US EPA Mandatory Reporting Rule Endorses ASTM D6866

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires annual reporting of a company’s greenhouse gas emissions
  
  
• General stationary combustion units using municipal solid waste (MSW) and mixed fuels (biomass-derived with fossil fuels) can use ASTM D6866 to determine biogenic CO2
  
  
• Beta Analytic is committed to provide ASTM D6866 testing to companies as they comply with the EPA mandatory reporting rule

ASTM D6866 for Biogenic CO2 Quantification

Stationary combustion units using MSW and mixed fuels (biogenic fuels with fossil fuels) are allowed to use ASTM D6866 to measure the biogenic CO2 in their emissions.

According to the EPA's Mandatory Reporting Rule:

“Perform the ASTM D7459-08 sampling and the ASTM D6866-08 analysis at least once in every calendar quarter in which MSW is combusted in the unit. Collect each gas sample during normal unit operating conditions while MSW is the only fuel being combusted for at least 24 consecutive hours or for as long as is necessary to obtain a sample large enough to meet the specifications of ASTM D6866-08.

Separate CO2 emissions into the biogenic and non-biogenic fraction using the average proportion of biogenic emissions of all samples analyzed during the reporting year. Express the results as a decimal fraction (e.g., 0.30, if 30 percent of the CO2 from MSW combustion is biogenic). If there is a common fuel source of MSW that feeds multiple units at the facility, performing the testing at only one of the units is sufficient.” – Page 56405

“For units that use CEMS to measure the total CO2 mass emissions and combust a combination of biogenic fuels (other than MSW) with a fossil fuel, ASTM D6866-08 and ASTM D7459-08 may be used to determine the biogenic portion of the CO2 emissions.” – Page 56406

“When ASTM Methods D7459-08 and D6866-08 are used to determine the biogenic portion of the annual CO2 emissions from a unit that co-fires biogenic (other than MSW) and non-biogenic fuels, you shall report the results of each quarterly sample analysis, expressed as a decimal fraction (e.g., if the biogenic fraction of the CO2 emissions is 30 percent, report 0.30).” – Page 56409

The EPA's general overview of the MRR cites ASTM D6866 as a method for calculating biogenic CO2 from mixed biomass and fossil fuels; see page 67 of the document found here.

The EPA MRR and other documents related to it can be downloaded here.

US EPA Mandatory Reporting Rule (MRR)

All companies with facilities emitting a minimum of 25,000 metric tons CO2 equivalent per year in combined emissions are required by the EPA to submit annual greenhouse gas reports no later than March 31 of each calendar year for GHG emissions in the previous calendar year. Gathering of data starts January 1, 2010, and the first report is due in March 2011. Carbon dioxide emissions from biomass combustion are excluded from the annual report while CH4 and N2O emissions from biomass combustion are included.

The MRR specifies the sources of emissions in various industries, the methodologies to use when calculating for annual emissions, as well as monitoring, record keeping, and verification requirements to ensure the accuracy of reported data.

General stationary combustion units are required to report annual CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions. The EPA describes stationary fuel combustion sources as “devices that combust solid, liquid, or gaseous fuel, generally for the purposes of producing electricity, generating steam, or providing useful heat or energy for industrial, commercial, or institutional use, or reducing the volume of waste by removing combustible matter.” Examples of stationary combustion units include boilers, simple and combined-cycle combustion turbines, engines, incinerators, and process heaters.

The MRR specified four calculation methodologies for CO2 emissions from fuel combustion. Those that use MSW as fuel and those that co-fire biomass fuels with fossil-based fuels are required to report biogenic CO2 emissions separate from their non-biogenic CO2 emissions.

ISO 17025-Accredited Beta Analytic

Based in Miami, Florida, Beta Analytic is the world leader in ASTM D6866 testing. The company has contributed to the development of this ASTM standard. The method, which uses radiocarbon dating techniques, can determine biogenic CO2 by measuring the gas sample’s carbon 14 content. CO2 from combusted biomass still have carbon 14 left while CO2 from fossil fuel combustion no longer have this carbon isotope. This difference makes it possible to determine the exact percentage of the gas that came from renewable sources/biomass.

Beta Analytic supports initiatives in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and is committed to provide high-quality, reliable testing to fulfill the requirements of current climate change laws and regulations.