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

Marginal note:Multiple CEMS per unit

• 15 (1) For the purposes of sections 13 and 14, the total quantity of CO₂ emissions from a unit equipped with multiple CEMS is determined by adding together the quantity of emissions measured for each CEMS.

• Marginal note:Units sharing common stack

  (2) If a unit is located at a facility where there is one or more other units and a CEMS measures emissions from that unit and other units at a common stack rather than at the exhaust duct of that unit and of each of those other units that brings those emissions to the common stack, then the quantity of emissions attributable to that unit is determined based on the ratio of the heat input of that unit to the total of the heat input of that unit and of all of those other units sharing the common stack in accordance with the following formula:

  

  where

  Q_u,j

  is the quantity of fuel type “j” combusted in that unit “u” during the calendar year, determined

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

  HHV_u,j

  is the higher heating value for each fossil fuel type “j” that is combusted in that unit “u” that is measured in accordance with subsection 14(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;

  j

  is the j^th fuel type combusted during the calendar year in a unit where “j” goes from the number 1 to y and where y is the number of those fuel types;

  Q_i,j

  the quantity of fuel type “j” combusted in each unit “i” during the calendar year, determined for a gaseous fuel, a liquid fuel and a solid fuel, respectively, in the manner set out in the description of Q_uj;

  HHV_i,j

  is the higher heating value for each fossil fuel type “j” that is combusted in that unit “i” that is measured in accordance with subsection 14(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;

  i

  is the i^th unit, where “i” goes from the number 1 to x, and where x is the number of units that share a common stack; and

  E

  is the quantity of CO₂ emissions, expressed in tonnes, from the combustion of all fuels in all the units that share a common stack during the calendar year, measured by a CEMS at the common stack, and calculated in accordance with sections 7.1 to 7.7 of the Reference Method.

Marginal note:If using a CEMS

• 16 (1) A responsible person who uses a CEMS must ensure compliance with the Reference Method.

• Marginal note:Auditor’s report

  (2) For each calendar year during which the responsible person used a CEMS, they must obtain a report, signed by the auditor, that contains the information required by Schedule 3 and send it to the Minister with the report referred to in section 21.

Fuel-based Method

Marginal note:Quantification

17 The quantity of CO₂ emissions resulting from the combustion of fossil fuels in a unit in a calendar year, that is not measured using a CEMS, is determined by the formula

where

i

is the i^th fossil fuel type that is combusted in the calendar year in a unit, where “i” goes from the number 1 to n and where n is the number of those fossil fuel types;

E_i

is the quantity of CO₂ emissions that is attributable to the combustion of fossil fuels of type “i” in the unit in the calendar year, expressed in tonnes, as determined for that fuel type in accordance with section 18; and

E_s

is the quantity of CO₂ emissions that is released from the sorbent used to control the emission of sulphur dioxide from the unit in the calendar year, expressed in tonnes, as determined by the 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 1 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:Measured carbon content

• 18 (1) The quantity of CO₂ emissions, that is attributable to the combustion of a fossil fuel in a unit in a calendar year is determined by one of the following formulas, whichever applies:

  • (a) for a gaseous fuel,

    V_f × CC_A × (MM_A/MV_cf) × 3.664 × 0.001

    where

    V_f

    is the volume of the fuel combusted in the calendar year, determined using flow meters, expressed in standard m³,

    CC_A

    is the weighted average of the carbon content of the fuel, determined in accordance with subsection (2), expressed in kg of carbon per kg of the fuel,

    MM_A

    is the average molecular mass of the fuel, determined based on fuel samples taken in accordance with section 19, expressed in kg per kg-mole of the fuel, and

    MV_cf

    is the molar volume conversion factor of 23.645 standard m³ per kg-mole of the fuel at standard conditions;

  • (b) for a liquid fuel,

    V_f × CC_A × 3.664

    where

    V_f

    is the volume of the fuel combusted in the calendar year, determined using flow meters, expressed in kL , and

    CC_A

    is the weighted average of the carbon content of the fuel, determined in accordance with subsection (2), at the same temperature as that used in the determination of V_f, expressed in tonnes of carbon per kL of the fuel; and

  • (c) for a solid fuel,

    M_f × CC_A × 3.664

    where

    M_f

    is the mass of the fuel combusted in the calendar year, determined, as the case may be, on a wet or dry basis using a measuring device, expressed in tonnes, and

    CC_A

    is the weighted average of the carbon content of the fuel, determined in accordance with subsection (2), on the same wet or dry basis as that used in the determination of M_f, expressed in kg of carbon per kg of the fuel.

• Marginal note:Weighted average

  (2) The weighted average “CC_A” referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) to (c) is determined by the formula

  

  where

  CC_i

  is the carbon content of each sample or composite sample, as the case may be, of the fuel for the i^th sampling period, expressed for gaseous fuels, liquid fuels and solid fuels, respectively, in the same unit of measure as that set out in CC_A, as provided by the supplier of the fuel to the responsible person or, if not so provided, as determined by the responsible person in the following manner:

  • (a) for a gaseous fuel,

    • (i) in accordance with whichever of the following standards for the measurement of the carbon content of the fuel that applies:

      • (A) ASTM D1945-14, entitled Standard Test Method for Analysis of Natural Gas by Gas Chromatography,

      • (B) ASTM UOP539-12, entitled Refinery Gas Analysis by Gas Chromatography,

      • (C) ASTM D7833-14, entitled Standard Test Method for Determination of Hydrocarbons and Non-Hydrocarbon Gases in Gaseous Mixtures by Gas Chromatography, and

      • (D) API Technical Report 2572, 1st edition, published in May 2013 and entitled Carbon Content, Sampling, and Calculation, or

    • (ii) by means of a direct measuring device that measures the carbon content of the fuel,

  • (b) for a liquid fuel, in accordance with whichever of the following standards or methods for the measurement of the carbon content of the fuel that applies:

    • (i) API Technical Report 2572, 1st edition, published in May 2013 and entitled Carbon Content, Sampling, and Calculation,

    • (ii) ASTM D5291-16, entitled Standard Test Methods for Instrumental Determination of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen in Petroleum Products and Lubricants,

    • (iii) the ASTM standard that applies to the type of fuel, or

    • (iv) if no ASTM standard applies, an applicable internationally recognized method, and

  • (c) for a solid fuel, on the same wet or dry basis as that used in the determination of CC_A, in accordance with,

    • (i) for a solid fuel derived from waste, ASTM E777-08, entitled Standard Test Method for Carbon and Hydrogen in the Analysis Sample of Refuse-Derived Fuel, and

    • (ii) for any other solid fuel, the following standard or method for the measurement of the carbon content of the fuel:

      • (A) the ASTM standard that applies to the type of fuel, and

      • (B) if no ASTM standard applies, an applicable internationally recognized method;

  i

  is the i^th sampling period that is referred to in section 19, where “i” goes from the number 1 to n and where n is the number of those sampling periods; and

  Q_i

  is the volume or mass, as the case may be, of the fuel combusted during the i^th sampling period, expressed

  • (a) in standard m³, for a gaseous fuel,

  • (b) in kL, for a liquid fuel, and

  • (c) in tonnes, for a solid fuel, on the same wet or dry basis as that used in the determination of CC_A.

Sampling and Missing Data

Marginal note:Sampling

• 19 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the determination of the value of the elements related to carbon content referred to in section 18 must be based on fuel samples taken in accordance with this section.

• Marginal note:Carbon content provided by the supplier

  (2) If the supplier of the fuel has provided the carbon content of the fuel, the responsible person can obtain from that supplier the carbon content of the fuel for the specified sampling period and at the specified minimum sampling frequency rather than taking samples in accordance with subsection (3).

• Marginal note:Frequency

  (3) Each fuel sample must be taken at a time and location in the fuel handling system of the facility that provides the following representative samples of the fuel combusted at the applicable minimum frequency:

  • (a) for natural gas, during each sampling period consisting of each year that the unit generates electricity or produces useful thermal energy, two samples taken that year, with each of those samples being taken at least four months after any previous sample has been taken, in accordance with whichever of the following standard that applies:

    • (i) ASTM D4057-12, entitled Standard Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products,

    • (ii) ASTM D4177-16e1, entitled Standard Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products,

    • (iii) ASTM D5287-08(2015), entitled Standard Practice for Automatic Sampling of Gaseous Fuels, and

    • (iv) ASTM F307-13, entitled Standard Practice for Sampling Pressurized Gas for Gas Analysis;

  • (b) for refinery gas, during each sampling period consisting of each day that the unit generates electricity or produces useful thermal energy, one sample per day that is taken at least six hours after any previous sample has been taken, in accordance with any applicable standard referred to in paragraph (a);

  • (c) for a type of liquid fuel or of a gaseous fuel other than refinery gas and natural gas, during each sampling period consisting of each month that the unit generates electricity or produces useful thermal energy, one sample per month that is taken at least two weeks after any previous sample has been taken, in accordance with any of the standards referred to in paragraph (a); and

  • (d) for a solid fuel, one composite sample per month that consists of sub-samples, each having the same mass, that are taken from the fuel that is fed for combustion during each week that begins in that month and during which the unit generates electricity or produces useful thermal energy, and after all fuel treatment operations have been carried out but before any mixing of the fuel from which the sub-sample is taken with other fuels, and at least 72 hours after any previous sub-sample has been taken.

• Marginal note:Additional samples

  (4) For greater certainty, the responsible person who, for the purposes of these Regulations, takes more samples than the minimum required under subsection (3) must make the determination referred to in subsection (1) based on each sample taken — and in the case of composite samples, each sub-sample taken — including those additional samples.

• Marginal note:Significantly modified boiler units

  (5) In the case of a boiler unit referred to in subsection 3(4), one fuel sample is required for the initial performance test and each subsequent performance test and it must be taken in accordance with one of the applicable standards set out in subparagraphs (3)(a)(i) to (iv).

Marginal note:Missing data

• 20 (1) Except in the case of an initial performance test or any subsequent performance test referred to in section 5, if, for any reason beyond the responsible person’s control, the emission intensity referred to in subsection 4(1) or 4(2) cannot be determined in accordance with a formula set out in any of sections 11, 17 and 18 because data required to determine the value of an element of that formula is missing for a given period in a calendar year, replacement data for that given period must be used to determine that value.

• Marginal note:Replacement data — CEMS

  (2) If a CEMS is used to determine the value of an element of a formula set out in section 17 but data is missing for a given period, the replacement data must be obtained in accordance with Section 3.5.2 of the Reference Method.

• Marginal note:Replacement data — fuel-based methods

  (3) If a fuel-based method is used to determine the value of any element — related to the carbon content or molecular mass of a fuel — of a formula set out in section 17 or 18 but data is missing for a given period, the replacement data is to be the average of the available data for that element, using the fuel-based method in question, during the equivalent period prior to and, if the data is available, subsequent to that given period. However, if no data is available for that element for the equivalent period prior to that given period, the replacement data to be used is the value determined for that element, using the fuel-based method in question, during the equivalent period subsequent to the given period.

• Marginal note:Replacement data — multiple periods

  (4) Replacement data may be used in relation to a maximum of 28 days in a calendar year.

Reporting, Sending, Recording and Retaining Information

Marginal note:Annual reports

• 21 (1) Subject to subsection (2), a responsible person for a unit must send one of the following reports, to the Minister on or before the June 1 that follows the calendar year that is the subject of the report:

  • (a) a report containing the information set out in Schedule 1 in respect of each calendar year in which the unit meets the conditions set out in subsection 3(1) or (2), as the case may be;

  • (b) a short report containing the information referred to in sections 1 and 2, except paragraph 2(h), of Schedule 1 in respect of each calendar year in which the unit no longer meets one of the conditions referred to in subsection 3(1) or (2), as the case may be.

• Marginal note:Significantly modified boiler units

  (2) A responsible person for a boiler unit referred to in subsection 3(4) must send the reports referred to in subsection (1), beginning in the year in which it must meet the emission limit referred to in subsection 4(2).

• Marginal note:Permanent cessation of electricity generation

  (3) If a unit permanently ceases to generate electricity in a calendar year, a responsible person for the unit must so notify the Minister in writing not later than 60 days after the day on which the unit ceases generating electricity. A report is not necessary in respect of the calendar years following the calendar year in which the unit ceases generating electricity.

• Marginal note:Registration number

  (4) On receipt of a first report in respect of a unit referred to in paragraph (1)(a), the Minister must assign a registration number to the unit and inform the responsible person of that number.

• Marginal note:Change of information

  (5) If there is a change to the information referred to in section 1 of Schedule 1 that was provided in the most recent report, the responsible person must notify the Minister of the change in writing not later than 30 days after the day on which the change is made.