Generation Technologies in Severe Non-Attainment Regions

FOR GUIDANCE ON AIR PERMITTING ISSUES,
PLEASE SELECT WHICH TECHNOLOGY WILL BE UTILIZED

(click on the appropriate link)

• Natural Gas Recip Engine
• Diesel Recip Engine
• MicroTurbine
• Combustion Turbine
• Fuel Cell - Downstate
• Renewables; Biomass
• Renewables; Solar, Wind

To calculate/understand which environmental permits apply to your facility, click here.

View a Bar Chart ( go to APPENDIX C.) and explanatory text that describe the four air permitting threshold levels, including exempt; registrations; state facilities permit; and, Title V Major Source.

If your project is large enough and you have other air emissions point sources, environmental impact reviews may be necessary at the earliest stage of your planned CHP unit installation, Go To Appendix B for specific considerations and to obtain resource and guidance information on the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act(SEQRA) and New York City (CEQR) environmental quality review process. The purpose of SEQRA/CEQR is to facilitate and document that government agencies have considered the relevant environmental implications before undertaking an official action such as issuing an air permit.



Natural Gas Recip Engines

• This project is located within a severe ozone non-attainment area (New York City, Long Island, Westchester County, Rockland, or lower Orange County)


• If the engine(s) nameplate rating is less than 225 Brake Horsepower (bhp) (or 168 kW) and the maximum annual Potential-To-Emit (PTE) of NOx from all sources* at site are less than 25 tons per year (TPY), the project is an exempt/trivial source; go to Downstate Exempt/Trivial


• If the engine(s) nameplate rating is greater than 225 bhp (or 168 kW), but:

» Less than 870 bhp (or 650 kW+) and the maximum annual Potential-To-Emit (PTE) of NOx from all sources* at site are less than 12.5 tons per year (TPY), the project qualifies for Minor Facility Registration; go to Facility Registration

» Greater than 870 bhp (or 650 kW+) and PTE of NOx from all sources* at site exceeds 12.5 TPY but can be capped at less than 25 TPY, the project qualifies for a State Facility Permit; go to State Facility Permits

» Greater than 1740 bhp (or 1300 kW+) or PTE of NOx from all sources* at site can not be capped under 25 TPY then Go To Title V Major Source Permits


* To understand how other existing NOx point sources at the site can affect relevant permitting requirements, click here
+ Engine size limits are based on NYDEC proposed DG standards for lean burn natural gas engine NOx emissions of 4.4 lb/MWh (about 1.5 g/bhp-hr); click here if your emissions rate is significantly different.



Diesel or Primarily Diesel (dual-fueled/pilot-ignition) Recip Engines



• This project is located within a severe ozone non-attainment area (New York City, Long Island, Westchester County, Rockland, or lower Orange County)


• If the engine(s) nameplate rating is less than 225 Brake Horsepower (bhp) (or 168 kW) and the maximum annual Potential-To-Emit (PTE) of NOx from all sources* at site are less than 25 tons per year (TPY), the project is an exempt/trivial source; go to Downstate Exempt/Trivial


• If the engine(s) nameplate rating is greater than 225 bhp (or 168 kW), but:

» Less than 560 bhp (or 420 kW+) and the maximum annual Potential-To-Emit (PTE) of NOx from all sources* at site are less than 12.5 tons per year (TPY), the project qualifies for Minor Facility Registration; go to Facility Registration

» Greater than 560 bhp (or 420 kW+) and PTE of NOx from all sources* at site exceeds 12.5 TPY but can be capped at less than 25 TPY, the project qualifies for a State Facility Permit; go to State Facility Permits

» Greater than 1120 bhp (or 840 kW+) or PTE of NOx from all sources* at site can not be capped under 25 TPY then Go To Title V Major Source Permits

* To understand how other existing NOx point sources at the site can affect relevant permitting requirements, click here
+ Engine size limits are based on NYDEC proposed DG standards for diesel compression engine NOx emissions of 6.8 lb/MWh; click here if your emissions rate is significantly different.



Natural Gas / Waste Gas MicroTurbines



• This project is located within a severe ozone non-attainment area (New York City, Long Island, Westchester County, Rockland, or lower Orange County)


• If the fuel input to the turbine(s) is less than 10 MMBtu/hr (turbine(s) nameplate rating less than 800 kW) and the maximum annual Potential-To-Emit (PTE) of NOx from all sources* at site are less than 25 tons per year (TPY), the project is an exempt/trivial source; go to Downstate Exempt/Trivial


• If the turbine(s) nameplate rating(s) is greater than 800 kW (10 MMBtu/hr fuel input) but:

» Less than 2200 kW+ and the maximum annual Potential-To-Emit (PTE) of NOx from all sources* at site are less than 12.5 tons per year (TPY), the project qualifies for Minor Facility Registration; go to Facility Registration

» Greater than 2200 kW+ and PTE of NOx from all sources* at site exceeds 12.5 TPY but can be capped at less than 25 TPY, the project qualifies for a State Facility Permit; go to State Facility Permits

» Greater than 4400 kW+ or PTE of NOx from all sources* at site can not be capped under 25 TPY then Go To Title V Major Source Permits

* To understand how other existing NOx point sources at the site can affect relevant permitting requirements, click here
+ Turbine size limits are based on NYDEC proposed DG standards for natural gas turbine NOx emissions of 1.3 lb/MWh (about 25 ppm @ 15% O2); click here if your emissions rate is significantly different



Combustion Turbines

• This project is located within a severe ozone non-attainment area (New York City, Long Island, Westchester County, Rockland, or lower Orange County)


• If the fuel input to the turbine(s) is less than 10 MMBtu/hr (turbine nameplate rating less than 800 kW) and the maximum annual Potential-To-Emit (PTE) of NOx from all sources* at site are less than 25 tons per year (TPY), the project is an exempt/trivial source; go to Downstate Exempt/Trivial


• If the turbine(s) nameplate rating(s) is greater than 800 kW (10 MMBtu/hr fuel input) but:

» Less than 1300 kW+ and the maximum annual Potential-To-Emit (PTE) of NOx from all sources* at site are less than 12.5 tons per year (TPY), the project qualifies for Minor Facility Registration; go to Facility Registration

» Greater than 1300 kW+ and PTE of NOx from all sources* at site exceeds 12.5 TPY but can be capped at less than 25 TPY, the project qualifies for a State Facility Permit; go to State Facility Permits

» Greater than 2500 kW+ or PTE of NOx from all sources* at site can not be capped under 25 TPY then Go To Title V Major Source Permits

* To understand how other existing NOx point sources at the site can affect relevant permitting requirements, click here
+ Turbine size limits are based on NYDEC proposed DG standards for natural gas turbine NOx emissions of 2.2 lb/MWh (about 41 ppm @ 15% O2); click here if your emissions rate is significantly different



Fuel Cells

• Fuel cells are not currently covered as a separate technology in the NYSDEC regulations. The emissions from fuel cells are negligible and generally would not appreciably add to a site’s existing emissions. The literature reports a NOX emissions rate that ranges from .01 lbs/MWH for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells to 0.03 lbs/MWH of for Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells.

• However, building and health / safety codes are relevant to fuel cell technologies and must be addressed to insure that the project has been properly permitted prior to operation.

Click here to continue to New York City Building, Health/Safety Codes Section



Renewable Energy: Biomass

• The NOX and particulate emissions of certain Biomass generation facilities, such as those burning construction and demolition debris, can be significant. On the other hand, other types of projects such as farm gas digester projects can have environmental benefits. Air permitting of biomass facilities will need to be handled on a case-by-case basis depending on the biomass sources, technology and size. NYSERDA’s biomass web page can provide more information on recent project experience. www.nyserda.org/energyresources/biomass.html



Renewable Energy: Solar & Wind

• Solar and Wind Electric Generating Units are Exempt from State and New York City Air Permitting Requirements.

• However, Noise and Visual Requirements Still Apply as well as all Applicable Building and Health/Safety Codes Requirements

Click here for Discussion of Applicable Noise Requirements
Click here for Discussion of Applicable Visual Requirements
Click here for Discussion of Applicable Electrical Code Requirements

• For Solar Installations, structural issues such as building loading requirements and wind shear requirements may arise – click here for more information on Structural Requirements

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© 2003 Pace Energy Project