RGGI Eligible Sector 2: Reduction in Emissions of Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6)
Overview
Offset projects that prevent emissions of sulfur hexafluoride to the atmosphere from equipment in the electricity transmission and distribution sector, through capture and storage, recycling, or destruction, may qualify for the award of CO2 emissions offset allowances under RGGI, provided they meet the following requirements: Eligibility
(i) Eligible offset projects shall consist of incremental actions beyond those taken during the baseline year to achieve a reduction in SF6 emissions relative to the baseline year. Eligible actions may include an expansion of existing actions. The identified actions to be taken shall be consistent with the guidance provided in International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 1634, “Highvoltage switchgear and control gear—Use and handling of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) in highvoltage switchgear and control gear,” (CEI/IEC 1634, 199504), and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), “Practical Guide to SF6 Handling Practices,” (TR113933, 2002).
(ii) Except as provided in subparagraph (1)
(iii) below, eligible offset projects shall have an SF6 entity-wide emissions rate for the baseline year that is less than the applicable emissions rate in Table 1. The entity-wide SF6 emissions rate shall be calculated as follows:
SF6 Emissions Rate (%) = (Total SF6 Emissions for Reporting Year)/(Total SF6 Nameplate Capacity at End of Reporting Year)
where:
SF6 Nameplate Capacity refers to all SF6 containing equipment owned and/or operated by the entity, at full and proper SF6 charge of the equipment rather than the actual charge of the equipment (which may reflect leakage).
Table 1 SF6 Emissions Rate Performance Standards
Region A
Region B
Region C
Region D
Region E
Connecticut
Alabama
Colorado
Arkansas
Alaska
Delaware
District of Columbia
Illinois
Iowa
Arizona
Maine
Florida
Indiana
Kansas
California
Massachusetts
Georgia
Michigan
Louisiana
Hawaii
New Jersey
Kentucky
Minnesota
Missouri
Idaho
New York
Maryland
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
Mississippi
North Dakota
New Mexico
Oregon
Pennsylvania
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Washington
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Texas
Vermont
Tennessee
Utah
Virginia
Wisconsin
West Virginia
Wyoming
B. Emissions Rate Performance Standards
Region
Emission Rate
Region A
9.68%
Region B
5.22%
Region C
9.68%
Region D
5.77%
Region E
3.65%
U.S. (National)
9.68%
a Based on weighted average 2004 emissions rates for U.S. EPA SF6 Partnership utilities in each region. If the weighted average emissions rate in a region is higher than the national weighted average, the default performance standard is the national weighted average emissions rate.
(iii) An SF6 offset project shall be eligible even if the SF6 entity-wide emissions rate in the baseline year exceeds the applicable rate in subparagraph (b)(1)(ii) above, provided that the project sponsor demonstrates and the REGULATORY AGENCY determines that the project is being implemented at a transmission and/or distribution entity serving a predominantly urban service territory and that at least two of the following factors prevent optimal management of SF6.
(a) The entity is comprised of older than average installed transmission and distribution equipment in relation to the national average age of equipment.
(b) A majority of the entity’s electricity load is served by equipment that is located underground, and poor accessibility of such underground equipment precludes management of SF6 emissions through regular ongoing maintenance.
(c) The inability to take a substantial portion of equipment out of service, as such activity would impair system reliability.
(d) Required equipment purpose or design for a substantial portion of entity transmission and distribution equipment results in inherently leak-prone equipment.
Offset Project Descriptions The offset project sponsor shall provide a detailed narrative of the offset project actions to be taken, including documentation that the offset project meets the eligibility requirements of paragraph (1) above. The offset project narrative shall include the following information.
(i) Description of the transmission and/or distribution entity suitable in detail to specify the service territory served by the entity.
(ii) Owner and operator of the transmission and/or distribution entity.
Emissions Baseline Determination Baseline SF6 emissions shall be determined based on annual entity-wide reporting of SF6 emissions for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the consistency application is filed (designated the baseline year). If the consistency application is filed prior to 2009, the baseline year may be 2005, but no earlier. The reporting entity shall systematically track and account for all entity-wide uses of SF6 in order to determine entity-wide emissions of SF6. The scope of such tracking and accounting shall include all electric transmission and distribution assets and all SF6-containing and SF6-handling equipment owned and/or operated by the reporting entity.
(i) Emissions shall be determined based on the following mass balance method:
SF6 Emissions (lbs.) = (SF6 Change in Inventory) + (SF6 Purchases and Acquisitions) – (SF6 Sales and Disbursements) – (Change in Total SF6 Nameplate Capacity of Equipment)
where:
Change in Inventory is the difference between the quantity of SF6 gas in storage at the beginning of the reporting year and the quantity in storage at the end of the reporting year. The term “quantity in storage” includes all SF6 gas contained in cylinders (such as 115 pound storage cylinders), gas carts, and other storage containers. It does not refer to SF6 gas held in SF6-using operating equipment. The change in inventory will be negative if the quantity of SF6 gas in storage increases over the course of the year.
Purchases and Acquisitions of SF6 is the sum of all the SF6 gas acquired from other parties during the reporting year, as contained in storage containers or SF6-using operating equipment.
Sales and disbursements of SF6 is the sum of all the SF6 gas sold or otherwise disbursed to other parties during the reporting year, as contained in storage containers and SF6-using operating equipment.
Change in Total SF6 Nameplate Capacity of Equipment is the net change in the total volume of SF6-containing operating equipment during the reporting year. The net change in nameplate capacity is equal to new equipment nameplate capacity, minus retired equipment nameplate capacity. This quantity will be negative if the retired equipment has a total nameplate capacity larger than the total nameplate capacity of the new equipment. “Total nameplate capacity” refers to the full and proper SF6 charge of the equipment rather than to the actual charge, which may reflect leakage.
Viby = SF6 inventory in cylinders, gas carts, and other storage containers (not SF6-containing operating equipment) at the beginning of the reporting year
Viey = SF6 inventory in cylinders, gas carts, and other storage containers (not SF6-containing operating equipment) at the end of the reporting year
PApsd = SF6 purchased from suppliers or distributors in cylinders
PAe = SF6 provided by equipment manufacturers with or inside SF6-containing operating equipment
PArre = SF6 returned to the reporting entity after offsite recycling
SDop = Sales of SF6 to other parties, including gas left in SF6-containing operating equipment that is sold
SDrs = Returns of SF6 to supplier (producer or distributor)
SDdf = SF6 sent to destruction facilities
SDsor = SF6 sent offsite for recycling
CNPne = Total SF6 nameplate capacity of new SF6-containing operating equipment at proper full charge
CNPrse = Total SF6 nameplate capacity of retired or sold SF6-containing operating equipment at proper full charge GWP = CO2e global warming potential of SF6 (22,200)
(iii) As part of the consistency application required pursuant to subdivisions XX10.4(b) and (c) of the RGGI Model Rule and in annual monitoring and verification reports required pursuant to subdivisions XX10.7(b) and (c) of the RGGI Model Rule, the project sponsor shall provide the documentation required at subparagraphs (5)(i) through (iii) below to support emissions calculations.
Calculating Emissions Reductions Emissions reductions shall represent the annual entity-wide emissions reductions of SF6 for the reporting entity, relative to emissions in the baseline year. Emissions reductions shall be determined as follows, using the quantification method outlined in subparagraph (3)(ii) above to determine emissions in both the baseline year and reporting year(s):
Emissions Reduction (tons CO2e) = (Total Pounds of SF6 Emissions in Baseline Reporting Year) – (Total Pounds of SF6 Emissions in Reporting Year) x GWP/2000
where:
GWP = CO2e global warming potential of SF6 (22,200)
Monitoring and Verification Requirements The annual monitoring and verification report shall include supporting material detailing the calculations and data used to determine SF6 emissions reductions, and shall also provide the following documentation.
(i) The project sponsor shall identify a facility(ies) managed by the entity from which all SF6 gas is procured and disbursed and maintain an entity-wide log of all SF6 gas procurements and disbursals. The entity-wide log shall include the weight of each cylinder transported before shipment from the facility(ies) and the weight of each cylinder after return to the facility(ies). A specific cylinder log shall also be maintained for each cylinder that is used to fill equipment with SF6 or reclaim SF6 from equipment. The cylinder log shall be retained with the cylinder and indicate the location and specific identifying information of the equipment being filled, or from which SF6 is reclaimed, and the weight of the cylinder before and after this activity. The cylinder log shall be returned with the cylinder to the facility when the activity is complete or the cylinder is empty.
(ii) A current entity-wide inventory of all SF6-containing operating equipment and all other SF6-related items, including cylinders, gas carts, and other storage containers used by the entity. The inventory shall be certified by an independent verifier accredited pursuant to section XX10.6 of the RGGI Model Rule.
(iii) The project sponsor shall provide a monitoring and verification plan as part of the consistency application, which shall include an SF6 inventory management and auditing protocol and a process for quality assurance and quality control of inventory data. The monitoring and verification plan shall be certified by an independent verifier accredited pursuant to section XX10.6 of the RGGI Model Rule.
