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[Due to the increasing size of the archives, each topic page now contains only the prior 365 days of content. Access to older stories is now solely through the Monthly Archive pages or the site search function.]
Requiring Lower Sulfur Marine Fuels Could Reduce Emissions-Related Deaths by Up to 50% Annually By 2012
July 09, 2009
| Annual premature mortality for the No Control scenario compared to a “no shipping” case. Credit: ACS. Click to enlarge. |
Requiring ships to use marine fuel with 0.1% Sulfur (1,000 ppm) content within 200 nautical miles of coastal areas could reduce annual premature deaths resulting from emissions-related affects by around 43,500 by 2012—approximately 50% of the 87,000 deaths estimated to occur in a no control scenario (assuming 2.7% or 27,000 ppm S)—according to a new study by researchers from the US and Germany, led by Dr. James Winebrake at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
The study is published in the current issue of the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology.
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UPS Adopts Plan to Cut Its Airline Carbon Emissions An Additional 20% by 2020; Biofuels Part of the Plan
July 08, 2009
| UPS Airlines CO2 emissions per Available Ton Mile, historical and targeted. Click to enlarge. |
UPS has adopted a plan to cut the carbon emissions of its airline by an additional 20% by 2020 to 1.24 CO2 lbs/ATM (Available Ton Mile), for a cumulative reduction of 42% since 1990. UPS intends to achieve its 2020 airline goals by:
- Investing in more fuel-efficient aircraft types and engines;
- Fuel-saving operational initiatives, such as lower flight speeds; reduced flight segments, where viable; computer-optimized flight plans; computer-managed aircraft taxi times; and jet engine washing; and
- The introduction of biofuels, which UPS says it believes will be available before 2020.
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US EPA Proposes New Emissions Rules for Category 3 Marine Diesel Engines, Tighter Fuel Sulfur Restrictions; Harmonization with International Standards
July 01, 2009
As the next steps in a strategy to cut harmful emissions from ocean-going vessels, the US Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new engine emissions and fuel standards for large marine diesel engines on US-flagged ships that would harmonize with international standards.
The proposed rulemaking follows on a proposal last March by the United States and Canada to designate thousands of miles of the two countries’ coasts as an Emission Control Area (ECA). (Earlier post.) The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency, begins consideration of the ECA plan this month, which would result in more stringent standards for large ships operating within 200 nautical miles of the coasts of Canada and the United States.
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Study Finds Carbon in Frozen Soils 2X Prior Estimates; Permafrost Melt Poses Major Climate Change Threat
| Carbon pools in the northern circumpolar permafrost region. Source: CSIRO. Click to enlarge. |
New research shows that the amount of carbon stored in frozen soils in the Arctic and boreal regions of the world is more than double previous estimates and could, if emitted as carbon dioxide and methane, lead to a significant increase in global temperatures by the end of this century. The new estimate is more than 1.5 trillion tons of frozen carbon, about twice as much carbon as contained in the atmosphere.
In a paper published in the latest edition of the AGU journal Global Biogeochemical Cycles, an international team of researchers from the US, Australia, Canada, Sweden and Russia say that the frozen high-latitude soils have the potential to release vast quantities of carbon and methane into the atmosphere and subsequently influence carbon-climate feedbacks.
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EPA Grants California Vehicle GHG Regulations Waiver
June 30, 2009
The US Environmental Agency (EPA) has granted California’s waiver request enabling the state to enforce its greenhouse gas emissions standards (Pavley I) for new motor vehicles, beginning with the current model year. According to evidence submitted by California during the waiver process, an EPA official said, automakers are currently already in compliance with the MY2009 Pavley requirement, and are tracking to compliance for 2010.
In September 2004 the California Air Resources Board (ARB) passed regulations to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) from new passenger vehicles starting in 2009. These regulations were authorized by the 2002 legislation Assembly Bill 1493 (Pavley). California requested from EPA the waiver required for implementation of the Pavley regulations in December 2005. The request was subsequently denied in December 2007.
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EPA Proposes Stronger Air Quality Standards for Nitrogen Dioxide
June 29, 2009
EPA has proposed revisions to the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air quality standard, the first adjustment since 1971. The proposed changes reflect the latest science on the health effects of exposure to NO2, which is formed by emissions from cars, trucks, buses, power plants, and industrial facilities and can lead to respiratory disease.
These proposed standards—which add a one-hour NO2 standard—and additional monitoring requirements will better protect public health by reducing people’s exposure to high, short-term concentrations of NO2, which generally occur near roadways, according to EPA. The proposal would also ensure that area-wide NO2 concentrations remain below levels that can cause public health problems.
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DoD Researchers Work to Increase the Production of Higher Chain Hydrocarbons from CO2 Using a Traditional Fischer-Tropsch Catalyst
June 27, 2009
Researchers at the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and the Center for Applied Energy Research at the University of Kentucky are investigating the hydrogenation of CO2 using a conventional Fischer-Tropsch cobalt catalyst for the production of valuable hydrocarbon materials.
Other studies have shown the ability to convert CO2 primarily to methane with a distribution of other hydrocarbons (earlier post as one example). The focus of this work, reported online 25 June in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels, is to attempt to improve the production distribution toward higher chain hydrocarbons (HCs) and increase conversion rates using conventional Fischer-Tropsch catalysts (Co-Pt/Al2O3).
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Annual Increase in Global CO2 Emissions Halved in 2008; Decrease in Fossil Oil Consumption, Increase in Renewables Share
June 26, 2009
| Global CO2 emissions from fuel use and cement production by region. Source: PBL. Click to enlarge. |
Very high oil prices up to the summer of 2008, together with a worldwide financial crisis have caused a halving of the annual increase in global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from consumption of oil, coal and gas, and from cement production, according to preliminary estimates by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), using recently published energy data from BP.
Emissions increased by 1.7% in 2008, against 3.3% in 2007. Since 2002, the average annual increase was almost 4%. In addition to high oil prices and the financial crisis, the increased use of new renewable energy sources, such as biofuels for road transport and wind energy for electricity generation, had a noticeable and mitigating impact on CO2 emissions.
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Proposed US Transportation Reauthorization Plan Links Greenhouse Gas Reductions to Transportation Planning
June 21, 2009
Among the proposals in the new US highway and transportation funding reauthorization bill, outlined by House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James L. Oberstar (D-Minn.) and Ranking Member John L. Mica (R-Fla.) in a press conference last week, is the linkage of transportation planning with greenhouse gas emissions reductions. If enacted, this would transform the current transportation planning process in the US.
As described in a summary of the proposed bill published by the Committee, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in consultation with the Department of Transportation (DOT), would establish national transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.
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“Clean Sky” Joint Technology Initiative Launches Initial €25M Call for Research Proposals on Cleaner Air Transport
June 17, 2009
| The Clean Sky JTI effort is arranged around six technology demonstrators. Click to enlarge. |
The European Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative (JTI) launched a call for proposals for aeronautical R&D with a total value of more than €25 million (US$35 million), focused on the development of a new generation of quieter, more fuel-efficient and lower emitting aircraft.
The Clean Sky JTI is a major public/private partnership to develop technology that can reduce aviation CO2 emissions by 40%; NOx emissions by 60%; and noise by 50%. (Earlier post.) This call is the first in what will be one of Europe’s biggest ever research projects, with €1.6 billion (US$2.2 billion) to be invested up to 2014. The Clean Sky initiative will run until 31 December 2017.
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UK LowCVP Launches ‘Technology Challenge’ to Accelerate Low Carbon Vehicle Innovation; Libralato Engines First Registrant
June 08, 2009
| The first registrant in the Challenge is Libralato Engines, developer of a novel rotary engine (cutaway shown) promising a 5.5% gain in combustion efficiency and 50% reduction in NOx emissions. Click to enlarge. |
The UK Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership is launching a Technology Challenge to provide a platform for promising innovations to be showcased to senior managers and directors of the component and vehicle manufacturers. The LowCVP is calling on UK innovators to submit creative concepts with the potential to cut emissions from road vehicles without the need for radical new infrastructure. The target of the Challenge is mainstream passenger cars producing less than 80 g CO2/km.
The LowCVP Technology Challenge is supported by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and with an associated media partner, Cleantech Investor.
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US EIA Projects World Energy Use to Grow 44% Between 2006 and 2030, CO2 Emissions Up by 39%
May 27, 2009
| Projected growth in world carbon dioxide emissions. Source: IEO2009. Click to enlarge. |
World marketed energy consumption is projected to grow by 44% between 2006 and 2030, driven by strong long-term economic growth in the developing nations of the world, according to the reference case projection from the International Energy Outlook 2009 (IEO2009) released today by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
World carbon dioxide emissions are projected to rise from 29.0 billion metric tons in 2006 to 33.1 billion metric tons in 2015 and 40.4 billion metric tons in 2030—an increase of 39% over the projection period. The IEO2009 reference case does not include specific policies to limit greenhouse gas emissions
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Washington Governor Issues Executive Order Directing State Actions to Reduce Greenhouse Gases; Consideration of California Low Carbon Fuel Standard and Highway Electrification
May 24, 2009
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire issued an executive order directing a variety of state actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions including continued participation in the Western Climate Initiative to develop a regional greenhouse has emissions reduction program; an increase in transportation and fuel-conservation options including a low-carbon fuel standard; and the pursuit of the electrification of the interstate highway and associated metro centers.
Gregoire issued her executive order, entitled “Washington’s Leadership on Climate Change,” after testifying at the US Environmental Protection Agency’s public hearing in Seattle on the regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. The order contains a number of directives specifically for the Department of Ecology and the Department of Transportation.
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Researchers Determine Key Intermediate Step in NOx Reduction on Alumina-Supported Silver Catalysts
May 22, 2009
| Reaction mechanisms for the deNOx reaction on an alumina-supported silver catalyst. Source: Thibault-Starzyk et al. Click to enlarge. |
Using a new experimental method, researchers in France and the UK have identified the key intermediate step in the reaction between carbon monoxide and nitric oxide on a silver-alumina catalyst for reduction of NOx in the exhaust from fuel-efficient lean-burn automotive engines.
Using femtosecond laser excitation followed by nanosecond time-resolved in situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to initiate a catalytic reaction on alumina-supported silver catalysts, they found that a cyanide group flips from a silver nanoparticle to the alumina support (with a lifetime of 2 microseconds).
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Cummins Progressing In Development of More Efficient Light-Duty Diesel Engines; Targeting 10.5% Fuel Economy Improvement Over 2007 Baseline With Tier 2 Bin 5 Emissions
May 21, 2009
| Cummins’ Light Duty Efficient Combustion technology is designed to scale down across smaller light-duty engines. Source: Cummins. Click to enlarge. |
Cummins is progressing in the development of Light Duty Efficient Clean Combustion (LDECC) technology for light-duty diesel engines. The objective of the DOE co-funded R&D program, which began in October 2007 and runs through November 2010, is to develop and design an advanced diesel combustion system that meets Tier 2 Bin 5 standards while delivering improvements in fuel efficiency. Project partners include Chrysler and BP.
Cummins is developing LDECC on a V8, and is targeted at improving the fuel efficiency of a 5,000 lb test weight LDV over the FTP city drive cycle by 10.5%. Cummins is designing LDECC with the intention of scaling it down across its family of smaller I-4 light duty engines, with displacements down to 2.8L.
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Researchers Propose a Renewable Energy Cycle Based on Co-electrolysis of Water and CO2 to Produce Syngas
| Schematic illustration of a generic liquid-fuel energy cycle utilizing a renewable electrical source. Credit: ACS. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at Northwestern University are proposing, and have begun experimental validation of, a renewable liquid-fuel energy storage cycle based on the co-electrolysis of H2O and CO2 using a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) powered by renewable electricity to produce syngas. The syngas is then in turn converted into liquid fuels (e.g., methanol or synthetic hydrocarbons) which could be used in a direct fuel cell.
The direct fuel cell produces electricity, with water and CO2 as byproducts of the oxidation of the liquid fuel in the fuel cell. These would be captured and recycled back into the co-electrolysis process.
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US Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions Declined by 2.8% in 2008; Transportation-Related Emissions Down 5.2%
May 20, 2009
| Energy-related CO2 emissions declined by 2.8% in 2008. Source: EIA. Click to enlarge. |
US carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels decreased by 2.8% in 2008 to 5,802 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (MMTCO2), down from 5,967 MMTCO2 in 2007, according to preliminary estimates released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). This is the largest annual decline in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions since EIA began annual reporting on greenhouse gas emissions.
Transportation-related emissions, which account for about a third of total energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, decreased by 5.2% in 2008. Since 1990 the next largest yearly decline in the transportation sector was 1.3% in 1991. Only one other year in the 1990 to 2008 time period experienced a decline: 1.2% in 2001.
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Obama Announces New National Fuel Policy; Two Harmonized Standards, with Fleet Average of 35.5 mpg, 250 gCO2/mile by 2016
May 19, 2009
US President Barack Obama today announced a new harmonized national policy intended to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for all new cars and trucks sold in the US. The resulting new standards will cover model years 2012-2016, and will require an average fuel economy standard of 35.5 mpg in 2016 (39 mpg for cars, 30 mpg for trucks), or approximately 250 grams CO2/mile. The CAFE program established by the EISA 2007 legislation specified a minimum 35 mpg in 2020.
However, there will not be an exact one-to-one correspondence between the two standards—GHG and fuel economy—which will be the foundation of the national program.
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Stanford Professor Urges EPA to Include Black Carbon in Endangerment Finding
May 18, 2009
In testimony for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) public hearing (earlier post) on the proposed endangerment finding for greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act (earlier post), Stanford Professor Mark Jacobson urged the EPA to include black carbon in the finding.
Black carbon—soot—is a global-warming agent the immediate control of which will slow the demise of Arctic sea ice faster than will control of any other global-warming agent, Jacobson said. Jacobson first showed in 2000 that black carbon was the second-leading cause of global warming after carbon dioxide in terms of radiative forcing and, in 2002, that its control was the most effective method of slowing warming. In 2007, Jacobson and four colleagues testified in the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on the role of black carbon. (Earlier post.)
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GM Quantifies CO2 and Fuel Consumption Reductions Via E-REVs And PHEVs, As Compared To “Conventional” Hybrids
May 16, 2009
by Jack Rosebro
| Energy sources, paths, storage media, and propulsion systems available or in development. “FCEV” refers to all fuel cell vehicles, including E-REVs and fuel cell hybrids. Adapted from Tate et al. (2009). Click to enlarge. |
General Motors has released a white paper that evaluates the CO2 reduction potential of extended-range electric vehicles (E-REVs) as well as plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), in combination with multiple vehicle charging scenarios, as compared to conventional hybrids. The paper was presented by authors Ed Tate and Peter Savagian at last month’s SAE 2009 World Congress in Detroit.
In the paper, the GM team broke down CO2 and fuel consumption reduction potentials into several categories:
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ARB Staff Publishes Revised, Tiered Requirements for PHEV Conversions
May 15, 2009
The California Air Resources Board staff has published a supplemental report on revised requirements for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle conversion systems certification and installation.
In January, ARB staff presented certification test procedures for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) along with certification procedures for aftermarket PHEV conversion systems. The Board approved the exhaust and evaporative emissions test procedures as well as a new method for determining the range of fuel cell vehicles, but deferred a decision on the proposal for certification and warranty requirements for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. (Earlier post.)
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TfL To Begin Testing of Intelligent Speed Adaptation Technology
May 11, 2009
| ISA speed map for Greater London. Click to enlarge. |
Transport for London (TfL) will begin a six-month trial of Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) technology which aims to reduce road casualties and help drivers avoid speeding penalties. (Earlier post.) As part of the trial, which will start this summer, a London bus will be fitted with ISA.
The intelligent technology, which works in conjunction with a GPS, enables drivers to select an option where acceleration is stopped automatically at the speed limit specific to any road in London within the M25 area. The unit can be disabled at the touch of a button, at which point it reverts to an advisory status where the current, legal speed limit is simply displayed as a driver aid. There is also a complete over-ride switch with disables the system entirely.
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Study Finds Bioelectricity Better Option Than Liquid Biofuels for Transportation Output and GHG Emissions
May 08, 2009
| Kilometers per crop hectare for switchgrass feedstock with a small SUV. Campbell et al. (2009) Click to enlarge. |
A new life cycle assessment comparing the performance of bioelectricity and ethanol from a variety of pathways with respect to transportation kilometers and GHG offsets achieved per unit area of biofuels cropland concludes that bioelectricity used to charge a battery electric vehicle outperforms ethanol for a combustion engine across a range of feedstocks, conversion technologies, and vehicle classes.
The study by University of California, Merced, Assistant Professor Elliott Campbell along with Christopher Field of the Carnegie Institution’s Department of Global Ecology and David Lobell of Stanford University, found that bioelectricity produces an average 81% more transportation kilometers and 108% more emissions offsets per unit area cropland than cellulosic ethanol. A paper on the work appeared in the 8 May issue of the journal Science.
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EPA Proposes New Regulations for Renewable Fuel Standard to Implement Requirements of EISA; GHG Reduction and Indirect Land Use Change Effects Included
May 05, 2009
| Example of results from EPA lifecycle analyses in the NPRM. Emissions for select fuel pathways for the two time horizon/discount rate approaches. (See below.) Click to enlarge. |
The US Environmental Protection Agency released its expected Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) detailing the implementation of changes to the existing Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS1) as required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). The proposed rulemaking for RFS2 establishes new specific volume standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel that must be used in transportation fuel each year. (Earlier post.)
The revised statutory requirements for RFS2 also include new definitions and criteria for both renewable fuels and the feedstocks used to produce them, including new greenhouse gas emission (GHG) thresholds for renewable fuels and the incorporation of indirect land use change effects.
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Polystyrene-Biodiesel Blends for Energy Recovery from Waste Plastics
May 04, 2009
| Comparisons of NOx, CO, soot, and engine brake power using different PS blends with the factory-set injection timings. Credit: ACS. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at Iowa State University are proposing dissolving waste polystyrene (PS) in biodiesel for use as a diesel engine fuel as a mechanism for energy recovery from the waste plastic. Use of polystyrene-biodiesel blends can result in an increase an engine power with polystyrene concentrations of up to 5%, according to a new study by a team of researchers from Iowa State University. At concentrations higher than 5%, engine power decreased.
However, emissions of NOx, soot, CO and hydrocarbons increased with polystyrene concentrations if the injection timing was free to advance due to the increased bulk modulus and fuel viscosity. Varying engine operating parameters, including the fuel injection timing and exhaust gas recirculation resulted in lower NOx emissions but still resulted in higher soot, CO, and HC emissions.
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California Legislature Considering Bill Requiring Smog Testing for Motorcycles
A bill under consideration in the California state legislature would require California’s Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) to include Class III (280 cc or greater) model-year 2000 and newer motorcycles in the state’s smog check program beginning 1 January 2012. The measure is targeted at reducing tampering with the emissions control systems, which can result in higher emissions.
The bill, SB 435, authored by State Senator Fran Pavley, who also authored AB 32 and AB 1493, would also require BAR, in consultation with the California Air Resources Board (ARB), to develop regulations by 2 July 2011 for incorporating motorcycles into the smog check program.
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Study Concludes That to Limit Global Warming to 2 °C, Less Than 25% of Proven Fossil Fuel Reserves Can be Burnt Between Now and 2050
April 29, 2009
| The theme of the current issue of Nature is that the climate situation may be even worse than you think. |
Less than a quarter of the proven fossil fuel reserves can be burnt and emitted between now and 2050, if global warming is to be limited to two degrees Celsius (2 °C), according to a new study published in the journal Nature today. This issue of Nature—themed “The Coming Climate Crunch”—features a number of related papers and commentary on greenhouse gas emissions and the difficulty of cutting back, as well as an editorial calling on commitment from “the highest levels” to make the needed changes.
The study, led by Malte Meinshausen at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), calculated how much greenhouse gas emissions can be pumped into the atmosphere between now and 2050 to have a reasonable chance of keeping warming lower than 2 °C (above pre-industrial levels)—a goal supported by more than 100 countries to prevent dangerous climate change.
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Use of a Low-Cost Electric Supercharger Could Significantly Reduce Smoke from Turbocharged Diesel Engines
April 27, 2009
| CPT electric supercharger test rig. Click to enlarge. |
Smoke emissions produced by turbocharged diesel engines under heavy load conditions—such as when accelerating from low engine speeds and other similar transient manoeuvres—can be all but eliminated under certain operating conditions by the addition of a relatively simple and low cost electric supercharger, suggests Controlled Power Technologies (CPT).
Controlled Power Technologies (CPT) is a UK startup working with switched reluctance motor technology to deliver cost-effective CO2-reducing solutions for vehicles. It is commercializing three initial products: Variable Torque Enhancement System, VTES, an electric supercharging system; SpeedStart12, an integrated belt-driven starter generator system; and TIGERS, an exhaust turbine-driven generator system. (Earlier post.)
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California Adopts Low Carbon Fuel Standard, with Indirect Land Use Change Effects for Biofuels
April 24, 2009
| The LCFS is an important component in California’s effort to reduce transportation GHG. Source: ARB. Click to enlarge. |
At its meeting on Thursday, the California Air Resources Board adopted a regulation that will implement Governor Schwarzenegger’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (earlier post) calling for at least a 10% reduction from 2006 levels in the carbon intensity (measured in gCO2e/MJ) of California’s transportation fuels by 2020. When fully implemented, ARB projects that this regulation will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 15 million metric tons a year (CO2 equivalent).
The regulation also levies the calculation of Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) effects against biofuels, against the opposition (earlier post) of the biofuels industry.
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CO2 and Methane Emissions Continued Rise in 2008 Despite Economic Slump
| Anthropogenic atmospheric CO2, fossil fuel emissions, world GDP, and world population for the past century. CO2 data from Antarctic ice cores (green points), Mauna Loa Observatory (red curve), and the global network (blue dots). Credit: NOAA. Click to enlarge. |
Emissions of two of the most important climate change gases increased last year, according to a preliminary analysis for NOAA’s annual greenhouse gas index, which tracks data from 60 sites around the world.
Researchers measured an additional 16.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2)—a byproduct of fossil fuel burning—and 12.2 million tons of methane in the atmosphere at the end of December 2008. This increase is despite the global economic downturn, with its decrease in a wide range of activities that depend on fossil fuel use.
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EPA Issues Proposed Endangerment Finding for Greenhouse Gases; Proposed Cause or Contribute Finding Identifies Motor Vehicles as Contributing Source
April 17, 2009
After a thorough scientific review ordered in 2007 by the US Supreme Court, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposal with two distinct findings regarding greenhouse gases. (Earlier post.) The endangerment finding proposes that the current and projected concentrations of the mix of six key greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)—in the atmosphere threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations. The issuance of an endangerment finding enables the regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.
The proposed cause or contribute finding concludes that that the combined emissions of CO2, CH4, N2O, and HFCs from new motor vehicles and motor vehicle engines contribute to the atmospheric concentrations of these key greenhouse gases and hence to the threat of climate change. Combined with the endangerment finding, this enables the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles under the Clean Air Act.
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UK Government Launches £250M 5-Year Plan for Cutting CO2 from Road Transport; Includes Incentives for Purchase of PHEVs and EVs
April 16, 2009
| High-level technology roadmap for the UK’s decarbonization of road transport. Click to enlarge. |
The UK Transport and Business Secretaries launched the Government’s vision for cutting carbon from road transport over the next five years. Central to the £250-million (US$373-million) strategy is a consumer incentive initiative for plug-in vehicles worth £2,000 - £5,000 (US$3,000 - US$7,500) towards buying the first electric and plug-in hybrid cars when they hit the showrooms, expected to be from 2011 onwards.
The strategy also includes plans to provide £20 million (US$30 million) for charging points and related infrastructure to help develop a network of “electric car cities” throughout the UK and an expansion of an electric and ultra-low carbon car demonstration project on the UK’s roads. The demonstration project will involve more than 200 motorists throughout the country.
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Researchers Develop Process for Conversion of CO2 to Methanol Under Mild Conditions
| IBN researchers demonstrated their CO2 reduction process with dry air from a balloon, as well as a compressed air supply. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at Singapore’s Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) have developed a catalytic process for the conversion of CO2 to methanol under mild conditions (room temperature). A paper on the work was published in the 20 April issue of the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, where it was designated a “Hot Paper.”
The IBN researchers, led by Dr. Yugen Zhang, reduced CO2 with silane using a stable N-hetereocyclic carbene (NHC) organocatalyst. The organocatalyst is more efficient and stable, even in the presence of oxygen, than transition-metal catalysts for this reaction, the researchers found. As a result, the CO2 reduction action can take place under mild conditions in dry air.
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FEV, Inc. to Show Full-Sized Pickup Truck with Solid SCR System for NOx Reduction
April 15, 2009
FEV, Inc. will show its Solid Selective Catalyst Reduction (SSCR) System—based on the use of solid ammonium carbamate (NH4NH2CO2) as the reductant—installed in a Dodge Ram pickup truck at the 2009 SAE World Congress, 20-23 April in Detroit. The Solid SCR system is installed on a Dodge Ram 2500 demonstrator truck that has been used as a technology carrier during the development process.
SCR technology uses ammonia, usually provided in the form of a urea solution, for the reduction of NOx. FEV designed the Solid SCR System as a viable alternative to a liquid urea injection system. With a volume reduction of approximately 70%, the SSCR system still offers equivalent or better performance than liquid urea systems.
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Study Finds That CO2 Standards for Vehicles Can Reduce Price of Oil
April 10, 2009
| Car fleet composition in the EU under the different scenarios. Click to enlarge. |
A new study by the French institute Enerdata, commissioned by the European Federation for Transport & Environment (T&E), suggests that the European CO2 standards for new vehicles due to come into effect in 2012 will lead not only to a European savings on oil (mainly via lower oil import volumes) but also to slightly lower global oil prices. Enerdata concluded that a 0.9% reduction in global oil consumption results in a drop in global oil prices of 1.2%.
Most analyses of the economic assessments of energy efficiency measures normally use fixed oil prices when accounting for economic benefits. By working out that the price of oil will fall when the EU’s regulations fully take effect, the study suggests that the European economic benefits of fuel efficiency have been underestimated, in general by up to 17%, according to T&E.
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Manitoba Vehicle Standards Advisory Board Recommends Adopting California GHG Vehicle Standards and Supporting Complementary Programs
April 07, 2009
The Manitoba, Canada Vehicle Standards Advisory Board has recommended that the province adopt the California Pavley standards for regulating greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles, albeit as a deferred recommendation bounded by several contingencies and factoring in the small size of the Manitoba market (2.8% and 0.26% of the Canadian and North American new car market respectively).
In its report, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Passenger Vehicles in Manitoba, the Advisory Board also recommends a number of complementary programs and measures focused on consumers as well as the existing fleet of light-duty vehicles.
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All Western European Countries Will Have CO2-Related Car Taxation This Year; European Auto Industry Urges Harmonization of Schemes
The number of EU countries with CO2-related car taxation rose to 15 in 2008. With Germany set to introduce CO2-related taxation in July of 2009, all Western European countries levy passenger car taxes that are partially or totally based on the car’s carbon dioxide emissions and/or fuel consumption, completing a trend that peaked in 2007 and 2008, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’s Association’s (ACEA) Tax Guide 2008 published this week.
Romania was the first and so far only Eastern European Member State to introduce CO2-related taxation last year as part of a more comprehensive overhaul of vehicle taxation in the country. In most Central and Eastern European countries, the main concern of policy makers remains to reduce the level of old vehicles on the streets with pollutant emission standards of below Euro 3.
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GM Opel Cuts CO2 from 1.7 CDTI ecoFLEX Zafira Van 9% to Below 140 g/km
April 06, 2009
| The 1.7 CDTI Zafira. Click to enlarge. |
Opel has improved the efficiency of its 1.7 CDTI ecoFLEX Zafira seven-seat van, reducing the CO2 emissions by nearly 9% to 139 g/km, with fuel consumption of 5.3 L/100km (44.4 mpg US).
The 1.7-liter diesel with 81 kW (110 hp) and 260 Nm (192 lb-ft) of torque available from 2,000 to 2,300 rpm is fitted with a maintenance-free particulate filter and a six-speed manual transmission as standard. The ecoFLEX Zafira reaches a top speed of 180 km/h (112 mph) and accelerates to 100 km/h in 13.5 sec.
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McKinsey Report Finds 47% Reduction in Global Automotive Emissions Feasible by 2030; Timely Action By All Stakeholders Required
| Global passenger vehicle CO2 emissions and abatement potential under three primary scenarios. Source: McKinsey. Click to enlarge. |
A new study by management consultants McKinsey & Company estimates that an integrated approach to carbon abatement in the automotive sector, much of it using proven technologies, could reduce global passenger vehicle greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 by 47% (2.2 gigatons) relative to a ‘do nothing’ scenario, even in the context of ongoing growth in the global vehicle parc.
Without action, carbon emissions from the use of passenger vehicles are projected to increase by 54% (1.8 gigatons) between 2006 and 2030, fueled by a growing number of cars on the road (from 730 million to 1.3 billion).
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EEA Report: Trends in European Transport Are Heading in the Wrong Direction
April 05, 2009
| Indexed European transport sector greenhouse gas emissions, 1990-2006. Source: EEA. Click to enlarge. |
Transport continues to contribute disproportionally to Europe’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, poor air quality and noise, and still uses the least efficient modes to move people and goods according to a new report from the European Environmental Agency (EEA).
Emissions of GHG have increased by 26% (EU-15) or 180 million tonnes between 1990 and 2006, excluding international aviation and marine transport—an amount larger than the entire annual national emissions for 2006 from Belgium (132 million tonnes) or Romania (157 million tonnes).
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SCOPE Biofuels Project Releases Assessment on Environmental Effects of Biofuel Technologies
April 03, 2009
The SCOPE (Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment) International Biofuels Project, has published the full proceedings of its Rapid Assessment workshop on the environmental effects of biofuel technologies, 22-25 September 2008. SCOPE is part of the International Council for Science.
While noting that most recent studies based on lifecycle analysis show that even first generation biofuels can result in “a substantial reduction” in net greenhouse gas emissions (80% to greater than 100% for sugarcane ethanol, 30% to 50% for corn ethanol), papers in the study express concerns over what they contend are potentially undercalculated N2O greenhouse gas effects; the exacerbation of hypoxia from run-off; the need for inclusion of indirect land use effects in greenhouse gas assessments; water use and quality; and other environmental and social effects.
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Government of Canada to Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Vehicles; Prefers Harmonized North American Standard
April 02, 2009
The Government of Canada will introduce new regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions from the automotive sector under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). Environment Minister Jim Prentice made the announcement on Wednesday.
In keeping with the Government of Canada’s commitment to put these regulations in place for 2011 model year vehicles, the Government will proceed immediately to put regulations in place under CEPA. By taking this approach, the Government of Canada will have the flexibility to harmonize its regulations with the broad range of possible future actions from the US government to address greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, the Minister said.
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Study Highlights the Importance of Considering Climate Effects of Non-CO2 Emissions from Transport in Mitigation Strategies and Policies
| Radiative forcing from the global and US ORT and PG sectors. The CO2 radiative forcing shown is for the 20-year time horizon. The sum of total non-CO2 and CO2 forcing is indicated above each bar. Unger et al. (2009). Click to enlarge. |
The radiative forcing affects of a reduction in non-CO2 pollutants (dominated by ozone and black carbon) can outweigh CO2 effects, depending on the replacement energy source, according to a multi-pollutant study by researchers from the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and the Environmental Defense Fund that examined the impact of a 50% reduction in on-road transportation emissions. The study by Nadine Unger, Drew Shindell and James Wang will appear in an upcoming issue of the journal Atmospheric Environment.
The on-road transportation (ORT) and power generation (PG) sectors are major contributors to CO2 emissions and a host of short-lived radiatively-active air pollutants, including tropospheric ozone and fine aerosol particles, that exert complex influences on global climate. However, most assessments of possible energy change options—including studies of the impacts of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)—to date have neglected non-CO2 air pollutant impacts on radiative forcing, according to the authors.
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House Chairmen Waxman, Markey Release Draft of Energy and Climate Legislation; Among the Many Provisions Are Cap-and-Trade, Harmonization of CAFE and California Vehicle Regulations, and Low Carbon Fuel Standard
April 01, 2009
Chairman Henry A. Waxman of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Chairman Edward J. Markey of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee on Tuesday released a draft of far-reaching energy and climate legislation that targets job creation, promotes renewables and energy efficiency, and places limits on emissions of greenhouse gases. The bill also establishes an interagency council to ensure an integrated federal response to adapting to the effects of global warming.
Among the direct transportation-related provisions in the extensive package are a low-carbon fuel standard for all transportation fuels; financial support for large scale demonstrations of electric vehicles; and financial support for automakers retooling plants to make electric vehicles. The bill also directs the President to work with the relevant Federal agencies and California to harmonize, to the maximum extent possible, the federal fuel economy standards, any emission standards promulgated by EPA, and the California standards for light-duty vehicles. Any Federal vehicle standards are to achieve at least the results of the California standards.
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US and Canada Request IMO Create Emissions Control Area Around Coastlines
March 30, 2009
| Chart of the proposed North American Emission Control Area. Source: EPA Click to enlarge. |
The US and Canada have submitted a proposal to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the designation of an Emission Control area (ECA) around their coastlines in which stringent international emission controls would apply to ocean-going ships.
The proposed area of the ECA includes waters adjacent to the Pacific coast, the Atlantic/Gulf coast and the eight main Hawaiian Islands. The proposed ECA would extend 200 nautical miles (230 miles, 370 km) from the coastal baseline, except that it would not extend into marine areas subject to the sovereignty, sovereign rights, or jurisdiction of any State other than the United States or Canada.
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CMU Paper: Market-Based Mechanisms for CO2 Reduction Will Be Insufficient to Attain Mid-Century Goals
March 24, 2009
A new paper from the Carnegie Mellon Electricity Industry Center concludes that while a market-based mechanism (e.g. cap and trade or a carbon tax) is a likely key part of a US strategy to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, such a market-based approach alone will not induce the investments in long-lived technology required to achieve a 50 to 80% reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide by mid-century.
Although market-based mechanisms need to be implemented soon to establish a framework for emissions reductions, the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) team argues, the range of prices for CO2 currently under discussion will be too low to enable achieving the longer-term targets. In the paper “Cap and Trade is Not Enough: Improving US Climate Policy”, the authors argue that the US Congress should simultaneously design, integrate and implement these targeted strategies:
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Bipartisan Group of US Senators Calls on EPA to Refrain From Including Indirect Land Use Change in Biofuel Regulations
March 17, 2009
A bipartisan group of 12 US senators led by Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) not to include calculations of indirect land use change (ILUC) effects as contributors to life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for biofuels in the upcoming rulemaking for implementation of the updated Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS-2) enacted in the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007.
The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS-2) defined within the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 requires biofuels to meet specified life-cycle greenhouse gas emission reduction targets to qualify. The law specifies that life-cycle GHG emissions are to include “direct emissions and significant indirect emissions such as significant emissions from land use changes, as determined by the Administrator.”
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Mazda Becomes First Japanese Automaker to Develop a Urea SCR System for Cars
March 16, 2009
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| Urea SCR system diagram. Click to enlarge. |
The refreshed version of Mazda Motor Corporation’s crossover, the Mazda CX-7, will be the first passenger vehicle produced by a Japanese automaker to be equipped with a urea selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system.
Mazda’s urea SCR system, which is smaller than previous systems, will be combined with Mazda’s newly developed MZR-CD 2.2-liter turbodiesel engine. Mazda’s MZR-CD 2.2L turbodiesel engine produces low volumes of engine-out NOx, which means that the SCR system needs to remove less NOx in post processing, resulting in a reduced amount of urea required for NOx reduction.
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New Research Tools for Assessing Impacts of Aerosols on Climate
March 13, 2009
Visibility in the clear sky is reduced by the presence of aerosols, whose types and concentrations have a large impact on the amount of solar radiation that reaches Earth’s surface. Researchers at the University of Maryland and the University of Texas, Austin, have created a database that includes visibility measurements taken from 1973 - 2007 at 3,250 meteorological stations all over the world and released by the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). A report on their work appears in the 13 March issue of the journal Science.
Separately, researchers from NASA Goddard’s Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City have developed a new detection technique and a new satellite instrument—the Aerosol Polarimetry Sensor (APS)—to measure accurately aerosols’ composition, size, and global distribution.
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UK New Car CO2 Emissions Drop to 158.0 g/km in 2008
March 12, 2009
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| UK average new car CO2 emissions. Source: SMMT. Click to enlarge. |
Average CO2 emissions from new cars sold in the UK in 2008 fell to 158.0 g/km in 2008—4.2% less than the 2007 figure and 16.8% down on the 189.8 g/km base level in 1997, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) annual New Car CO2 Report. The drop marks the sharpest annual decline yet. (Using US EPA conversion factors (earlier post), 158 g/km is roughly equivalent to 34.8 mpg US for gasoline and 39.9 mpg US for diesel.)
Although the UK new car fleet has made above-EU15 gains in six of past seven years to 2007, the UK average new car CO2 emissions remains 3.7% above the EU15 average, which reached 158 g/km in 2007, according to the report.
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US EPA Proposes First National Reporting on Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Including Mobile Sources
March 10, 2009
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the first comprehensive national system for reporting emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases produced by major sources in the United States.
The new reporting requirements would apply to suppliers of fossil fuel and industrial chemicals, manufacturers of mobile sources such as motor vehicles and engines, as well as large direct emitters of greenhouse gases with emissions equal to or greater than a threshold of 25,000 metric tons per year. This threshold is roughly equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from just over 4,500 passenger vehicles.
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EPA: US GHG Up 1.4% in 2007 from 2006; Light-duty Vehicle Emissions Down 0.74%
March 07, 2009
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| Total greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, CH4, N20 and HFCs) allocated to passenger cars and light trucks, 1990-2007. Click to enlarge. |
Overall greenhouse gas emissions in the US during 2007 increased by 1.4% from the previous year to 7,125.2 Tg CO2 Eq., according to the annual Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2007 draft report released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Overall, total US emissions have risen by 17% from 1990 to 2007. The report will be open for public comment for 30 days after the Federal Register notice is published.
According to the draft report, this trend was due primarily to (1) cooler winter and warmer summer conditions in 2007 than in 2006 which increased the demand for heating fuels and contributed to the increase in the demand for electricity, (2) increased consumption of fossil fuels to generate electricity and (3) a significant decrease (14.2%) in hydropower generation used to meet this demand.
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California Air Resources Board Releases Proposed Regulation for Low Carbon Fuel Standard
March 05, 2009
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) released its proposed regulation to implement the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. The release of the proposed regulation allows 45 days for the public to review the language and provide comment before the item is considered at the 23 April 23 ARB hearing.
The regulation establishes two performance standards that fuel producers and importers must meet each year beginning in 2011. One standard is established for gasoline and the alternative fuels that can replace it. A second similar standard is set for diesel fuel and its replacements. Each standard is set to achieve an average 10% in the carbon intensity of the statewide mix transportation fuels by 2020. The regulation is expected to result in 16 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2020.
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China’s 2005 Carbon Emissions Almost Twice As Much As 2002 Emissions
February 28, 2009
by Jack Rosebro
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| Carbon emissions associated with increased exports from China (left), as part of a more systematic view of increased national emissions (right), 2002 to 2005. Guan et al. (2009) Click to enlarge. |
Energy efficiency gains in a rapidly modernizing China “cannot cope” with skyrocketing emissions caused by increased exports as well as domestic consumption, according to the paper “Journey to world’s top emitter,” published 27 February in Geophysical Research Letters. Researchers from Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States, estimated in the study that China’s 2005 carbon emissions were 80.59% or more higher than 2002 emissions.
“It is easier to understand the growth in China’s carbon emissions,” note the authors of the paper, “by considering which consumption activities—households and government, capital investments, and international trade—drive Chinese production and hence emissions.”
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Even If Warming Ceased, Sea Level to Rise At Least About 184 mm From Melting Glaciers and Ice Caps
Even if the global climate did not continue to warm, sea level will still rise at least 184 ± 33 mm (7.2 ± 1.3 inches) due to the current mass wastage of the world’s mountain glaciers and ice caps, according to a new study published 11 February in Geophysical Research Letters.
If the climate continues to warm along current trends, a minimum of 373 ± 21 mm (14.7 ± 0.83 inches) of sea-level rise over the next 100 years is expected from glaciers and ice caps, according to the study by researchers at Regis University and the University of Colorado, Boulder. When compared to recent estimates from all other sources, melt water from glaciers must be considered as a particularly important fraction of the total sea-level rise expected this century.
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Commercial Shipping Emits Almost Half As Much Particulate Pollution as Total Released by World’s Cars
February 27, 2009
Globally, commercial ships emit almost half as much particulate matter pollutants into the air as the total amount released by the world’s cars, according to a new study led by NOAA and the University of Colorado at Boulder. Ship pollutants affect local air quality and the health of people living along coastlines. The findings appeared online 25 February in the Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres, a publication of the American Geophysical Union (AGU).
The study is the first to provide a global estimate of maritime shipping’s total contribution to air particle pollution based on direct measurements of emissions. The authors estimate that globally, ships emit 0.9 teragrams, or about 2.2 million pounds, of particle pollution each year.
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Study of In-use Vehicle Activity and Emissions in Tianjin, China Yields Fleet and Emissions Profiles, Policy Implications
February 18, 2009
From March 2005 to December 2006, a research team headed by the Energy Technology Innovation Policy research group at Harvard University and in collaboration with the China Automotive Research Center, Tsinghua University (the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering), and the International Sustainable Systems Research Center (associated with University of California, Riverside), carried out a project in Tianjin, China to study emissions from on-road vehicles.
Similar studies by the partners are being done in Beijing and Shanghai. Data gathering for the Beijing study was completed in 2008. Tianjin is the third-largest city in China, behind Beijing and Shanghai.
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Two Studies on Regional Options for Reducing GHG Highlight Need for Reduction in Travel Intensity
February 16, 2009
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| Projected GHG emissions in Minnesota with different reduction wedges and wedge portfolios, in million metric tons of CO2 equivalent. The uppermost line in each graph represents emissions under the business as usual (BAU) scenario. Each patterned wedge depicts the reduction below BAU emission levels attributed to a given technology or practice. Olabisi et al. (2009) Click to enlarge. |
Achieving targeted regional reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation sector will require concentrated efforts to change travel behavior and reduce vehicle miles travelled in addition to advances in vehicle technology and fuels, according to two recent studies.
A paper by researchers at the University of Minnesota, published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology, projects GHG mitigation strategies for Minnesota, which has adopted a strategic goal of 80% emissions reductions below 2005 levels by 2050. A paper by researchers at the Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS), University of California–Davis, to be published in the journal Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, examines how California may reduce transportation greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050 (&ldqou;80in50”). (Earlier version of study, earlier post.)
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Study: Reducing Future Transportation CO2 Emissions to Kyoto Protocol Levels Will Require Combination of Vehicle Technology and Smart Growth
February 12, 2009
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| Percent change in median CO2 by scenario relative to 2000. Stone et al. (2009) Click to enlarge. |
A Georgia Tech City and Regional Planning study on climate change concludes that “smart growth” combined with the use of hybrid vehicle technology could reduce cities’ carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions significantly by 2050. The study’s findings also suggest that meeting the reduction targets established by the Kyoto Protocol (1990 levels or lower) cannot be attained through vehicle technology change alone.
The research, led by Associate Professor Brian Stone, shows that expected levels of CO2 emissions from cars and trucks in 2050 could be reduced back to close to 2000 levels if the full vehicle fleet was converted to hybrid electric vehicles—a greater reduction in CO2 emissions than achieved by two smart growth scenario modelled in the study. The research also found that a doubling of population density in large US cities by 2050 would have a greater impact on CO2 reductions than full hybridization of the vehicle fleet.
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European Parliament Transport Committee Backs Pollution Charges on Heavy-Duty Trucks
February 11, 2009
The European Parliament’s Transport Committee approved a proposal to revise the Eurovignette directive to implement charges on heavy-goods vehicles based in part on the air and noise pollution they produce and the congestion they cause. The Eurovignette directive was adopted in May 2006 as a harmonized EU framework for charging heavy goods vehicles on European highways.
The European Commission’s original proposal included air and noise pollution and congestion but stopped short of including CO2 emissions. Some MEPs wanted to add CO2 to the list of chargeable costs, arguing that trucks, like airplanes, are partly responsible for climate change, but the committee voted today to exclude CO2 emissions from the text. Transport accounts for 27% of EU CO2 emissions, of which road transport accounts for 73%.
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Detroit Diesel Previews its 2010 BlueTec SCR Technology; 5% Improvement in Fuel Economy
February 09, 2009
Detroit Diesel, a Daimler company, previewed its production-intent version of Daimler’s BlueTec technology for emissions control at the Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) Conference. The DD13, DD15, and soon-to-debut DD16 family of engines were engineered from the ground up to be integrated with BlueTec technology developed to meet the specific needs and conditions of the trucking industry in North America.
Detroit Diesel’s BlueTec Technology incorporates emissions technology already present on today’s vehicles such as the Exhaust Gas Recirculation, Diesel Oxidation Catalyst, and Diesel Particulate Filter. All SCR systems designed to meet EPA 2010 emissions standards will also require the vehicle’s operator to keep the truck filled with DEF and the addition of a few new components. These SCR components include: the DEF tank, DEF doser, SCR catalyst, Aftertreatment Control Module (ACM) and the DEF gauge.
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Tenneco and GE Transportation to Develop Hydrocarbon-SCR Technology for Diesel Emission Aftertreatment
February 04, 2009
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| Results from a 2007 GE study on HC-SCR showing %NOx conversion with 0 ppm H2, b) 1900 ppm H2. Whisenhunt et al. Click to enlarge. |
Tenneco Inc. and GE Transportation, a unit of General Electric Company will collaborate on the development and production of GE’s Hydrocarbon-Selective Catalytic Reduction catalyst technology (HC-SCR), a diesel aftertreatment system for reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions as effectively as urea-based SCR systems.
Tenneco, an industry leader in emission control technology and global supplier to many leading global automakers and commercial vehicle manufacturers, will work with GE to further develop and integrate the HC-SCR technology into complete aftertreatment systems for both the locomotive and off-highway vehicle markets. Once fully developed, the technology will also be offered to customers in the on-road, marine and stationary power markets.
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NASA and Partners Testing Coal and Gas F-T Synthetic Jet Fuels at 100% and 50% Blend
February 02, 2009
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| Sampling tubing and instrumentation control cables laid out on the pavement beside NASA’s DC-8 flying laboratory in between synthetic fuels emission and engine performance tests at the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif. Credit: Tom Tschida, NASA. Click to enlarge. |
The National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) and 11 other research groups, including researchers from the US Department of Defense (DoD), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are testing two synthetic jet fuels derived from gasified coal and natural gas using the Fischer-Tropsch process (Jet CTL and GTL).
The tests for the Alternative Aviation Fuel Experiment (AAFEX) are being run through 3 Feb at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in California, and are measuring the performance and emissions of the two fuels.
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Risø DTU Developing Electrochemical Method for Diesel Exhaust Treatment
January 30, 2009
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| A sketch of a layered electrochemical filter to be used for removal of soot, hydrocarbons and NOx. The filter converts NO to elemental nitrogen and oxide anions at the electrodes (1). The oxide anions generated, from the reduction of NO, is transported through the electrolyte (2) to the next electrode and is used to oxidize the soot and the hydrocarbons. By using alternating current the electrodes is acting as both anodes and as cathodes. Source: Risø. Click to enlarge. |
Risø, the National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), is developing an electrochemical method for purifying exhaust, especially exhaust gases from diesel engines. The four-year project has received DKK 17 million (US$2.9 million) from the Danish Council for Strategic Research (the Programme Commission on Sustainable Energy and Environment).
Electrochemical exhaust treatment is based on selective membrane processes, where only an electrical current is used as a reagent. The electrochemical membrane consists of an electrolyte that separates a set of porous electrodes, similar to a fuel cell. The electrolyte can conduct ions, but not electrons. The electrodes act as catalysts for the electrochemical reactions.
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Marine Scientists Issue Monaco Declaration Calling for Immediate Action to Reduce Ocean Acidification
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| Projected spread of acidification of the oceans from 1994 (left) to 2100 (right). Green areas indicate waters supersaturated with aragonite carbonate and favoring shell formation, with darker color indicating more favorable conditions. Red areas are those where waters are under-saturated in aragonite and so hostile to shell formation by marine organisms, with darker color indicating greater under-saturation. Source: ACECRC. Click to enlarge. |
More than 150 leading marine scientists from 26 countries are calling for immediate action by policymakers to reduce CO2 emissions sharply so as to avoid widespread and severe damage to marine ecosystems from increasing ocean acidification—the “other CO2 problem”. They issued this warning in the Monaco Declaration, released on 30 January.
The scientists note that ocean acidification is already detectable, and that it is accelerating. They caution that its negative socio-economic impacts can only be avoided by limiting future atmospheric CO2 levels.
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Study Concludes US LDV Fleet Needs to Reduce Carbon Emissions Per Mile By Up to 88% by 2050 to Meet 450ppm Stabilization Scenario; No Single Carbon Reduction Strategy Likely to Achieve This
January 29, 2009
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| Well-to-wheel carbon emissions limits (g/mi) for LDVs to meet target concentrations given a 2050 convergence date, two different VMT growth scenarios (0% and 1.7% per year), and a baseline LDV emissions share (25.3% of US emissions). Credit: ACS. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at the University of Michigan (U-M) have calculated quantitative sustainable mobility targets for US light-duty vehicles (LDVs) to help stabilize atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations at 450 or 550 ppm, based on the well-to-wheel carbon emissions per mile driven.
Average fleet-wide on-road light-duty vehicle (LDV) well-to-wheel carbon emissions must be reduced from 160 g carbon/mile (equivalent to 586.7 gCO2/mile) to as little as 20 gC/mile (equivalent to 73 gCO2/mile) under one scenario by 2050—an 88% reduction—to contribute to a goal of 450 ppm, according to according to Greg Keoleian, co-director of the U-M School of Natural Resources and Environment, and his co-authors, Hilary Grimes-Casey and Blair Willcox of the Center for Sustainable Systems.
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Researchers Develop Method for Higher-Rate Solar Photocatalytic Conversion of CO2 and Water Vapor to Hydrocarbon Fuels
January 28, 2009
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| Product generation rates from a nitrogen-doped nanotube array film surface-loaded with both Pt and Cu catalysts. Credit: ACS. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at Penn State have developed a method for the more efficient solar conversion of carbon dioxide and water vapor to methane and other hydrocarbons using nitrogen-doped titania nanotube arrays. The arrays feature a wall thickness low enough to facilitate effective carrier transfer to the adsorbing species, and are surface-loaded with nanodimensional islands of co-catalysts platinum (Pt) and/or copper (Cu).
A paper on their work was published online 27 January in the ACS journal Nano Letters.
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UK To Provide £2.3B Support Package for Auto Industry; Focus on Low-Carbon Initiatives
The UK government introduced a £2.3 billion (US$3.3 billion) package of measures to support its domestic auto industry, including guarantees to unlock loans of up to £1.3 billion European Investment Bank (EIB) guarantees for investment in lower carbon initiatives; and loans or loan guarantees to support of up to £1 billion of lending for lower carbon initiatives for non-EIB backed projects.
The new scheme will help ensure that major new low-carbon investment projects in the UK automotive sector are not abandoned or located outside of the UK because companies are temporarily unable to access sufficient funding from traditional sources of finance, according to the government.
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Study Finds Recent Improvements in Corn Ethanol Production Result in 48-59% Less Direct-Effect GHG Than Gasoline
January 24, 2009
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| Net energy yield (NEY) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction compared to gasoline from different types of corn-ethanol systems used as default scenarios in the BESS model. NEY includes ethanol plus coproduct energy credit minus energy inputs. A closed-loop biorefinery with anaerobic digestion (CL) reduced GHG emissions by 67%. Credit: Yale Univ. Click to enlarge. |
Direct-effect GHG emissions from corn ethanol are equivalent to a 48% to 59% reduction compared to gasoline—a twofold to threefold greater reduction than reported in previous studies—as a result of recent improvements in efficiency throughout the production process, according to a study by researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL).
The team of UNL researchers evaluated dry-mill ethanol plants that use natural gas. Such plants account for nearly 90% of current production capacity. An open-access paper on the study was published 21 January in the Journal of Industrial Ecology.
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NREL Study Concludes That PHEVs and V2G Can Reduce NOx Emissions from Power Generation
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| Total annual per-vehicle tailpipe, refinery, and generation emissions of pollutants with different-sized PHEV fleets, with V2G services provided by the PHEV fleet (CO2-e is in tonnes, SO2 and NOx are in kg). Credit: ACS. Click to enlarge. |
A new study has concluded that in addition to reducing emissions from the transportation sector, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles may further increase the efficiency of power generation plants and reduce overall emissions by providing two vehicle-to-grid services: energy storage and ancillary services. A paper on the analysis was published online 22 January in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Ramteen Sioshansi (currently at Ohio State University) and Paul Denholm at the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that by changing generator dispatch, a PHEV fleet of up to 15% of light-duty vehicles can decrease net generator NOx emissions during the ozone season, despite the additional charging load. By adding vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services, such as spinning reserves and energy storage, CO2, SO2 and NOx emissions can be reduced even further.
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New Phenomenological Six-Zone Combustion Model for Direct-Injection Diesel Engines
January 22, 2009
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| The six zones of the model. Credit: ACS. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at Ecole Centrale de Nantes, France, are developing a new phenomenological multizone combustion model for direct-injection (DI) diesel engines. The model distinguishes six zones and provides local information, such as mean equivalence ratio and temperature in the various zones.
A study on the work published in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels finds that the model is able to calculate the rate of heat release (ROHR) with good accuracy, whereas the variation of calculated local parameters (core spray and flame temperature, lift-off length, and corresponding equivalence ratio) can be used to explain the main tendencies on engine-out NOx and particulate matter (PM) emissions observed on the engine test bench.
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UK to Spend £250M for Low Carbon Vehicles
January 20, 2009
The UK Government will spend £250 million (US$354 million) on a wide-ranging package of measures to promote ultra-low carbon vehicles. Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon announced the move alongside the government’s decision to grant approval for a third runway at Heathrow Airport—a highly-charged issue in the UK.
In a wide-ranging statement to the House of Commons, Secretary Hoon outlined the government’s plans for spending on low-carbon vehicles, and road and rail infrastructure before announcing the Heathrow decision.
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New Analysis Suggests Biofuels Land Use Change GHG Impact Not as Large as Predicted
January 19, 2009
A new analysis by Michigan State University (MSU) researchers suggests that other studies that have concluded that land use changes resulting from biofuel production are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions are based on a set of assumptions that may not be correct.
In a paper published in the journal Science in February 2008, Timothy Searchinger from Princeton and colleagues at Woods Hole Research Center and Iowa State University concluded that, for example, when emissions from land-use change are considered, corn-based ethanol, instead of producing a net 20% savings in greenhouse gases, nearly doubles greenhouse emissions over 30 years and increases greenhouse gases for 167 years. Biofuels from switchgrass, if grown on US corn lands under the same analysis, increase emissions by 50%. (Earlier post.)
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Eaton Licenses Clean Diesel Technologies’ ARIS Systems for HC Injection for Eaton Aftertreatment System
January 08, 2009
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| The Eaton Aftertreatment System combines a fuel reformer catalyst with doser, SCR and LNT technology. Click to enlarge. |
Eaton Corporation has entered into a global non-exclusive licensing agreement for Clean Diesel Technologies’s Advanced Reagent Injector System (ARIS) technology for injection of hydrocarbon (HC) fuel in emissions reduction applications, including the Eaton Aftertreatment System (EAS). (Earlier post.) ARIS technology can also be applied to regeneration of diesel particulate filters and lean NOx traps in various global applications.
The Eaton aftertreatment system combines a fuel reformer catalyst with doser, Selective Catalytic Reduction system (SCR) and Lean NOx Trap (LNT) technology to create an exhaust aftertreatment system capable of meeting 2010 EPA diesel emissions requirements without the need for a urea storage and injection system.
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Study Concludes That Climate Change Alone Could Erode US Improvements in Ground Level Ozone Events Resulting from Reduced Emissions
January 05, 2009
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| Differences in the average (June-August) MDA8-O3 mixing ratios (ppbv) in the surface layer (984-934 hPa) corresponding to (a) climate change under present emissions; (b) A2 emissions change under present climate; (c) climate change under A2 emissions; (d) B1 emissions change under present climate; and (e) climate change under B1 emissions). All differences correspond to 10 year averages. The mean difference is displayed to the left of the panel. Credit: ACS. Click to enlarge. |
Global climate change by itself can significantly worsen the severity and frequency of high ground-level ozone (O3) events over most locations in the US, even with relatively small changes in average O3 air quality, according to a new modeling study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University.
While changes in US anthropogenic emissions will play the most important role in attaining (or not) near-term US O3 air quality standards, high-O3 increases due to climate change alone can moderately erode an improvement in O3 made under a scenario of reduced US emissions, they concluded. A paper on the study by Pavan Racherla and Peter Adams was published online 30 December 2008 in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology.
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EPA Issues Non-Attainment Designations for PM2.5
December 23, 2008
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| Map of final PM2.5 non-attainment areas. Click to enlarge. |
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has notified 25 governors and 23 tribal leaders that certain areas in their states and tribal lands do not meet the agency’s 24-hour national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). (Earlier post.)
After issuing its intended designations (e.g., attainment, nonattainment) for the 24 hour PM2.5 standard, revised in 2006 (earlier post) earlier this year, EPA reviewed recommendations from states and tribes along with public comments before making its decision to designate 211 counties and parts of counties as not meeting EPA’s PM 2.5 standards. These nonattainment areas include counties with monitors violating the standards and nearby areas that contribute to that violation.
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Australia Sets Target of 5-15% Carbon Reduction by 2020, Announces 2010 Carbon Market
December 22, 2008
by Jack Rosebro
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| Business-as-usual trajectory and 2020 target trajectories for greenhouse gas emissions, 2005-2020. Click to enlarge. |
Australia’s politicians, business groups, environmentalists, and citizens are debating the country’s first proposed carbon reduction and trading plan White Paper[1], which was announced by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd last week.
The plan calls for a reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 5% to 15% below year 2000 levels by 2020, with the 15% cut occurring only “in the context of global agreement under which all major economies commit to substantially restrain emissions and advanced economies take on reductions comparable to Australia.”[2] Australia’s long-term GHG emissions reduction target is 60% below 1990 levels by 2050.
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European Parliament Climate Change Package Includes Vehicle CO2 Regulations and Low Carbon Fuel Standard
December 20, 2008
The European Parliament this past week approved the EU’s climate change package intended to achieve a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a 20% improvement in energy efficiency, and a 20% share for renewables in the EU energy mix by 2020. (Earlier post.)
Included in that package is the regulation setting CO2 emissions performance standards for new cars registered in the EU (based on the compromise worked out earlier, earlier post) as well as a revised fuel quality directive that incorporates a low carbon fuel standard.
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European Parliament Adopts Euro VI Heavy-Duty Emissions Proposal, Advances Implementation
December 18, 2008
The European Parliament adopted a Euro VI compromise proposal, worked out with the European Council, for emissions from heavy-duty vehicles. Emissions standards in the adopted proposal are the same as in earlier versions, but they will now apply de facto from 31 December 2013 for new vehicles, nine months earlier than the Commission proposed.
The proposed Euro VI regulation lays down harmonized technical rules for heavy vehicles of more than 2,610 kg, with which all new vehicles will have to comply in order to get the necessary type approval.
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New Jersey Releases Draft Plan for Reducing GHG Emissions; Low Emission Vehicle Standards a Key Element
December 16, 2008
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| Projected GHG reduction by 2020 from three main programs, including Low Emission Vehicle standards. Click to enlarge. |
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released the state’s proposed plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 (approximately a 25% reduction below estimated 2020 business-as-usual emissions), followed by a further reduction of emissions to 80% below 2006 levels by 2050. DEP invited the public to comment on the recommendations outlined in a draft report published on the state’s Global Warming website.
The draft report is a key requirement of the Global Warming Response Act (GWRA), signed by Governor Corzine on 6 July 2007. The plan reinforces three of the state’s core environmental programs that are aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from New Jersey’s largest and second-largest contributing sectors: transportation and energy.
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DME Low-Temperature Combustion Concept Maintains Low NOx with Decreases in CO and HC Emissions
December 14, 2008
Researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University are exploring a new combustion concept for dimethyl ether (DME): low-temperature combustion (LTC) of a compound charge combining port aspiration and in-cylinder direct injection (DI). In comparison to a DME homogeneous charge compression (HCCI) combustion mode, DME LTC can extend the engine operating range with little change in NOx emissions and a considerable reduction in HC and CO emissions. A paper on their work was published online 8 December in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels.
The same research team earlier this published a paper on the development of a DME compound charge compression ignition (CCCI) process. (Earlier post.) The CCCI combustion process consists of HCCI combustion, premixing combustion, and diffusion combustion. The combustion characteristics are mainly decided by the premixed fuel ratio and CO2 concentration in the air charge.
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Study Concludes Wind-Powered BEV and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles Best Options, Biofuels the Worst to Address Climate, Energy Security and Pollution
December 13, 2008
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| A combined weighted ranking of the 12 combinations of energy sources and vehicle type against 11 impact categories. Click to enlarge. |
A new study by Stanford University professor Mark Jacobson (earlier post) reviews and ranks major proposed energy-related solutions to global warming, air pollution, and energy security while considering impacts of the solutions on eleven different factors ranging from resource availability to mortality. To place electricity and liquid fuel options on an equal footing, Jacobson considered 12 combinations of energy sources and vehicle type: nine electric power sources (solar-PV, CSP, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, wave, tidal, nuclear, and coal with CCS) and two liquid fuel options (corn-E85, cellulosic E85) in combination with three vehicle technologies (battery-electric, BEVs; hydrogen fuel cell, HFCVs; and flex-fuel E85 vehicles).
The overall rankings of the combinations (from best to worst) were: (1) wind-powered battery-electric vehicles (BEVs); (2) wind-powered hydrogen fuel cell vehicles; (3) concentrated-solar-powered-BEVs; (4) geothermal-powered-BEVs; (5) tidal-powered-BEVs; (6) solar-photovoltaic-powered-BEVs; (7) wave-powered-BEVs; (8) hydroelectric-powered-BEVs; (9-tie) nuclear-powered-BEVs; (9-tie) coal-with-carbon-capture-powered-BEVs; (11) corn-E85 vehicles; and (12) cellulosic-E85 vehicles. His findings are published online in an open access article in the journal Energy & Environmental Science.
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California ARB Adopts Landmark In-Use Heavy-Duty Truck Rules to Reduce PM, NOx and GHG
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| Projected statewide NOx (right) and PM2.5 (left) emissions with and without the regulations. Click to enlarge. |
The California Air Resources Board yesterday adopted two regulations directly aimed at reducing PM, NOx and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the estimated one million heavy-duty diesel trucks that operate in California. (Earlier post.) Beginning 1 January 2011, the Statewide Truck and Bus rule will require truck owners to install diesel exhaust filters on their rigs, with nearly all vehicles upgraded by 2014. Owners must also replace engines older than the 2010 model year according to a staggered implementation schedule that extends from 2012 to 2022.
The Heavy Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction measure, also adopted during the Board meeting on Friday, requires long-haul truckers to install fuel efficient tires and aerodynamic devices on their trailers that lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel economy.
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California Air Resources Board Adopts Plan to Cut State GHG Emissions to 1990 Levels by 2020
December 12, 2008
The California Air Resources Board yesterday approved the Scoping Plan (earlier post) to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. California is now the first state to formally approve a comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction plan that is required under statute and that involves every sector of the economy. Development of the Scoping Plan is a central requirement of AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006; Governor Schwarzenegger signed the bill into law in September 2006.
The Scoping Plan requires the largest sectorial chunk of reductions to come from transportation, outlining projected 62.3 MMTCO2e (37%) in reductions through a variety of measures.
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Study Finds That Without a Price on Carbon, Regular Hybrids Can Lower Lifecycle CO2 Emissions As Effectively as Plug-in Hybrids, and At Lower Cost
December 11, 2008
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| No CO2 price scenario. Final penetration of plug-in hybrids and regular hybrids in 2030 is plotted with corresponding changes in cumulative emissions from 2012 to 2030. The dotted line shows the incremental emission changes of plug-in hybrids compared to regular hybrids. Click to enlarge. |
A new working paper from Duke University finds that in the absence of a price signal for CO2, regular hybrids can lower lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions as effectively as plug-in hybrids, and at a considerably lower cost.
In the paper, Eric Williams, co-director of Duke’s Climate Change Policy Partnership (CCPP), compares the two hybrid technologies to see which could lead to lower carbon dioxide emissions, operating costs and overall consumer costs. Williams used six plug-in hybrid penetration scenarios, each of which begins in 2012 and ends in 2030 with a final penetration into vehicle stock ranging from 2% to 56%. He also analyzed four additional scenarios, based on penetrations of 2% and 56%, that have CO2 prices of $20 and $40 per ton. He found that:
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Study Links Diesel Exhaust and Lung Cancer Mortality in Trucking Industry Workers
December 10, 2008
The California Air Resources Board is highlighting a recent study showing that trucking industry workers who have had regular exposure to diesel and other types of vehicle exhaust show an elevated risk of lung cancer with increasing years of work.
ARB staff will present the study at the Air Resources Board meeting 11-12 December during which the Board will vote on the Statewide Truck and Bus Regulation. (Earlier post.) If the regulation is passed, diesel trucker owners will be required to install diesel exhaust filters on their rigs starting in 2010, with nearly all vehicles upgraded by 2014.
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EPA Finalizes Heavy-Duty Onboard Diagnostic System Regulations
December 06, 2008
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized regulations for onboard diagnostic systems on 2010 and later heavy-duty engines used in highway applications (HDOBD). Although the EPA has not estimated new emissions reductions associated with this HDOBD rule, it considers OBD to be a critical element to an overall emissions control program. As such, it assumed OBD requirements and their associated benefits in the estimated emissions reductions associated with the 2007 highway rule.
The rule requires manufacturers to install OBD systems that monitor the functioning of emission control components and alert the vehicle operator to any detected need for emission-related repair. In addition, when a malfunction occurs, diagnostic information must be stored in the engine’s computer to assist in diagnosis and repair of the malfunction. Also, manufacturers are required to make available to the service and repair industry information necessary to perform repair and maintenance service on OBD systems and other emission related engine components. Specifically:
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JAMA Recommends Measures for Reducing CO2 Emissions in Global Transport Sector
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| Potential CO2 reductions in the global transport sector with JAMA measures. Click to enlarge. |
Despite an estimated 15% reduction in gCO2/km (CO2 intensity) in global road transport emissions by 2030, aggregate CO2 emissions for the global sector will increase by roughly 60% over present levels by 2030, according to a new report by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA). Countering that increase will require aggressive application of a range of countermeasures spanning vehicle and fuel technology; improvements in traffic flow; and more efficient vehicle use—i.e., driver behavior—JAMA says.
JAMA projected the 15% decrease in gCO2/km in the global road transport sector based on some of the following assumptions:
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Study Finds Weather Conditions Have Significant Effect on PM Concentrations
December 05, 2008
Dry winter weather and a low mixing layer height (MLH) for pollutants from vehicle exhausts lead to the highest concentrations of PM10 in cities, according to a team of German scientists writing in the January 2009 issue of the International Journal of Environment and Pollution. Their findings suggest that traffic controls, other than an outright ban for several days at a time, would have little effect on pollution concentrations.
The mixing layer is the portion of the atmosphere close to the surface layer where air pollutants get diluted, without leaving this layer. The height of the mixing layer is a gauge of the vertical dilution of air pollution, and is affected by vertical temperature and moisture profiles in the lower atmosphere.
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Total US GHG Emissions Rose 1.4% in 2007; Transportation Sector Emissions Flat
December 03, 2008
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| The flow of US greenhouse gas emissions in 2007, from their sources to their distribution across the US end-use sectors. Click to enlarge. Source: EIA |
Total US greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were 7,282 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2e) in 2007, an increase of 1.4% from the 2006 level, according to Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 2007, a report released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Since 1990, US GHG emissions have grown at an average annual rate of 0.9%.
The transportation sector has led all US end-use sectors in emissions of carbon dioxide since 1999. However, with higher fuel prices and slower economic growth in 2007, emissions from the transportation sector in 2007 (2,104 MMTCO2) were essentially unchanged from their 2006 level (2,103 MMTCO2).
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European Parliament and Council Reach Agreement on Automotive CO2 Regulations
December 02, 2008
Following a series of meetings between Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and the French Presidency of the Council, the two sides have informally agreed upon the details of future targets on CO2 emissions from cars. The compromise identifies a longer-term reduction target; allows phased-in implementation of the shorter-term target; and reduces proposed penalties against carmakers that exceed the limits.
The informal compromise is based on the Commission’s proposed target of an average of 120g of CO2/km for new passenger cars (M1 category) by 2012, compared to the current levels of 160 g/km. A target of 130g/km is to be reached by improvements in vehicle motor technology; the subsequent 10g/km reduction is to come from other technological improvements and by an increased use of sustainable biofuels. Key elements of the compromise include:
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EU to Exceed Criteria Air Pollutant Limit Partly Due to Growth in Road Transport
December 01, 2008
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| Sum of EU Member State aggregated projections compared with EU-27 emission ceilings defined in Annex I and Annex II of the NECD. Source: EEA Click to enlarge. |
Despite significant emission reductions in recent years, only 11 EU Member States expect to remain within their emission limits for all four air pollutants set by the EU National Emission Ceilings Directive (NEC Directive), according to a report by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The limit on NOx remains the most difficult to meet. This is partly due to the fact that demand for road transport has grown faster than anticipated.
The NEC Directive status report by the EEA presents country-specific and EU-wide information for the four pollutants covered by the directive: sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and ammonia (NH3). Preliminary results were reported in May this year.
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Europe Closing in on 6% Lower Carbon Road Fuel Standard by 2020
November 30, 2008
Europe is moving closer to finalizing a new fuel quality law which will require fuel suppliers to cut full life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions from road fuels by 6% between 2010 and 2020.
ENDS (Environmental Data Services) reports that the cuts are expected to come from production efficiency improvements and a switch to biofuels and other cleaner fuels. Biofuel sustainability criteria will be added to the new law once they have been agreed in separate negotiations relating to the new Renewable Energy Directive.
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British Columbia Joins California Challenge of Denial of Automotive GHG Waiver; Province Converting 34 Vehicles to Plug-in Electrics
November 27, 2008
The Province of British Columbia, Canada (BC) has filed a legal brief with the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in support of California’s legal challenge to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which denied a waiver to implement the AB 1493 (Pavley) greenhouse gas emissions standard for vehicles. (Earlier post.)
BC introduced legislation in April that allows adoption of California greenhouse gas emission standards for vehicles. The California model will achieve greater GHG emission reductions than the proposed US federal fuel economy standards that have also been committed to by Canada as a minimum starting in 2011. An analysis by the staff of the California Air Resources Board concluded that implementing the Pavley rules in Canada would result in a cumulative total of 87 MMT of GHG reductions by calendar year 2020, compared to 58 MMT of GHG reductions achieved by the proposed federal standards.(Earlier post.)
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VERBIO Grain Ethanol Can Emit Up to 80% Less CO2 on Lifecycle Basis Than Gasoline
November 26, 2008
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| Greenhouse gas emissions of the individual ethanol production process steps. Red line is the German BioNachV basic value. Click to enlarge. |
Bioethanol produced from grain (rye or wheat) by German biofuels producer VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie AG can emit up to 80% less CO2 than gasoline on a lifecycle basis, depending upon the feedstock and facility design, according to a study carried out by the Heidelberg IFEU Institute (Institute for Energy and Environmental Research) and commissioned by the VERBIO.
VERBIO is a leading producer and supplier of biodiesel and bioethanol in Europe, with nominal annual capacity of around 450,000 tonnes of biodiesel (~136 million gallons US) and 300,000 tonnes of ethanol (~100 million gallons US). The study examined ethanol production at VERBIO’s two facilities in Schwedt/Oder and Zörbig, with the aim of determining how much CO2 can be avoided under the prevailing production conditions. The results show that all the techniques and plants under investigation return significantly better CO2 savings than the 30% which are specified in the German Biomass Sustainability Ordinance (BioNachV).
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Mazda Introducing Mazda3 with Low Precious Metal Three-Way Catalyst
November 25, 2008
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| Mazda’s new catalyst structure. Click to enlarge. |
Mazda Motor Corporation will introduce the new Mazda3 (known as Mazda Axela in Japan) 5-door hatchback at the Bologna Motor Show on 3 December. The introduction of the second generation Mazda3 5-door hatchback follows on the unveiling of the 4-door sedan version last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The gasoline-powered versions of the Mazda3 feature the first vehicle catalyst constructed with Mazda’s new catalyst structure for automotive exhaust systems that substantially reduces the amount of precious metals such as platinum and palladium that are required. (Earlier post.)
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Report Outlines Transport Policies for Cutting GHG Emissions from UK Transport by 26% by 2020
November 24, 2008
A new research report recommends a comprehensive package of transport policies that could reduce UK transport sector greenhouse gas emissions by 26% by 2020 from 2006 levels. The research comes as the Climate Change Bill passes into law and the Committee on Climate Change prepares to release its first proposal for UK carbon budgets up to 2022 on 1 December.
Current government policies, including intensive improvements to vehicle efficiency, will achieve less than a 5% reduction in CO2 on 1990 levels by 2020, according to the report, “A low carbon transport policy for the UK.” The report was prepared by Keith Buchan of Metropolitan Transport Research Unit (MTRU) and sponsored by Campaign for Better Transport.
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Road Emissions Dominate Long-Term Global Transport Climate Impact
November 23, 2008
After 100 years today’s global road emissions will lead to a temperature increase that is six times greater than the temperature increase from today’s air transport, according to a study by researchers at the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research - Oslo (CICERO) in Norway.
The study—“Global temperature responses to current emissions from the transport sectors”—includes the effects of all climate-relevant components of the emissions, not only CO2. It will appear in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The study examines the effect of total global emissions, not emissions per passenger kilometer. The researchers will calculate climate impacts per passenger kilometer in a later study.
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Dimethoxymethane (DMM)/Diesel Blends as a Low-Cost Approach for Emissions Control
November 17, 2008
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| Relationship between NOx and smoke of the DMM blends under one set of speed and load conditions. Click to enlarge. Credit: ACS |
Researchers at Xi’an Jiaotong University in China have investigated the combustion, performance, and emissions of a direct-injection (DI) diesel engine fueled with dimethoxymethane (DMM)/diesel blends, with DMM content ranging from 0 to 50%.
Their results showed that, with no changes to the fuel injection system or modifications to the engine, smoke and CO emissions decrease and NOx remains almost unchanged, while hydrocarbons (HCs) increase. Brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) is higher (DMM has a smaller lower heating value than diesel), while thermal efficiency increases a little. A diesel engine fueled with a 30% DMM blend can deliver both satisfactory fuel efficiency and emissions levels, they conclude. A report on their study was published online 14 November in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels.
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A New Food/Fuel Issue: Urea for SCR Emissions Treatment?
November 16, 2008
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| A urea-based SCR system on a heavy-duty truck. Click to enlarge. |
Increasingly stringent emissions requirements are resulting in a surge of applications of urea-based selective catalytic reduction systems in new diesel trucks, buses, cars and sport utility vehicles to reduce NOx to permitted levels. For example, urea-based systems will become standard equipment on most new diesel trucks, buses, sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and many cars for the US market after 2010. Already prevalent in heavy-duty vehicles in Europe, urea-based systems may be applied to meet coming Euro 6 requirements in lighter duty vehicles in Europe.
The automotive urea fluid, called diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in the United States and AdBlue in Europe, is an aqueous urea solution 32 (AUS 32), a clear 32.5% nitrogen solution of high-purity urea in demineralized water. The SCR systems are thus creating a new demand for urea, the world’s most widely used nitrogen fertilizer. Worldwide use of urea as a nitrogen fertilizer and feed additive has increased more than 100-fold in the last four decades, with a doubling in just the past decade alone, according to researchers in a paper published in the journal Biogeochemistry in 2006.
