensive literature through a comprehensive literature searchsearch

Evaluation of the identified technological Evaluation of the identified technological options for their applicability in CAoptions for their applicability in CA

Report preparationReport preparation

Methods and Approaches –Methods and Approaches –Comparison of GHG EmissionsComparison of GHG Emissions

USA (2004) CA (2004)

Gas MMTCO2-Eq. (%) MMTCO2-Eq. (%) CA/USA

Carbon Dioxide 5,988 84.6% 364 82.8% 6.1%

Methane 557 7.9% 28 6.4% 5.0%

Nitrous Oxide 387 5.5% 33 7.6% 8.6%

HFCs, PFCs, SF6 143 2.0% 14 3.2% 9.9%

Total 7,074 100% 439 100% 6.2%

Methods and Approaches –Methods and Approaches –Evaluation of Technological OptionsEvaluation of Technological Options

Status of technological options are quite Status of technological options are quite different. different.

Data on reduction efficiency (RE), market Data on reduction efficiency (RE), market penetration (MP), technical applicability penetration (MP), technical applicability (TA), service lifetime, and costs were (TA), service lifetime, and costs were collected, if available, and presented.collected, if available, and presented.

Data specific to CA were used first, Data specific to CA were used first, followed by those specific to the USA, followed by those specific to the USA, and then those developed for global and then those developed for global perspectives or for other countries.perspectives or for other countries.

Methods and Approaches –Methods and Approaches –Evaluation of Technological OptionsEvaluation of Technological Options

Technology Lifetime (yrs)

MP(%)

RE (%)

TA (%)

Capital cost

Annual cost Benefits

Installation of plunger lift systems in gas wells1 10 100 4 1 $3,986 $159 $8.21

Surge vessels for station/well venting1 10 100 50 <1 $11,216 $224 $8.53

Replace high-bleed with low-bleed pneumatic devices1

5 50 86 8 $14 $0 $8.21

MP: market penetration; RE: reduction efficiency; TA: technical applicability; costs are in year 2000 US$/MTCO2-Eq.

1: USEPA (2004) & CEC (2005); 2: IEA (2003) & USEPA (2004)

Sources of Methane Emissions in CASources of Methane Emissions in CA

Methane Emission Reduction –Methane Emission Reduction –Gas and Petroleum SystemsGas and Petroleum Systems

Prevention – improved process Prevention – improved process efficiencies and leakage reductionefficiencies and leakage reduction

Recovery and re-injection – recovery of Recovery and re-injection – recovery of off-gases and re-injection into the off-gases and re-injection into the subsystemssubsystems

Recovery and utilization – recovery and Recovery and utilization – recovery and utilization for energy productionutilization for energy production

Recovery and incineration – recovery, Recovery and incineration – recovery, followed by incineration (flaring)followed by incineration (flaring)

(Many in EPA Natural Gas STAR program)(Many in EPA Natural Gas STAR program)

Sources of Methane Emissions from Sources of Methane Emissions from Agriculture Sector in CAAgriculture Sector in CA

Methane Emission Reduction –Methane Emission Reduction –Enteric FermentationEnteric Fermentation

Increase of feed conversion efficiency Increase of feed conversion efficiency by adjusting animal dietsby adjusting animal diets

Increase of animal production through Increase of animal production through the use of growth hormonesthe use of growth hormones

Increase of animal production by Increase of animal production by improved genetic characteristicsimproved genetic characteristics

Improve nutrition through strategic Improve nutrition through strategic supplementationsupplementation

Improved reproductionImproved reproduction

Methane Emission Reduction –Methane Emission Reduction –Manure ManagementManure Management

Livestock reductionLivestock reduction

Prevention of anaerobic decomposition Prevention of anaerobic decomposition of manure during stabling of livestockof manure during stabling of livestock

Anaerobic digestion (covered lagoons; Anaerobic digestion (covered lagoons; on-farm mesophilic digestion; on-farm on-farm mesophilic digestion; on-farm thermophilic; centralized, off-farm thermophilic; centralized, off-farm mesophilic or thermophilic)mesophilic or thermophilic)

Composting of animal manureComposting of animal manure

Aerobic digestionAerobic digestion

Sources of NSources of N22O Emissions in CAO Emissions in CA

NN22O Emission Reduction –O Emission Reduction –Agricultural Soil ManagementAgricultural Soil Management

Most of the NMost of the N22O emissions from O emissions from agricultural activities are from soils, agricultural activities are from soils, but the emission flux of Nbut the emission flux of N22O per unit O per unit surface area of soil is small. surface area of soil is small.

Two types of technological options:Two types of technological options:

– Improve efficiencies in nitrogen Improve efficiencies in nitrogen utilizationutilization

– Inhibit the formation of nitrous Inhibit the formation of nitrous oxideoxide

NN22O Emission Reduction –O Emission Reduction –Manure ManagementManure Management

Reducing the number of animals by Reducing the number of animals by increasing their productivityincreasing their productivity

Optimizing the crude protein/energy Optimizing the crude protein/energy ratio in animal dietsratio in animal diets

Nitrification and urease inhibitorsNitrification and urease inhibitors

Waste storageWaste storage

Use of cattle feed-pads during winter Use of cattle feed-pads during winter monthsmonths

Optimizing manure managementOptimizing manure management

NN22O Emission Reduction –O Emission Reduction –Mobile CombustionMobile Combustion

Improve catalyst performanceImprove catalyst performance

Use of NUse of N22O-decomposition catalystO-decomposition catalyst

Use of alternative technologies for Use of alternative technologies for NONOxx-emission reduction-emission reduction

Alternative fuelAlternative fuel

Sources of High-GWP Gases Emissions Sources of High-GWP Gases Emissions in CAin CA

High-GWP Gases Emission Reduction –High-GWP Gases Emission Reduction –Substitution of Ozone-depleting Substitution of Ozone-depleting

SubstancesSubstances

Refrigeration and air conditioning Refrigeration and air conditioning equipmentequipment

SolventsSolvents

Foam productionFoam production

SterilizationSterilization

Fire extinguishingFire extinguishing

Technical aerosolsTechnical aerosols

High-GWP Gases Emission Reduction –High-GWP Gases Emission Reduction –Foam ProductionFoam Production

HFC-134a is commonly usedHFC-134a is commonly used

Alternative blowing agentsAlternative blowing agents

Lower-GWP HFC substitutionLower-GWP HFC substitution

Alternative insulation materials and Alternative insulation materials and technologiestechnologies

Direct emission reductionDirect emission reduction

High-GWP Gases Emission Reduction –High-GWP Gases Emission Reduction –Electrical Transmission and Electrical Transmission and

DistributionDistribution

SFSF66 is commonly used as the insulator is commonly used as the insulator

Use of recycling equipmentUse of recycling equipment

Leak detection and repair (LDAR)Leak detection and repair (LDAR)

Equipment replacement/refurbishmentEquipment replacement/refurbishment

OthersOthers

– gas mixtures, such as SFgas mixtures, such as SF66/N/N22 or SF or SF66/CF/CF44

– 145kV interrupters145kV interrupters

– solid-state current limitersolid-state current limiter

http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/non-co2-http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/non-co2-clearinghouse/non-co2-clearinghouse.htmclearinghouse/non-co2-clearinghouse.htm

AcknowledgementAcknowledgement

Funded by California Air Resources Board Funded by California Air Resources Board (CARB 05-328).(CARB 05-328).

Supports from college, department, and Supports from college, department, and school.school.

Special thanks to professionals all over the Special thanks to professionals all over the world who have spent efforts in developing world who have spent efforts in developing technologies and measures toward emission technologies and measures toward emission reductions of NCGGs. reductions of NCGGs.