Emissions
[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.]
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.
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Nissan to Introduce New Ultra-Low Precious Metal Catalyst in the Cube
November 14, 2008
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| The new ultra-low precious metal catalyst. Click to enlarge. |
Nissan Motor Co. will introduce its ultra-low precious metal catalyst on the new Cube for the Japan market, to be launched on 19 November. The new catalyst utilizes half the amount of precious metals compared with conventional catalysts. (Earlier post.)
A high percentage of world’s reserves of platinum (50%) and rhodium (80%) are used in the automotive industry as catalysts. The standard three-way catalyst (TWC) device for emissions treatment consists of a mixture of platinum (Pt), rhodium (Rh) and palladium (Pd).
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Study Finds PM and Ozone Levels Cost California Economy $28 Billion Annually
November 13, 2008
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| Percent of the population exposed to PM2.5 concentrations above the average annual federal standard (15 µg/m3) in 2005-2007 by county. Click to enlarge. |
Air pollution costs the California economy more than $28 billion annually, according to a new study released today and co-authored by two California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) economics professors. Jane V. Hall and Victor Brajer of CSUF and Fred Lurmann, manager of exposure assessment studies at Sonoma Technology Inc., examined the health and economic consequences of two pollutants, ozone and particulate matter (PM2.5).
The study, which focuses on the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley air basins, also found that the air pollution in these regions contributes to more than 3,800 premature deaths each year.
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Widespread and Complex Climatic Changes Outlined in New UNEP Project Atmospheric Brown Cloud Report
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| Anthropogenic aerosol optical depth (AOD) in the period 2001-2003 for four seasons. AOD is an index for the fraction of sunlight intercepted by particles and total aerosol concentration in the vertical column. Click to enlarge. Source: UNEP |
Cities from Beijing to New Delhi are getting darker, glaciers in ranges like the Himalayas are melting faster and weather systems becoming more extreme due in part to the combined effects of man-made Atmospheric Brown Clouds (ABCs) and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
These are among the conclusions of scientists studying a more than three km-thick layer of soot and other manmade particles that stretches from the Arabian Peninsula to China and the western Pacific Ocean. The team, drawn from research centers in Asia including China and India, Europe and the United States, has just published their latest and most detailed assessment of the phenomenon. Their preliminary assessment was published in 2002.
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EPA Report Shows Most US Light Duty Vehicles Meeting Tier 2 Bin Standards With Significant Compliance Margin
November 08, 2008
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| Average compliance margins for the MY 2007 light-duty fleet for Tier 2 Bins 3, 5, and 8. Click to enlarge. |
Most light-duty vehicles in the US are meeting the Tier 2 Bin standards with significant compliance margins (the difference between actual tested emission levels and the standard) ranging from 46% to 90% depending upon the pollutant, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA’s) Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ’s) first annual report on environmental compliance data from all mobile sources.
The Tier 2 emissions standards required 100% phase-in by MY 2007. Manufacturers are to deliver fleet compliance across different Bins that to meet the average Tier 2 Bin 5 standard. Manufacturers can produce vehicles that over-comply with the average standard to generate credits to be used during a later compliance period or sell them to other manufacturers that produce vehicles or engines that do not meet the average standard.
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Developer of Syngas-Based Emissions Reduction System Closes $15.4 Million Investment Round; Picks Up Japanese Automaker as Investor
October 30, 2008
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| NxtGen Syngas Diesel Aftertreatment System. NxtGen components are in blue. Click to enlarge. |
NxtGen Emission Controls Inc., the developer of a syngas-based diesel emission reduction system (earlier post) has closed a US$15.4 million Series B investment led by Altira Group LLC.
The investment was led by Altira from its US$176 million Altira Technology V Fund L.P. Other new investors in the financing include the corporate venture capital arm of a major Japanese automobile company and ITOCHU Corporation, a major international trading company with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. ITOCHU will distribute NxtGen’s products in Japanese and Asian markets. Current investors participated in the financing, including Yaletown Venture Partners, GrowthWorks Capital, BC Advantage Funds and Polygon Financial Investments.
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European Automakers Look for a “Supportive Framework” Including €40B in Low-Interest Loans
The European automotive industry needs a supportive framework to secure its future, according to a mid-term review of CARS21 (Competitive Automotive Regulatory System for the 21st Century) held at the European Commission in Brussels. Hosted by European Commission Vice-President Guenter Verheugen and with the participation of five automaker CEOs, national ministers and other stakeholders, the meeting reviewed progress since the start of CARS21 in 2005, and looked ahead to 2020 and beyond.
The meeting concluded that such a supportive framework should consist of four components: “better regulation”; a €40 billion (US$51.7 billion) low-interest loans package to support the development and deployment of fuel-efficient technologies (earlier post); market incentives; and favorable, reciprocal trade relations. Following the meeting, Verheugen told a news conference that the European Investment Bank could help the car industry with low-interest loans.
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Simultaneous Reduction of Biodiesel NOx and PM Emissions with Low Temperature Combustion
October 29, 2008
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| Time integration of spatially integrated flame luminosity (SIFL) and NOx emissions of the 12 cases with different injection strategies and fuel blends. Click to enlarge. Credit: ACS |
Simultaneous reduction of NOx and soot in a biodiesel-fueled engine is possible through the use of low-temperature HCCI combustion modes, according to a study by a team of researchers from the US and Taiwan. Their paper was published online 28 October in the ACS journal Environmental Science and Technology.
A number of studies are exploring mechanisms for enabling the use of biodiesel in light- and heavy-duty diesel engines for lower PM, CO, SOx, and HC emissions without incurring a NOx penalty. (Earlier post.) Low-temperature combustion (LTC) is one promising technique to meet these requirements. LTC includes homogeneous-charge compression ignition (HCCI) and several other newer combustion concepts.
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Methane Emissions on the Rise Again
The amount of methane in Earth’s atmosphere shot up in 2007, bringing to an end approximately a decade in which atmospheric levels of the potent greenhouse gas were essentially stable, according to a new study led by researchers at MIT. The study, published this week in the American Geophysical Union’s Geophysical Research Letters, is based on data from a worldwide NASA-funded measurement network.
Methane—which has a global warming potential of 56 over a 20-year time horizon and 21 over a 100-year horizon (compared to CO2’s GWP of 1)—is produced by wetlands, rice paddies, cattle, and the gas and coal industries. It is destroyed in the atmosphere by reaction with the hydroxyl free radical.
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DLR Outlines Approaches for 40% Reduction in Global Light-Duty Vehicle GHG Emissions by 2050
October 27, 2008
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| Well-to-wheel CO2 emissions of light duty vehicles in the reference and energy [r]evolution scenarios from 2000 to 2050. Click to enlarge. |
A combination of higher efficiency vehicle technologies, a major switch to grid-connected electric vehicles and incentives for travellers to save CO2 could result in a reduction of well-to-wheel greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the global light-duty vehicle sector in 2050 by roughly 25% compared to 1990 and 40% compared to 2005, according to a new report produced by the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) and Greenpeace International.
Total LDV sector energy consumption in total is reduced by 23% in 2050 compared to 2005, in spite of tremendous increases in some world regions. Even with the aggressive focus on new technologies and demand reduction, 74% of the final energy used in cars will still come from fossil fuel sources, 70% from gasoline and diesel, according to the findings. Renewable electricity covers 19% of total car energy demand, biofuels cover 5% and hydrogen 2%.
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ARB Publishes Latest Draft of New Regulations for In-Use Heavy-Duty Trucks
October 24, 2008
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) published for public comment its latest draft version of a new regulation that, if adopted at the Board’s 11 December hearing, will further reduce emissions from the approximately one million in-use heavy-duty diesel trucks that operate in California beginning in 2010. (Earlier post.)
The regulation, which originates from the board’s diesel program, is targeted at further reductions in NOx and PM emissions, and will require truck owners to install diesel PM filters on their rigs starting in 2010, with nearly all vehicles upgraded by 2014. Owners must also turn over engines older than the 2010 equivalent to cleaner engines according to a staggered implementation schedule between 2012 and 2022.
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New Study Finds Atmospheric Levels of GHG NF3 At Least 4x Higher Than Previously Estimated
October 23, 2008
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| Measured and modeled atmospheric NF3 concentrations and trends from 1978 to 2008. Northern Hemisphere NF3 measurements are shown as filled circles, together with the spline curve Northern Hemisphere trend (solid line) fitted to these measurements. The modeled Southern Hemisphere trend and modeled global mean trend (dotted line) are shown as dashed and dotted lines, respectively. Southern Hemisphere measurements are plotted as filled squares. Click to enlarge. Source: Weiss (2008) |
Measuring background atmospheric abundances and trends of the greenhouse gas nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) for the first time, a team of researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego found that NF3 levels are at least four times higher than previously estimated.
The team, led by Scripps geochemistry professor Ray Weiss, found that the mean global tropospheric concentration of NF3 has risen quasi-exponentially from about 0.02 ppt (parts-per-trillion) at the beginning of their measured record in 1978, to a 1 July 2008 value of 0.454 ppt, with a rate of increase of 0.053 ppt yr-1, or about 11% per year. The research will be published 31 October in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union (AGU).
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California ARB to Hold Public Meeting on Feebate Program for New Vehicle GHG Reduction
October 22, 2008
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is holding a public consultation meeting to discuss ARB’s proposed research contract titled “Potential Design, Implementation, and Benefits of a Feebate Program for New Passenger Vehicles in California” at the CalEPA Headquarters Building, in Sacramento, California, 5 November.
As described in the Proposed Scoping Plan (earlier post), ARB is commissioning a study to analyze the implementation of feebates for new vehicles in California both in place of and in addition to the Pavley (AB1493, greenhouse gas emissions) standards. The study will assess elements of program design including fee and rebate levels, point of regulation, implementation strategy, consumer response, and interaction with other AB 32 programs.
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Study Finds That No-Till Can Increase N2O Emissions in Certain Soils, Offsetting CO2 Sink
Researchers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Québec City) investigating the short-term impacts of a no-tillage practice in a heavy clay soil found that within the first five years of the practice, nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions could offset the soil carbon dioxide sink. N2O is a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential (GWP) of 280 on a 20-year time horizon, compared to the baseline CO2 GWP of 1. The N2O GWP increases to 310 on a 100-year time horizon, according to data from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC).
The practice of no-till has increased considerably during the past 20 years. The absence of tillage coupled with the accumulation of crop residues at the soil surface modifies several soil properties but also influences nitrogen dynamics. Soils under no-till usually host a more abundant and diverse biota and are less prone to erosion, water loss, and structural breakdown than tilled soils. Their organic matter content is also often increased. In addition, no-till is proposed as a measure to mitigate the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration.
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HOTFIRE Project Wins Engineering Award; Homogeneous Direct Injection with Fully Variable Valve Train
October 21, 2008
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| The HOTFIRE head on the 3-cylinder demonstrator engine. Click to enlarge. Source: Lotus Engineering |
Project HOTFIRE has taken the top award in the automotive sector in ‘The Engineer Technology + Innovation Awards 2008’ in the UK. The project team, comprising engine designers from Lotus Engineering, fuel injection specialists from Continental Powertrain and thermodynamics and mechanics experts from University College London and Loughborough University, developed a gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine concept that reduces fuel consumption by 15%. The project was funded by EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council).
The end application of this project is a direct injection spark ignition engine architecture that does not require stratified lean burn combustion to achieve the approximate 15% fuel savings. This ensures that the system can be used over all speed/load ranges and eliminates the need for an expensive lean NOx trap which is usually required when lean combustion is employed.
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Study Finds That Aggressive Combination of Land Use, Enhanced Transit and Travel Pricing Show a Median 14.5% Reduction in Vehicle Kilometers Traveled for 10 Year Time Horizon
October 17, 2008
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| Box plots of combined policy VKT reductions by time horizon. Click to enlarge. Source: Rodier (2008) |
A review of modeling literature on land use, transit and auto pricing policies designed to reduce vehicle kilometers traveled (VKT) found that an aggressive combination of land-use, enhanced transit, and pricing policies compared to a business-as-usual scenario can reduce VKT for a ten-year time horizon by a median 14.5%. Over a 40-year time horizon, the median decrease is 24.1%.
In the study, Dr. Caroline Rodier at UC Berkeley’s Transportation Sustainability Research Center reviewed more than 20 modeling studies from California, other states and Europe. The California Air Resources Board references the study in its Proposed Scoping Plan for greenhouse gas reductions. (Earlier post.)
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UK Government Invests £100M in £200M Low Carbon Vehicle Program
October 14, 2008
The UK government is putting £100 million (US$175 million) into a new £200 million investment program, jointly funded by government and business, to speed up the introduction of new low carbon vehicles onto Britain’s roads.
The Low Carbon Vehicle Integrated Delivery Programme will co-ordinate the UK’s low carbon vehicle activity from initial strategic research through collaborative research and development, leading to the production of demonstration vehicles. The Technology Strategy Board will manage the five-year program through its Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform, and it will be guided by an industry-led advisory panel.
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Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Manufacturers Say Industry Needs Effective Fuel Efficiency Metrics and Global Fuel Regulations
October 13, 2008
Chief executives of the world’s leading heavy-duty engine and vehicle manufacturing companies gathered last week in New Orleans for the 6th Global Commercial Vehicle Industry Meeting (GCVIM). Participants in the meeting agreed that addressing climate change and fuel efficiency requires require developing effective fuel efficiency measurement metrics and methodologies and global fuel regulations.
The chief executives of the assembled companies agreed to continue working together with governments toward harmonized global standards with an emphasis on uniform measurement and testing protocols. The executives further agreed to meet jointly with the relevant national authorities to stress the need for a speeding progress towards the development of a fully harmonized WHDC (Worldwide harmonized Heavy-Duty emissions Certification procedure) Global Technical Regulation. They also agreed to work to improve fuel efficiency, develop hybrid technology certification procedures, and develop high-quality renewable fuels specifications.
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California ARB Posts Draft Regulation for Low Carbon Fuel Standard
October 11, 2008
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| Proposed compliance schedule for gasoline and diesel fuels and substitutes. Click to enlarge. |
The staff of the California Air Resources Board has posted the Draft Regulation for the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) which contains the latest staff proposals on the regulatory approach following the March 2008 concept outline. (Earlier post.) ARB is seeking comments on this document, which will be discussed during the LCFS workshop on 16 October 2008, in Sacramento, California.
The draft LCFS maps out a 10.5% reduction in carbon intensity for gasoline or fuels used to substitute for gasoline from 2010 to 2020 (from 96.7 gCO2e/MJ to 86.5 gCO2e/MJ) and a 10% reduction in the carbon intensity of diesel or diesel substitutes (from 95.8 gCO2e/MJ to 86.2 gCO2e/MJ).
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IMO Adopts Revised Regulations on Ship Emissions
The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) unanimously adopted amendments to the MARPOL Annex VI regulations to reduce harmful emissions from ships. The main changes to MARPOL Annex VI will see a progressive reduction in sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions from ships, with the global sulfur cap reduced initially to 3.50% (35,000 ppm) from the current 4.50% (45,000 ppm), effective from 1 January 2012; then progressively to 0.50% (5,000 ppm), effective from 1 January 2020, subject to a feasibility review to be completed no later than 2018. (Earlier post.)
The limits applicable in Sulfur Emission Control Areas (SECAs) will be reduced to 1.00%, beginning on 1 July 2010 (from the current 1.50 %); being further reduced to 0.10%, effective from 1 January 2015.
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New Catalyst Converts CO2 to Useful Synthetic Chemicals
October 10, 2008
Researchers at RIKEN in Japan have developed a new copper catalyst that allows carbon dioxide to be converted into a variety of functionalized carboxylic acid derivatives—versatile synthetic chemicals. A paper on their work was published earlier this year in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.
Industry has used carbon dioxide as a chemical building block—in the manufacture of aspirin, for example—but its use is limited by the difficulty of breaking open its strong carbon-oxygen double bonds. Carbon compounds activated by lithium or magnesium are often needed to attack and incorporate carbon dioxide successfully, but these reagents are extremely reactive and quite hazardous on a large scale.
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Port Injection of Secondary Fuel Can Simultaneously Lower NOx and PM in a Direct Injection Biodiesel Engine
October 08, 2008
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| Effect of premixed fuels on the engine emissions at different equivalency ratios. Click to enlarge. Credit: ACS |
Researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University found that port fuel injection of a secondary fuel with a lower boiling point in a biodiesel-fueled, direct injection engine can simultaneously reduce both NOx and PM emissions. A paper on their work appeared online 4 October in the journal Energy & Fuels.
A number of studies have shown that the use of biodiesel in light- and heavy-duty diesel engines can lower PM, CO, SOx, and HC emissions compared to standard diesel fuel combustion with comparable or even slightly better engine efficiency. However, NOx levels can increase—a problem when confronting more stringent regulatory limits on NOx emissions.
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New Life Cycle Study Concludes That Biomass for Ethanol Is Not the Most Advantageous Energy and Emissions Use of the Feedstock
A new life cycle study assessing the benefit of cellulosic ethanol in the context of projected feedstock constraints concludes that in terms of reducing greenhouse emissions and fossil fuel dependency, more is lost than gained when prioritizing biomass or land for bioethanol, rather than for use in technology pathways involving heat and power production and/or biogas, or natural gas and electricity for transport. The study was published online in the journal Environmental Science & Technology on 4 October.
The study by researchers in Denmark begins with the conclusion that toward 2030, the amount of biomass which can become available for bioethanol or other energy uses will be physically and economically constrained, regardless of whether of global or a European perspective is applied. This implies that the use of biomass or land for bioethanol production will most likely happen at the expense of alternative uses.
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Preliminary Test Report Shows No Significant Change in Vehicle Emissions from Intermediate Ethanol Blends
October 07, 2008
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| Average percentage change in criteria emissions and fuel economy for all vehicles compared to E0 fuel on the LA92 cycle. Bars show average for all vehicles, while discrete data points show the change for each vehicle tested. Click to enlarge. |
A preliminary report released by the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) on the use of intermediate E15 and E20 ethanol blends (15% and 20% ethanol respectively) in 13 vehicles and 28 small non-road engines found that most of the regulated vehicle emissions from E15 and E20 use were within the normal test variation. No statistically significant change was detected.
The E10 (10% ethanol) blend market in the US will likely be saturated (at less than 15 billion gallons per year) in the next few years, possibly as soon as 2010. At the same time, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) calls for 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel by 2022. The DOE says that while it remains committed to expanding the E85 infrastructure, that market represented less than 1% of the ethanol consumed in 2007 and will not be able to absorb projected volumes of ethanol in the near-term. Given this reality, DOE and others have begun assessing the viability of using intermediate ethanol blends as a way to accommodate growing volumes of ethanol. (Earlier post.)
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VW Introduces Passat BlueTDI, BlueMotion 2 and Concept Variant BlueMotion II; Bin 5 and Euro 6 Compliance, Stop/Start and Regenerative Braking
October 06, 2008
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| The VW Passat Variant BlueMotion II. Click to enlarge. |
At the Paris Motor Show, Volkswagen unveiled the Passat BlueTDI (a Passat model with an SCR system to cut NOx to US Bin 5 and Euro-6 levels); the second-generation of the Passat BlueMotion, equipped with a stop/start system as standard; and a concept Passat Variant BlueMotion II, which takes the SCR system of the BlueTDI model and applies it in a more fuel-efficient BlueMotion variant featuring regenerative braking. The Passat BlueTDI is due to go into production in 2009; the new Passat BlueMotion is launching this year. VW plans to produce the BlueMotion II as well.
Among its other introductions at the show, VW highlighted the concept of the next Golf GTI with reduced fuel consumption; a new v6 FSI (gasoline direct injection) model of the Phaeton (which will now also feature stop/start systems as standard); and the sixth generation of the Golf (earlier post).
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California Implements Amendments to Reformulated Gasoline Regulations; Ethanol Blends Up to 10%, Lower Sulfur Cap
October 01, 2008
California’s Office of Administrative Law (OAL) recently approved the Air Resource Board ’s 2007 amendments to the Phase 3 California Reformulated Gasoline Regulations. (Earlier post.)
The regulation, which is now in effect in California, among other things enables blending of up to 10% ethanol from the current 5.7% level in gasoline—with the requirement that all emissions reduction requirements are met at the desired level of oxygenate blending—and lowers the sulfur cap from 30 parts per million by weight (ppmw) to 20 ppmw (21 ppmw for California reformulated gasoline blendstock for oxygenate blending [CARBOB]) to improve enforceability and facilitate new motor vehicle emissions control technology.
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Carbon Sciences Developing Technology to Convert CO2 to Fuel
September 26, 2008
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| Carbon Sciences is developing a biocatalytic process to convert CO2 to low-carbon hydrocarbons. Click to enlarge. |
Carbon Sciences, Inc., the developer of a CO2-to-carbonate technology that converts the gas into precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) for use in the production of paper, pharmaceuticals and plastics, is developing a process to transform CO2 into low-carbon hydrocarbons (C1 to C3) for subsequent upgrading into higher-carbon fuels such as gasoline and jet fuel.
Conventional processes for the conversion of CO2 to fuel include direct photolysis which uses light energy to break off the oxygen atoms in CO2; and chemically reacting CO2 with hydrogen to create methane or methanol. These processes require large amounts of energy due to high pressure and high temperature chemical processes, says Carbon Sciences, which reduce their economic viability for creating transportation fuels on a large scale.
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Global CO2 Emissions up 38% Since 1992; More Than Half of Annual Emissions Now from Developing Countries
September 25, 2008
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| The shift in sources for global CO2 emissions. Click to enlarge. Source: CDIAC |
Annual carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels and manufacturing cement have grown 37.8% percent since 1992, from 6.1 billion tons of carbon to 8.5 billion tons in 2007, according to data gathered by the US Department of Energy’s Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Global emissions in 1992 (6.147 billion tons) were the lowest since the 1990 baseline year of the Kyoto protocol (6.164 billion tons).
At the same time, the source of emissions has shifted dramatically as energy use has been growing slowly in many developed countries but more quickly in some developing countries, most notably in rapidly developing Asian countries such as China and India, according to a CDIAC analysis of the data.
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European Parliament Environment Committee Holds Firm on 2012 CO2 Reduction Target for New Cars
The Environment Committee of the European Parliament today voted 46-19 to hold to an average target of 120g of carbon dioxide per kilometer from new passenger cars (the M1 category) by 2012. It also voted for a new long-term target of 95g CO2/km for 2020. The current level is around 160 g/km.
Of the 120 g/km target, 130 g/km is to be reached by improvements in vehicle motor technology. The further 10 g/km reduction is to be obtained by using other technical improvements such as better tires or the use of biofuels.
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New Life-Cycle Analysis Concludes Neither GTL or CTL a “Reasonable Path” for Energy Security With Reduced GHG Emissions
September 20, 2008
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| High- and low-GHG emissions scenario for FT fuels. Click to enlarge. |
A new life-cycle study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) concludes that the use of either coal- (CTL) or natural gas-based (GTL) Fischer-Tropsch (FT) liquids will likely lead to significant increases in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to petroleum-based fuels. In a best-case scenario, coal- or natural gas-based FT liquids have emissions only comparable to petroleum-based fuels.
In addition, the economic picture for either FT fuel is uncertain. There is a narrow range of petroleum and natural gas prices at which GTL fuels would be competitive with petroleum-based fuels, according to the study. Although CTL fuels are generally cheaper than petroleum-based fuels, recent reports cited by the study suggest there is uncertainty about the availability of economically viable coal resources in the United States. The CMU study was published 19 September in the online edition of the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
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BMW to Introduce New Production Six-Cylinder Diesel, Euro6 Emission System and Mild Hybrid Concept at Paris Show
September 18, 2008
Among BMW’s introductions at the upcoming 2008 Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris from 4–19 October will be a new straight-six 3.0-liter diesel applied in the new 7 Series and 3 Series; a new BluePerformance application that will bring diesel emissions to Euro 6 compliance; and a new gasoline-electric mild hybrid concept in the 7 Series, joining the already introduced two-mode BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid (earlier post).
BMW is also introducing EfficientDynamics systems in the new 7 Series (which is making is world debut at the Paris show) thereby bringing a range of technologies such as Brake Energy Regeneration; on-demand management of ancillary units including the a/c compressor disconnected when not required; intelligent lightweight technology; active aerodynamics and tires with reduced rolling resistance to its top-end luxury sedan lineup. With new straight-six diesel and EfficientDynamics, the new 730d will offer average fuel consumption of 7.2 liters/100 kilometers (33 mpg US).
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Air Pollution Can Hinder Heart’s Electrical Functioning
September 11, 2008
Airborne particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5) and black carbon, a marker for traffic exhaust fumes, can adversely affect the heart’s ability to conduct electrical signals in people with serious coronary artery disease, according to a new study published online 8 September in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation.
In a recent study of 48 Boston-area patients, all of whom had coronary artery disease, 24-hour Holter monitors were used to examine electrocardiograms for the conductivity change called an ST-segment depression, which may indicate inadequate blood flow to the heart or inflamed heart muscle. The average 24-hour levels for all pollutants included in the analysis were below accepted or proposed National Air Quality Standard thresholds—meaning patients were breathing air technically considered healthy.
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New Mazda 2.2L Diesel Features New DPF Technology
September 09, 2008
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| Mazda’s new diesel incorporates a new Mazda-developed base material in the DPF that increases the regeneration speed. Click to enlarge. |
Mazda Motor Corporation’s new 2.2-liter diesel, which will make its debut in the Kiyora concept (earlier post), features a Mazda-developed world-first catalyst activation mechanism that enhances the removal of particulate matter (soot) from the exhaust gases. (Earlier post.) The engine will be progressively introduced to markets around the world, beginning in Europe in 2009.
The MZR-CD 2.2 diesel engine has a displacement 10% greater than Mazda’s current MZR-CD 2.0-liter diesel, and delivers torque of 400 Nm (295 lb-ft). Improved fuel injectors and a lower compression ratio contribute to its enhanced fuel efficiency.
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Transportation Scenarios for Meeting California’s 80% GHG Reduction Target by 2050
September 08, 2008
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| None of the “Silver Bullet” scenarios explored by the UC Davis researchers achieve the 80in50 reduction goal, implying that no single technology can successfully meet California’s 80% emission reductions goal; a portfolio approach is necessary. Click to enlarge. |
A new study by researchers at the Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis analyzes mitigation options and presents future scenarios for meeting California’s ambitious greenhouse gas emission reductions goal (80% below 1990 levels by 2050, earlier post), focusing specifically on the transportation sector, including light-duty, heavy-duty, agricultural, off-road, rail, aircraft, and marine vehicles.
The report, 80in50 Scenarios for Deep Reductions in Greenhouse Gas Emissions from California Transportation: Meeting an 80% Reduction Goal in 2050, concludes that such a deep reduction in GHG emissions from the California transportation sector is challenging but potentially feasible. While no one single mitigation option can meet the target by itself, the goal can be met in multiple ways, utilizing a combination of technological and behavioral options. The study focuses on three main areas: travel demand, fuel efficiency and fuel carbon intensity.
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Aerosols Can Either Increase or Decrease Rainfall Based on Local Environmental Conditions
September 07, 2008
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| Evolution of deep convective clouds developing in the pristine (top) and polluted (bottom) atmosphere. Click to enlarge. Source: AAAS |
An international team of scientists, headed by Prof. Daniel Rosenfeld of the Institute of Earth Sciences at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has concluded that air pollution can either increase or decrease rainfall, depending on local environmental conditions. The determination of this issue is one with significant consequences in an era of climate change and specifically in areas suffering from manmade pollution and water shortages, including Israel, according to the researchers. A paper on the work appears in the 5 September issue of the journal Science.
Aerosols serve as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and thus have a substantial effect on cloud properties and the initiation of precipitation. Large concentrations of human-made aerosols have been reported to both decrease and increase rainfall as a result of their radiative and CCN activities. At one extreme, pristine tropical clouds with low CCN concentrations rain out too quickly to mature into long-lived clouds. On the other hand, heavily polluted clouds evaporate much of their water before precipitation can occur, if they can form at all given the reduced surface heating resulting from the aerosol haze layer.
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Delphi Launches Diesel Direct Acting Piezo Injection System; Lower Emissions and Fuel Consumption, More Power and Torque
September 06, 2008
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| Delphi Direct Acting Injector (DFI3) compared to a conventional servo-hydraulic injector. Click to enlarge. |
Delphi Corp. has