Regulations Limiting Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Natural Gas-fired Generation of Electricity (SOR/2018-261)

Performance Tests — Significantly Modified Boiler Units

Marginal note:Initial performance test

• 5 (1) An initial performance test must be conducted in the presence of the performance test verifier and in accordance with subsection (3) to determine the CO₂ emission intensity for a boiler unit referred to in subsection 3(4) within 12 months following

  • (a) in the case of a unit that has ceased to combust coal before January 1, 2019, January 1, 2019; or

  • (b) in the case of a unit that ceases to combust coal on or after January 1, 2019, the day on which electricity generated from the boiler unit was first sold or distributed to the electric grid, in the calendar year in which the unit becomes subject to these Regulations.

• Marginal note:Annual performance test

  (2) Performance tests are to be subsequently conducted annually to determine the CO₂ emission intensity for the boiler unit in question, in accordance with subsection (3), for as long as the responsible person for that boiler unit does not have to meet the emission limit referred to in subsection 4(2).

• Marginal note:Conditions — test

  (3) The initial and annual performance test must consist of a continuous test that lasts at least two hours and does not exceed 100% of the unit’s capacity.

• Marginal note:Quantification

  (4) For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2),

  • (a) the quantity of energy produced by the unit must be determined in accordance with section 11; and

  • (b) the quantity of CO₂ emitted by the unit must be determined in accordance with sections 12, 13 and 15 to 18, as applicable: however, all emissions must be quantified including those from the combustion of biomass.

• Marginal note:Adaptation

  (5) For the performance test, the reference to “calendar year” in sections 11, 12, 15, 17 and 18 and in the Reference Method is replaced with a reference to “performance test period”.

Marginal note:Requirement

6 A responsible person for a unit referred to in subsection 3(4) must obtain an annual performance test result that shows less than a 2% increase in emission intensity from the previous performance test.

Emergency Circumstances

Marginal note:Application for exemption

• 7 (1) A responsible person for a unit may, under an emergency circumstance described in subsection (2), apply to the Minister for an exemption from the application of subsection 4(1) or (2) in respect of the unit if, as a result of the emergency, the operator of the electricity grid in the province in which the unit is located or an official of that province responsible for ensuring and supervising the electricity supply orders the responsible person to produce electricity to avoid a threat to the supply or to restore that supply.

• Marginal note:Definition of emergency circumstance

  (2) An emergency circumstance is a circumstance

  • (a) that arises due to an extraordinary, unforeseen and irresistible event; or

  • (b) under which one or more of the measures referred to in paragraph 1(a) of the Regulations Prescribing Circumstances for Granting Waivers Pursuant to Section 147 of the Act has been made or issued in the province where the unit is located.

• Marginal note:Deadline for application

  (3) The application for the exemption must be provided to the Minister within 15 days after the day on which the emergency circumstance arises. The application must include the information referred to in section 1 and paragraphs 2(a), (b) and (d) of Schedule 1 or the unit’s registration number, if any, the date on which the emergency circumstance arose and information, along with supporting documents, to demonstrate that the conditions set out in subsection (1) are met.

• Marginal note:Minister’s decision

  (4) If the Minister is satisfied that the conditions set out in subsection (1) are met, the Minister must, within 30 days after the day on which the application is received,

  • (a) grant the exemption; and

  • (b) if the unit has not been assigned a registration number, assign a registration number and inform the responsible person of that number.

• Marginal note:Duration of exemption

  (5) The exemption becomes effective on the day on which the emergency circumstance arises and ceases to have effect on the earliest of

  • (a) the ninetieth day after that day,

  • (b) the day specified by the Minister,

  • (c) the day on which the circumstance referred to in paragraph (2)(a) ceases to cause a disruption, or a significant risk of disruption, to the electricity supply in the province where the unit is located, and

  • (d) the day on which the measure, if any, referred to in paragraph (2)(b) ceases to have effect.

Marginal note:Application for extension of exemption

• 8 (1) If the conditions set out in subsection 7(1) will continue to exist after the day on which the exemption granted under paragraph 7(4)(a) is to cease to have effect, the responsible person may, before that day, apply to the Minister for an extension of the exemption.

• Marginal note:Contents of application

  (2) The application must include the unit’s registration number and information, along with supporting documents, to demonstrate that

  • (a) the conditions set out in subsection 7(1) will continue to exist after the day on which the exemption is to cease to have effect; and

  • (b) measures — other than the operation of the unit while the exemption has effect — have been or are being taken to end, decrease the risk of or mitigate the consequences of the disruption.

• Marginal note:Minister’s decision

  (3) If the Minister is satisfied that the elements referred to in paragraphs (2)(a) and (b) have been demonstrated, the Minister must grant the extension within 15 days after the day on which the application is received.

• Marginal note:Duration of extension

  (4) The extension ceases to have effect on the earliest of

  • (a) the ninetieth day after the day on which the application for the extension was made,

  • (b) the day specified by the Minister, and

  • (c) the day referred to in paragraph 7(5)(c).

Accuracy of Data

Marginal note:Measuring devices — installation, maintenance and calibration

• 9 (1) A responsible person for a unit must install, maintain and calibrate a measuring device — other than a continuous emission monitoring system and a measuring device that is subject to the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act — that is used for the purposes of these Regulations in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions or any applicable generally recognized national or international industry standard.

• Marginal note:Frequency of calibration

  (2) The responsible person must calibrate each of the measuring devices at the greater of the following frequencies:

  • (a) at least once in every calendar year but at least five months after a previous calibration, and

  • (b) the minimum frequency recommended by the manufacturer.

• Marginal note:Accuracy of measurements

  (3) The responsible person must use measuring devices that enable measurements to be made with a degree of accuracy of ± 5%.

Marginal note:Certification of CEMS

10 The responsible person must certify the CEMS in accordance with section 5 of the Reference Method, before it is used for the purposes of these Regulations.

Quantification Rules

Production of Energy

Marginal note:Quantity of energy

• 11 (1) The quantity of energy produced by a given unit is determined by the formula

  G + (0.75 × H_pnet)

  where

  G

  is

  • (a) the gross quantity of electricity generated by the unit in the calendar year expressed in GWh, as measured at the electrical terminals of the generators of the unit using meters that comply with the requirements of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act and the Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations, or

  • (b) in the case of a hybrid configuration – when the unit is either a combustion engine unit that shares a steam turbine with a boiler unit or a boiler unit that shares a steam turbine with a combustion engine unit – the quantity of electricity generated by the given unit in the calendar year expressed in GWh, determined by the formula in subsection (2); and

  H_pnet

  is the net quantity of useful thermal energy produced by the unit in a calendar year, expressed in GWh, determined by the formula in subsection (3).

• Marginal note:Quantity of electricity — hybrid configuration

  (2) The quantity of electricity generated by a given unit is determined by the formula

  G_ce + G_s – G_ext

  where

  G_ce

  is the gross quantity of electricity that is generated by the generators of the combustion engines in a combustion engine unit that shares a steam turbine with a boiler unit, in the calendar year, expressed in GWh, as measured at the electrical terminals of the generators of the combustion engines using meters that comply with the requirements of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act and the Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations, if the given unit for which the electricity is being quantified is a combustion engine unit, or equal to zero, if the given unit for which the electricity is being quantified is a boiler unit;

  G_s

  is the gross quantity of electricity that is generated by the generators of the shared steam turbine in the calendar year, expressed in GWh, as measured at the electrical terminals of the generators of the shared steam turbine using meters that comply with the requirements of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act and the Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations; and

  G_ext

  is the quantity of electricity that is generated by the unit other than the given unit for which the electricity is being quantified, in the calendar year, expressed in GWh and that is determined by the formula

  

  where

  G_s

  is the gross quantity of electricity that is generated by the generators of the shared steam turbine in the calendar year, expressed in GWh, as measured at the electrical terminals of the generators of the shared steam turbine using meters that comply with the requirements of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act and the Electricity and Gas Inspection Regulations,

  t

  is the t^th hour, where “t” goes from the number 1 to x and where x is the total number of hours during which the generators of the shared steam turbine generated electricity in the calendar year,

  j

  is the j^th external heat stream, originating from the other unit where “j” goes from the number 1 to m and where m is the total number of external heat streams that contributed to the electricity generated by the generators of the shared steam turbine of the unit,

  h_{ext_j}

  is the average specific enthalpy of the j^th external heat stream, originating from the other unit that contributed to the electricity generated by the generators of the shared steam turbine, expressed in GJ/tonne, during period “t” and must be based on the measurement of the temperature and pressure of that heat stream and determined using a continuous measuring device,

  M_{ext_j}

  is the mass flow of the j^th external heat stream originating from the other unit that contributed to the electricity generated by the generators of the shared steam turbine, expressed in tonnes, during period “t”, determined using a continuous measuring device,

  k

  is the k^th internal heat stream originating from the given unit, where “k” goes from the number 1 to l and where l is the total number of heat streams that originated from the combustion of fuel in the unit and that contributed to the electricity generated by the generators of the shared steam turbine,

  h_{int_k}

  is the average specific enthalpy of the k^th internal heat stream originating from the given unit and having contributed to the electricity generated by the generators of the shared steam turbine, expressed in GJ/tonne, during period “t” and must be based on the measurement of the temperature and pressure of that heat stream and determined using a continuous measuring device, and

  M_{int_k}

  is the mass flow of the k^th internal heat stream originating from the given unit that contributed to the electricity generated by the generators of the shared steam turbine, expressed in tonnes, during period “t”, determined using a continuous measuring device.

• Marginal note:Net quantity of useful thermal energy

  (3) In the case of a unit that simultaneously generates electricity and produces useful thermal energy from the fuel combusted by a combustion engine or boiler, as the case may be, the net quantity of useful thermal energy produced by the unit in a calendar year, expressed in GWh, is determined by the formula

  

  where

  t

  is the t^th hour, where “t” goes from the number 1 to x and where x is the total number of hours during which the unit produced useful thermal energy in the calendar year;

  i

  is the i^th heat stream exiting the unit, where “i” goes from the number 1 to n and where n is the total number of heat streams exiting the unit;

  h_{out_i}

  is the average specific enthalpy of the i^th heat stream exiting the unit, expressed in GJ/tonne, during period “t” and must be based on the measurement of the temperature and pressure of that heat stream and determined using a continuous measuring device;

  M_{out_i}

  is the mass flow of the i^th heat stream exiting the unit, expressed in tonnes, during period “t”, determined using a continuous measuring device;

  j

  is the j^th heat stream — other than condensate return — entering the unit, where “j” goes from the number 1 to m and where m is the total number of heat streams entering the unit;

  h_{in_j}

  is the average specific enthalpy of the j^th heat stream — other than condensate return — entering the unit, expressed in GJ/tonne, during period “t” and must be based on the measurement of the temperature and pressure of that heat stream and determined using a continuous measuring device; and

  M_{in_j}

  is the mass flow of the j^th heat stream — other than condensate return — entering the unit, expressed in tonnes, during period “t”, determined using a continuous measuring device.

CO₂ Emissions

Quantification Methods

Marginal note:Choice of method

12 The quantity of CO₂ emissions resulting from the combustion of fossil fuels in a unit in a calendar year must be determined

• (a) in accordance with section 13 or 14, using a CEMS; or

• (b) in accordance with sections 17 and 18, using a fuel-based method.

Continuous Emission Monitoring System

Marginal note:Unit not combusting biomass

13 Subject to section 15, the quantity of CO₂ emissions resulting from combustion of fossil fuels in a unit that does not combust biomass that is measured using a CEMS must be calculated in accordance with sections 7.1 to 7.7 of the Reference Method.

Marginal note:Unit combusting biomass

• 14 (1) Subject to section 15, the quantity of CO₂ emissions resulting from the combustion of fossil fuels in a unit combusting biomass in a calendar year that is measured using a CEMS must be determined in accordance with the following formula:

  E_u × (V_ff / V_T) – E_s

  where

  E_u

  is the quantity of CO₂ emissions, expressed in tonnes, from the unit, “u”, during the calendar year from the combustion of fuel, as measured by the CEMS, and calculated in accordance with sections 7.1 to 7.7 of the Reference Method;

  V_ff

  is the volume of CO₂ emissions released from combustion of fossil fuel in the unit during the calendar year, expressed in standard m³ and determined in accordance with the following formula:

  

  where

  Q_i

  is the quantity of fossil fuel type “i” combusted in the unit during the calendar year, determined

  • (a) for a gaseous fuel, in the same manner used in the determination of V_f in the formula set out in paragraph 18(1)(a) and expressed in standard m³,

  • (b) for a liquid fuel, in the same manner used in the determination of V_f in the formula set out in paragraph 18(1)(b) and expressed in kL, and

  • (c) for a solid fuel, in the same manner used in the determination of M_f in the formula set out in paragraph 18(1)(c) and expressed in tonnes,

  i

  is the i^th fossil fuel type combusted in the unit during the calendar year, where “i” goes from the number 1 to n and where n is the number of fossil fuels so combusted,

  F_c,i

  is the fuel-specific carbon-based F-factor for each fossil fuel type “i” — being the factor set out in Appendix A of the Reference Method, or for fuels not listed, the one determined in accordance with that Appendix — corrected to be expressed in standard m³ of CO₂/GJ, and

  HHV_i

  is the higher heating value for each fossil fuel type “i” that is measured in accordance with subsection (2), or in the absence of a measured higher heating value, the default higher heating value, set out in column 2 of Schedule 2, for the fuel type, as set out in column 1;

  V_T

  is the volume of CO₂ emissions released from combustion of fuel — fossil fuel and biomass — in the unit during the calendar year determined in accordance with the following formula:

  

  where

  t

  is the t^th hour, where “t” goes from the number 1 to n and where n is the total number of hours during which the unit generated electricity in the calendar year,

  CO_2w,t

  is the average concentration of CO₂ in relation to all gases in the stack emitted from the combustion of fuel in the unit during each hour “t”, during which the unit generated electricity in the calendar year — or, if applicable, a calculation made in accordance with section 7.4 of the Reference Method of that average concentration of CO₂ based on a measurement of the concentration of oxygen (O₂) in those gases in the stack — expressed as a percentage on a wet basis, and

  Q_w,t

  is the average volumetric flow during that hour, measured on a wet basis by the stack gas volumetric flow monitor, expressed in standard m³; and

  E_s

  is the quantity of CO₂ emissions, expressed in tonnes, that is released from the use of sorbent to control the emission of sulphur dioxide from the unit during the calendar year, determined in accordance with the following formula:

  S × R × (44/MM_s)

  where

  S

  is the quantity of sorbent material, such as calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), expressed in tonnes,

  R

  is the stoichiometric ratio, on a mole fraction basis, of CO₂ released on usage of one mole of sorbent material, which is equal to 1 if the sorbent material is CaCO₃, and

  MM_s

  is the molecular mass of the sorbent material, which is equal to 100 if the sorbent material is CaCO₃.

• Marginal note:Higher heating value

  (2) The higher heating value of a fuel is to be measured

  • (a) for a gaseous fuel,

    • (i) in accordance with whichever of the following standards that applies:

      • (A) ASTM D1826 - 94(2017), entitled Standard Test Method for Calorific (Heating) Value of Gases in Natural Gas Range by Continuous Recording Calorimeter,

      • (B) ASTM D3588 - 98(2017), entitled Standard Practice for Calculating Heat Value, Compressibility Factor, and Relative Density of Gaseous Fuels,

      • (C) ASTM D4891 - 13, entitled Standard Test Method for Heating Value of Gases in Natural Gas and Flare Gases Range by Stoichiometric Combustion,

      • (D) Gas Processors Association Standard 2172 - 14, entitled Calculation of Gross Heating Value, Relative Density, Compressibility and Theoretical Hydrocarbon Liquid Content for Natural Gas Mixtures for Custody Transfer, and

      • (E) Gas Processors Association standard 2261 - 13, entitled Analysis for Natural Gas and Similar Gaseous Mixtures by Gas Chromatography, or

    • (ii) by means of a direct measuring device that measures the higher heating value of the fuel, but if the measuring device provides only lower heating values, those lower heating values must be converted to higher heating values; and

  • (b) for a liquid fuel that is

    • (i) an oil or a liquid fuel derived from waste, in accordance with

      • (A) ASTM D240 - 17, entitled Standard Test Method for Heat of Combustion of Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels by Bomb Calorimeter, or

      • (B) ASTM D4809 - 13, entitled Standard Test Method for Heat of Combustion of Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels by Bomb Calorimeter (Precision Method), and

    • (ii) any other liquid fuel type, in accordance with an applicable ASTM standard for the measurement of the higher heating value of the fuel type or, if no such ASTM standard applies, in accordance with an applicable internationally recognized method.