Waste-to-Energy

ISO Publishes Radiocarbon-Based Standard for Carbon Dioxide Emissions

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published an air-quality standard for measuring the ratio between biogenic and fossil-derived carbon dioxide emissions from stationary sources. The standard is called ISO 13833:2013, Stationary source emissions — Determination of the ratio of biomass (biogenic) and fossil-derived carbon dioxide — Radiocarbon sampling and determination.

US EPA sets Biobased Diesel Volume for 2013 at 1.28 Billion Gallons

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established the amount of bio-diesel products required to be included in diesel fuel markets in 2013. Biobased diesel products are advanced bio-fuels that are derived from sources that include vegetable oils and wastes oils from renewable sources.

OFGEM Approves Carbon-14 Method for Renewable Energy Content Testing

The UK’s Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) will allow electricity generators using waste-derived fuels to use the Carbon-14 technique to determine the renewable energy content of the fuel. Under this method, post-combustion flue gases will be analyzed for their carbon-14 content and not the solid waste feedstock.

US EPA Proposes 2012 Renewable Fuel Standards

WASHINGTON, January 21 — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed the 2012 percentage standards for four fuel categories that are part of the agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2). EPA continues to support greater use of renewable fuels within the transportation sector every year.

UK DfT Recommends C14 Analysis to Measure Biofuel Renewable Content

In the consultation document published by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) regarding the implementation of the transport elements of the EU Renewable Energy Directive, the DfT is proposing to determine the renewable portion of partially renewable fuels through carbon-14 dating techniques.

Beta Comments on EPA’s Proposed Deferral of Biogenic CO2 Emissions

ASTM D6866 lab Beta Analytic Inc. has submitted a public comment on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule for the deferral of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from bioenergy and other biogenic sources. The company is recommending to the EPA that stationary sources combusting mixed fuels use ASTM D6866 testing to accurately measure their biogenic […]

US EPA Clarifies ASTM D6866 Use in Mandatory GHG Reporting

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is amending certain provisions of its Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule (MRR) to address issues raised after the MRR was first published in October 2009. Revisions will affect, among others, facilities combusting municipal solid waste or tires as fuels. These facilities no longer need to have continuous emission monitoring […]

US EPA Amended RFS Requires ASTM D6866 Testing for MSW-Derived Biofuel

The US EPA’s amended Renewable Fuel Standard, also called RFS2, requires ASTM D6866 testing to determine the biogenic fraction of transportation fuels derived from municipal solid waste (MSW), where the renewable portion of the fuel cannot be determined based on the relative energy content of the renewable biomass and fossil feedstock. ASTM D6866 can also […]

Ontario GHG Regulation Identifies ASTM D6866 as Quantification Method

The Ministry of the Environment of Ontario, Canada, has published Ontario Regulation 452/09, which focuses on greenhouse gas emissions reporting. The guideline accompanying the regulation outlined the standard methods to be used for emissions quantification. ASTM D6866 is the standard identified for the quantification of biomass CO2 emissions from the combustion of fuels with both […]

New Zealand Regulation Recommends ASTM D6866 for CO2 Emissions

ASTM D6866 has been added to the latest version of New Zealand’s Climate Change Regulations. The standard will be used to measure the non-biomass fraction of CO2 emissions from the combustion of used oil, waste oil, used tyres, or waste. Gases reported under the regulations are CH4, N2O, and non-biomass CO2.

Burning Used Tires – Less Fossil CO2 Emissions than Burning Coal

According to French company Aliapur, used tires are not wastes but are traditional solid fuels better than coal or petroleum coke. A three-year study by Aliapur’s Research & Development unit has proven what the French cement industry has known since the 1970s – used tires as fuels have high heat output with less environmental impact […]

ISO Develops C14 Dating-Based Standard for Carbon Dioxide Emissions

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is developing an air quality standard for the determination of the speciation of biogenic and fossil-derived carbon dioxide emissions from stationary sources. The standard, currently named ISO/NP 13833, includes radiocarbon or carbon 14 sampling and measurement.

EPA Says Use ASTM D6866 to Measure Biogenic CO2 in Emissions

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) final greenhouse gas mandatory reporting rule allows owners and operators of general stationary units combusting a mix of biomass-derived and fossil fuels to use ASTM D6866 in determining the exact percentage of biogenic CO2. The reporting rule applies to all companies with facilities that produce a minimum of 25,000 […]

WCI Recommends ASTM D6866 Testing for Mixed Fuels Emissions

The Western Climate Initiative mandates that owners or operators of general stationary combustion units using mixed fuels and waste-derived fuels use ASTM D6866 to determine the biomass fraction of their carbon dioxide emissions. Mixed fuels are mixtures of biomass/biomass fuel and fossil fuel. Waste-derived fuels are those derived from wastes, excluding materials that are pure […]

Beta Public Comment: EPA Renewable Fuel Standard Program

Thierry Sam Tamers, Beta Analytic director, recommends the use of ASTM D6866 to measure the biomass fraction of municipal solid waste in a public comment submitted to the U.S. EPA in connection to the revised Renewable Fuel Standard Program.

Beta Public Comment: WCI Essential Requirements of Mandatory Reporting

Beta Analytic submitted a public comment to the Western Climate Initiative relating to the latter’s essential requirements for mandatory reporting final draft. Beta noted that sewage is not 100% biomass.

U.S. EPA to Revise Renewable Fuel Standard Program

In an effort to reduce dependence on fuel imports by increasing domestic sources, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to change its Renewable Fuel Standard Program.  Changes to the regulation of fuels and fuel additives include:

Beta Public Comment: EPA Proposed Protocol on Biofuels

In its public comment submitted to the U.S. EPA, Beta Analytic recommends the use of ASTM D6866 to determine the biogenic fraction of fuels derived from biomass. Beta points out that ASTM D6866 can precisely and accurately quantify the biogenic fraction of any type of fuel derived from biomass and blended fuel mixtures that contain […]

WCI: Use ASTM D6866 to Determine Biomass Fuel Portion of CO2 Emissions

The Western Climate Initiative recommends ASTM D6866 analysis to determine the biomass fuel portion of carbon dioxide emissions produced by the combustion of mixtures of biomass fuel and fossil fuel. This mandate also covers municipal solid wastes, which have been categorized by the WCI as waste-derived fuels.

Beta Public Comment: EPA GHG Protocol Proposed Rule

Beta Analytic director, Thierry Sam Tamers, submitted a public comment to the U.S. EPA advocating the use of ASTM D6866 to determine the biomass fraction of all heterogeneous fuels, not only for municipal solid waste. ASTM D6866 is a viable and accurate method that can be used for any type of sample whether solid, liquid, […]