Background
The US Clean Air Act requires that new source performance standards (NSPS) be established to control emissions from new stationary sources [CAA, Section 111(b)]. An NSPS requires these sources to control emissions to the level achievable by best demonstrated technology (BDT), considering costs and any non-air quality health and environmental impacts and energy requirements. New sources are defined as those whose construction, reconstruction, or modification begins after a standard for them is proposed.
In 1979, the EPA proposed NSPS standards for stationary diesel engines, but they were never finalized. In the absence of federal regulations, emissions from stationary engines gradually became subject to a complex system of state and/or local regulations and permit policies, such as those in California, Texas, or the NESCAUM states.
In 2003, a lawsuit was filed against the EPA by Environmental Defense, a New York-based nonprofit advocacy group, which called for establishing federal emission standards for stationary diesel engines. In 2004, the lawsuit was resolved by a consent decree, which required the EPA to develop such standards. On June 28, 2006, the EPA adopted emission regulations for stationary engines, which require that most new stationary diesel engines meet the Tier 1-4 emission standards for mobile nonroad engines.
Emission regulations for stationary diesel engines are published in Title 40 Chapter I, part 60 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Applicability
The standards apply to stationary compression ignition internal combustion engines (CI ICE) as defined below:
- A stationary internal combustion engine means any internal combustion engine, except combustion turbines, that converts heat energy into mechanical work and is not mobile. Stationary ICE differ from mobile ICE in that a stationary internal combustion engine is not a nonroad engine as defined at 40 CFR 1068.30, and is not used to propel a motor vehicle or a vehicle used solely for competition. Stationary ICE include reciprocating ICE, rotary ICE, and other ICE, except combustion turbines.
- A compression ignition engine means a type of stationary internal combustion engine that is not a spark ignition (SI) engine. An SI engine means a gasoline, natural gas, or liquefied petroleum gas fueled engine or any other type of engine with a spark plug (or other sparking device) and with operating characteristics significantly similar to the theoretical Otto combustion cycle. Spark ignition engines usually use a throttle to regulate intake air flow to control power during normal operation. Dual fuel engines in which a liquid fuel (typically diesel fuel) is used for CI and gaseous fuel (typically natural gas) is used as the primary fuel at an annual average ratio of less than 2 parts diesel fuel to 100 parts total fuel on an energy equivalent basis are SI engines.
Typical examples are stationary diesel engines used to generate electricity and operate compressors and pumps at power and manufacturing plants. The rule also covers stationary engines that are used in emergencies, including emergency generators of electricity and water pumps for fire and flood control. The emission standards apply to new, modified, and reconstructed stationary diesel engines (i.e., existing in-use engines are not affected).
Timing. The emission standards apply to engines whose construction, modification or reconstruction commenced after July 11, 2005—the date the proposed rule was published in the Federal Register. Compliance with Tier 1 standards is delayed to April 1, 2006 for non-fire pump engines and to July 1, 2006 for fire pump engines.
Emission Standards
The standards apply to emissions of NOx, PM, CO, and NMHC. They are expressed in units of g/kWh and smoke standards as a percentage. No new emission limits were developed for stationary engines. Rather, the engines are required to meet emission standards for various types of mobile engines, depending on the engine size and application:
- Engines of displacement below 10 liters per cylinder must meet Tier 1 through Tier 4 emission standards for mobile nonroad diesel engines (almost all stationary engines in the USA belong to this size category). Engines used only for emergencies, for example stand-by generator sets, are exempted from the most stringent Tier 4 emission requirements.
- Engines of displacement above 10 liters per cylinder must meet emission standards for marine engines.
Two groups of standards have been adopted: (1) for engine manufacturers, and (2) for engine owners/operators. Beginning with model year (MY) 2007, engine manufactures are required to emission certify stationary engines, and so they are responsible for compliance. During the transitional period before the MY 2007, engines can be sold that are not emission certified. In that case, the engine owner/operator is responsible for emission compliance.
Standards for Engine Manufacturers. Emission certification requirements for stationary non-emergency diesel engines are summarized in Table 1. From 2007, all stationary engines below 30 liters per cylinder must be certified to the respective standards, as applicable for the model year and maximum engine power (and displacement per cylinder in marine standards).
| Displacement (D) | Power | Model Year | Emission Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| D < 10 liter per cylinder | ≤ 3000 hp | 2007+ | Nonroad Tier 2/3 - Tier 4 |
| > 3000 hp | 2007-2010 | Nonroad Tier 1 | |
| 2011+ | Nonroad Tier 2 - Tier 4 | ||
| 10 ≤ D < 30 liter per cylinder | All | 2007+ | Marine Tier 2 (Cat. 2) |
Emission certification requirements also apply to emergency engines from 2007, but the certification levels are less stringent:
- Emergency engines that are not fire pump engines must be certified to the standards shown in Table 1, with the exception of Tier 4 standards that require “add-on” control (such as diesel particulate filters or NOx reduction catalysts).
- Emergency fire pump engines must be certified to standards that are generally based on nonroad Tier 1 and Tier 2, with Tier 2 becoming effective around 2008-2011, depending on the engine power category.
The time allowed for maintenance and testing of emergency engines is 100 hours per year.
Standards for Engine Owners/Operators. Depending on the engine category, owners and operators are responsible for emission compliance as follows:
- Engines < 30 liters per cylinder
- Pre-2007:
- Engines < 10 liters per cylinder must meet nonroad Tier 1 emission standards.
- Engines ≥ 10 liters per cylinder must meet MARPOL Annex VI NOx limits (Tier 1 marine standards)
- 2007 and later: owners/operators must buy emission certified engines
- Pre-2007:
- Engines ≥ 30 liters per cylinder: owners/operators are required to reduce NOx emissions by 90%, or alternatively they must limit NOx to 1.6 g/kWh (1.2 g/hp-hr). Owners/operators are also required to reduce PM emissions by 60%, or alternatively they must limit PM to 0.15 g/kWh (0.11 g/hp-hr).
Owners/operators of pre-2007 engines < 30 liters per cylinder can demonstrate compliance by purchasing a certified engine. If a non-certified engine is purchased, compliance may be demonstrated using emission test results from a test conducted on a similar engine; data from the engine manufacturer; data from the control device vendor; or conducting a performance test. If in-use performance test is conducted, the owner would be required to meet not-to-exceed (NTE) emission standards instead of the respective certification emission standards. Pre-2007 engines must meet NTE standards of 1.25 × the applicable certification emission standard. The information which demonstrates engine compliance and the appropriate maintenance records must be kept on site.
Owners/operators of engines ≥ 30 liters per cylinder must conduct an initial performance test to demonstrate emissions compliance (NOx is measured using EPA Method 7E, PM using EPA Method 5 [40 CFR part 60 appendix A]). The NTE standards do not apply to engines ≥ 30 liters per cylinder.
Fuel Program. The affected engines would also have to switch to low sulfur fuels: no more than 500 ppm sulfur by October 2007 for all engines, followed by ultra-low sulfur diesel (15 ppm sulfur) by October 2010 for engines < 30 liters per cylinder. These fuel requirements are consistent with those for mobile nonroad engines.
Economic Impact
The EPA estimated that the rule will affect 81,500 new stationary diesel engines. Emission reductions will occur gradually from 2005 to 2015, with the total nationwide annual costs for the rule to be $57 million in 2015.
The following are EPA estimates of the price increase for the compliant equipment due to the added cost of emission controls (year 2015):
- Irrigation systems: 2.3%
- Pumps and compressors: 4.3%
- Generator sets and welding equipment: 10.0%