Silicon Carbide Production
- United States
Final Rule: Mandatory Reporting for Greenhouse Gases Agency1™"*81 Prot9ction
Under the Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) rule, owners or operators of facilities that
produce silicon carbide (as defined below) must report emissions from silicon carbide production
processes and all other source categories located at the facility for which methods are defined in the rule.
Owners or operators are required to collect emission data; calculate GHG emissions; and follow the
specified procedures for quality assurance, missing data, recordkeeping, and reporting.
How Is This Source Category Defined?
The silicon carbide production source category consists of any process that produces silicon carbide for
abrasive purposes.
What GHGs Must Be Reported?
Silicon carbide production facilities must report the following emissions:
• Carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CFL^ process emissions from all silicon carbide process units
or furnaces combined.
• CO2, nitrous oxide (N2O), and CH4 emissions from each stationary combustion unit on site under
40 CFRpart 98, subpart C (General Stationary Fuel Combustion Sources).
In addition, each facility must report GHG emissions for other source categories for which calculation
methods are provided in the rule. Please refer to the relevant information sheet for a summary of the rule
requirements for calculating and reporting emissions from any other source categories located at the
facility.
How Must GHG Emissions Be Calculated?
Calculate CO2 emissions as follows:
• If the CO2 process emissions from a silicon carbide production furnace or process unit are vented
through the same stack as a combustion unit or other process equipment that reports CO2
emissions using a CEMS that complies with the Tier 4 Calculation Methodology in 40 CFR part
98, subpart C, then the combined CO2 stack emissions must be reported according to the Tier 4
Calculation Methodology in 40 CFR part 98, subpart C.
• If the CO2 process emissions from a silicon carbide production furnace or process unit are not
vented through the same stack as a combustion unit or other process equipment that reports CO2
emissions using a CEMS that complies with the Tier 4 Calculation Methodology in 40 CFR part
98, subpart C, then report using one of the following two alternative methods:
o Calculate CO2 emissions by operating and maintaining the CEMS according to the Tier 4
Calculation Methodology specified in 40 CFR 98, subpart C; or
o Calculate CO2 emissions using the measured monthly petroleum coke consumption and a
monthly facility-specific emission factor. The facility-specific emission factor is the
carbon content of the petroleum coke adjusted for carbon in the silicon carbide product.
The adjustment factor is provided in the rule. The carbon content of the petroleum coke
may be provided by the supplier or measured by the facility using methods specified in
40 CFR 98, subpart BB 1 EPA-430-F-09-040R
September 2009
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the rule. If carbon content data provided by the supplier is used, then an annual analysis
must be performed to confirm that the supplier data is accurate.
Calculate CH4 emissions using measured monthly petroleum coke consumption and a default emission
factor of 10.2 kg/metric ton of coke consumed.
A checklist for data that must be monitored is available at:
www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/downloads/checklists/siliconcarbideproduction.pdf
What Information Must Be Reported?
In addition to the information required by the General Provisions at 40 CFR 98.3(c), each silicon carbide
manufacturing facility must report the following information:
If a CEMS is used to measure CO2 emissions, then under this subpart the relevant information required by
40 CFR subpart C (General Stationary Fuel Combustion Sources) for the Tier 4 Calculation Methodology
and the following information must be reported:
• Annual consumption of petroleum coke (tons).
• Annual production of silicon carbide (tons).
• Annual production capacity of silicon carbide (tons).
If a CEMS is not used to measure CO2 emissions, the following information must be reported:
• Monthly consumption of petroleum coke (tons).
• Annual production of silicon carbide (tons).
• Annual production capacity of silicon carbide (tons).
• Monthly carbon content of the petroleum coke (percent by weight expressed as a decimal
fraction) and the source of the data (i.e., supplier provided data or facility analysis).
• CO2 emission factor calculated for each month (metric tons CO2/metric ton of petroleum coke
consumed).
• If using supplier carbon content data, the results of the sampling analysis for QA/QC of supplier
data (percent by weight expressed as a decimal fraction).
• Number of months for which missing data procedures were followed for petroleum coke and
petroleum coke consumption.
For More Information
This document is provided solely for informational purposes. It does not provide legal advice, have
legally binding effect, or expressly or implicitly create, expand, or limit any legal rights, obligations,
responsibilities, expectations, or benefits in regard to any person. The series of information sheets is
intended to assist reporting facilities/owners in understanding key provisions of the final rule.
Visit EPA's Web site (www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html) for more
information, including the final preamble and rule, additional information sheets on specific industries,
the schedule for training sessions, and other documents and tools. For questions that cannot be answered
through the Web site, please contact us at: ghgmrr@epa.gov.
40 CFR 98, subpart BB 2 EPA-430-F-09-040R
September 2009
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