Progress Report

ARP and CSAPR SO₂ Program Controls and Monitoring

• Units with advanced flue gas desulfurization (FGD) controls (also known as scrubbers) accounted for 76 percent of coal-fired units and 83 percent of coal-fired electricity generation, measured in megawatt hours, or MWh, in 2017.
• In 2017, 30 percent of CSAPR units (including 100 percent of coal-fired units) monitored SO₂ emissions using CEMS. Ninety-nine percent of SO₂ emissions were measured by CEMS.

CSAPR NOₓ Annual Program Controls and Monitoring

• Seventy-nine percent of fossil fuel-fired generation (as measured in megawatt hours, or MWh) was produced by units with advanced pollution controls (either selective catalytic reduction [SCR] or selective non-catalytic reduction [SNCR]).
• In 2017, the 298 coal-fired units with advanced add-on controls (either SCRs or SNCRs) generated 77 percent of coal-fired electricity. At oil- and natural gas-fired units, SCR- and SNCR- controlled units produced 82 percent of generation.
• In 2017, 69 percent of CSAPR units (including 100 percent of coal-fired units) monitored NOₓ emissions using CEMS. Ninety-nine percent of NOₓ emissions were measured by CEMS.

CSAPR NOₓ Ozone Season Program Controls and Monitoring

• Seventy-one percent of all the fossil fuel-fired generation (as measured in megawatt hours, or MWh) was produced by units with advanced pollution controls (either SCRs or SNCRs).
• In 2017, 278 units with advanced add-on controls (either SCR or SNCR) accounted for 71 percent of coal-fired generation. At oil- and natural gas-fired units, SCR- and SNCR-controlled units produced 71 percent of generation.
• In 2017, 75 percent of CSAPR units (including 100 percent of coal-fired units) monitored ozone season NOₓ emissions using CEMS. Ninety-nine percent of ozone season NOₓ emissions were measured by CEMS.

MATS Controls and Monitoring

• In 2017, 530 units at 235 facilities reported continuous mercury emissions data to EPA under MATS. Fifty-six percent of MATS units reporting mercury emissions and 44 percent of the electricity generation at MATS reporting units used activated carbon injection (ACI), a mercury-specific pollution control method to reduce mercury emissions and SO₂.
• About 78 percent of units that reported continuous mercury emissions data (or 87 percent of the total electricity generation from units that reported data) reported the use of advanced controls, such as wet scrubbers, dry scrubbers, or ACI, to reduce hazardous air pollutant emissions in 2017. These controls also reduce other pollutants, including SO₂. Some oil-fired units are able to meet the MATS emission limits through the use of particulate matter (PM) controls such as electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) or fabric filters (FFs).

Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS)

EPA has developed detailed procedures codified in federal regulations (40 CFR Part 75) to ensure that sources monitor and report emissions with a high degree of precision, reliability, accuracy, and timeliness. Sources are required to use CEMS or other approved methods to record and report pollutant emissions data. Sources conduct stringent quality assurance tests of their monitoring systems to ensure the accuracy of emissions data and to provide assurance to market participants that a ton of emissions measured at one facility is equivalent to a ton measured at a different facility. EPA conducts comprehensive electronic and field data audits to validate the reported data. While some units with low levels of SO₂ and NOₓ emissions are allowed to use other approved monitoring methods, the vast majority of SO₂ and NOₓ emissions are measured by CEMS.

Under MATS measurement regulations (40 CFR part 63), affected units can continuously measure emissions using CEMS for mercury, SO₂, HCl, PM, and HF, or sorbent traps for Hg. Some qualifying units with low emissions can conduct periodic stack tests in lieu of continuous monitoring.

SO₂ Emission Controls

Sources in ARP and the CSAPR SO₂ program have a number of SO₂ emission control options available. These include switching to low sulfur coal or natural gas, employing various types of FGDs, or, in the case of fluidized bed boilers, injecting limestone into the furnace. FGDs – also known as scrubbers – on coal-fired electricity generating units are the principal means of controlling SO₂ emissions and tend to be present on the highest generating coal-fired units.

NOₓ Emission Controls

Sources in ARP and the CSAPR NOₓ annual and ozone season programs have a variety of options by which to reduce NOₓ emissions, including advanced post-combustion controls such as SCR or SNCR, and combustion controls, such as low NOₓ burners.

Hazardous Air Pollutant Controls

Sources in MATS have a number of options available to reduce hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), including mercury, PM (a surrogate for toxic non-mercury metals), HCl, HF, and other acid gases. Sources can improve operation of existing controls, add pollution controls, and switch fuels (including coal blending). Specific pollution control devices that reduce mercury and HCl include wet FGDs (scrubbers), activated carbon injection (ACI), dry sorbent injection (DSI), and fabric filters.

• Power Plant Emission Trends
• Air Markets Program Data (AMPD)
• Emissions Monitoring
• Plain English guide to 40 CRF Part 75
• Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS)