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 ------- 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 ------- |