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Legislation

Coal-fired Power Boiler Emission Guidelines 2005

Introduction

All new thermal powered generation projects, as well as existing facilities that are undergoing significant modifications, are required to install control technologies that will, at a minimum, achieve these emission guidelines. Depending on the project and site, and if an adverse impact to the receiving environment is anticipated, more stringent control of emissions, beyond the guidelines listed here, may be deemed necessary by the Ministry of Environment.

Coal-fired Power Boilers

The limits for gaseous and particulate emissions from new coal-fired power boilers are given in Table 1.

Table 1. Limits for Gaseous and Particulate Emissions from New Coal-fired Boilers

  Parameter
Limit
Units (1)
   
  Total Particulates
26.5
ng/J (output)
  Nitrogen Oxides (2) as NO2
191.7
ng/J (output)
  Sulphur Dioxide (2)
222.2
ng/J (output)
  Opacity
20
% opacity
 
________________________________________________________________
  Mercury (3)
  Coal Type
Percent Capture in
Coal Burned* (%)
Emission Rate*
(kg/TWh)
  Bituminous Coal
85
3
  Sub-bituminous Coal
75
8
  Lignite
75
15
  Blends
85
3

 

Notes Applicable to Table 1

  1. A comparison with guidelines and standards in other jurisdictions may be found in the tables. These tables provide comparisons in input based units as well as output based units.
  2. The values for Total Particulates, Nitrogen Oxides and Sulphur Dioxide are on a 30-day rolling average basis.
  3. Same as the Canadian Council of Ministers for the Environment's Canada-wide Standards for Mercury Emissions from Coal-fired Electric Power Generation Plants, which states: "A new coal-fired [electric power generation] (EPG) unit will achieve a capture of mercury from coal burned no less than specified or an average annual mercury emission rate no greater than specified [in the table]".

Continuous monitoring of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and oxygen or carbon dioxide contents in the flue gas will be required. Any additional monitoring and source testing requirements will be determined by the Ministry of Environment on a case-by-case basis.

No limits have been specified for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or certain other reactive substances. Appropriate specifications will be established by the Ministry of Environment should such a need develop. The degree of control necessary for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or certain other reactive substances may also require a further reduction of total particulate emissions.