Main results of this plan could be divided into three categories. Please refer to the following:
1.Researching and augmenting regulations of control technology of stationary pollution sources in Class 3 control regions
In accordance with Article 6, Paragraph 4 and Article 8, Paragraph 5 of the Air Pollution Control Act., this plan helped Ministry of Environment to research and augment regulations on available control technology (herein referred to as RACT), best available control technology (herein referred to as BACT) and lowest achievable emission rate technology (herein referred to as LAER), to reinforce the regulation within Class 3.
This plan assisted in drafting the threshold of specific large pollution sources. The yearly emission of TSP, SOx, NOx and VOCs of stationary sources in power industry exceeds 100 tons or totally exceeds 200 tons shall apply LAER, in compliance with discharge pipe emissions standards. This plan completed drafting LAER, and assisted Ministry of Environment to commence a period of public comment for BACT and RACT on September 26th, 2023. Moreover, in response to the global net-zero emissions targets, this plan also researched and evaluated the concept of emission intensity. Besides, this plan expected to provide a reference for the formulation of LAER and established related technologies for apply.
To response to Taiwan ozone air quality, ozone precursors (NOx and VOCs) emissions have been attracted wide attention, especially VOCs, so this plan proposed the strategies of reducing VOCs emissions. By reviewing emissions, emission characteristics and foreign regulations, this plan established BACT and RACT on boat and coil coating, including coating containing VOCs limit, pollutants collecting requirement and discharge pipe emissions standards. Then, this plan assisted Ministry of Environment to commence a period of public comment for BACT and RACT on May 8th, 2023, and also held the meeting on August 4th, 2023 to elaborate the issues and amend the provisions. Besides, this plan modified a reference for the formulation of RACT and provided other corresponding supporting tools. In addition, this plan collected the information about the foreign regulations, and also reviewed emission characteristics and control technology to propose suggestions about the control strategies of Copper Clad Laminate (CCL) and Printed circuit board (PCB) industry. Considering that VOCs emissions of CCL industry is large, and the collection facilities and control equipment are installed, this plan suggested drafting RACT and BACT on CCL industry first. However, to reduce fugitive emissions of VOCs from PCB industry, this plan suggested that it is necessary to enhance the level of pollutants collection in PCB industry, and then establish control technology afterwards. Lastly, Based on RACT in NOx emissions promulgated on July 10th, 2020, this plan also involved to follow the status of improvement progress and permit extension application. At present, our country has reduced about 368.15 tons NOx emissions per year, and the ways to improve can be classified to three type, including control facilities addition, using low-emissions fuels, and equipment upgrade.
2. Expanding the control and operational management of VOCs
According to Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), improving short-term climate pollutants such as ozone (O3) and black carbon (BC) has the mutual benefit of reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution. Considering the air quality issues and policy direction, it is recommended to prioritize the 8-hour ozone value as the primary improvement goal. This plan further investigated the regulation of precursors involved in O3 formation, which are NOx and VOCs. NOx mainly originates from combustion source emissions, and there are already established air pollutant emissions standards for stationary pollution sources, such as boilers and the electric power facility. Therefore, this plan proposes to prioritize the development of control strategies for processes that currently lack VOCs regulations.
In order to strengthen the control of the 44% (295 types of processes) of VOCs emissions that are currently unregulated, this plan proposed to enhance pollutant collection and establish management regulations for air control facility establishment and operation. Therefore, this plan statisticized the stationary pollution sources of gas collection equipment and air pollutant control equipment by the stationary pollution sources management information system. At the same time, this plan also collected domestic and international management regulations and operational practices related to air pollutant control facilities of stationary pollution sources. It can be divided into mandatory regulations and general management principles. In part of mandatory regulations, specific large pollution sources are required to monitor pollution emissions or air pollutant control facilities in both domestic and international emission standards. In part of general management principles, the United States has established diverse principles about air pollution control facilities that stationary pollution sources should be followed. For instance, according to the air pollution technology fact sheets (FS) and technical bulletins (TB) by the United States Clean Air Technology Center (CATC), they are short descriptions of different types of control technologies, including emission applicability (i.e., gas flow rates , VOC concentration) and parameter criteria (i.e., RTO should established chamber temperature, residence time). When stationary pollution sources followed the FS and TB, they can correspondingly achieve the expected reduction rates. Furthermore, the state of Minnesota has established regulations for the installation and operation of control facility (gas collection equipment and air pollutant control equipment). The gas collection equipment can be categorized into three types: a hood that is certified as described, a noncertified hood and a total enclosure. When stationary pollution sources followed regulations for the installation and operation of control facility, they can correspondingly achieve the pollution control efficiency. Compared to the United States, our country currently lacks consistent regulations about the installation and operation of air pollution control facility in the legal system. Compared to the United States, our country currently lacks consistent regulations about the installation and operation of air pollution control facilities in the legal system. This situation has led to practical challenges where the assessment of reasonability primarily relies on the experience of reviewing personnel, resulting in disputes where personnel from different local regulatory authorities may have differing opinions. As a result, this plan initiated the control strategies for stationary pollution sources, including pollution collection and pollution control. In part of pollutant collection, this plan prioritized the collection of seven stationary pollution sources that were the primary emitters of VOCs and formulated principles for three types of gas collection equipment: sealed, enclosed and partial gas collection system. These principles include specifying parameters that should be certified for the facilities and the types of instruments to be installed. Increasing this regulation will expected to raise the number of regulated pollution sources by approximately 9% and extend control over about 50% of process emissions that are currently unregulated. In part of pollution control, it can be implemented in three parts: air control equipment installation and operation, equipment and instrument maintenance, and equipment operational monitoring. First, this plan investigated the types of VOCs control equipment and proposed regulations for the installation and operation of six VOC control equipment: regenerative thermal oxidizer equipment, regenerative catalytic thermal oxidizer equipment, scrubbing equipment, adsorption equipment, condensation equipment, biological treatment equipment. Secondly, the plan established regulations about inspection and maintenance for equipment and instrument, including instrument specifications and calibration methods, equipment and instrument maintenance practices. Thirdly, this plan established regulations for continuous parameter monitoring system (CPMS), intelligent image recognition systems and personnel record equipment operation status, including principles of installation, operation, and performance. It will help to enhancing the effectiveness of pollution collection and control from stationary pollution sources.
In order to effectively and promptly monitor the operation of equipment and pollution emissions from stationary pollution sources, this plan incorporated intelligent image recognition systems which was evaluated intelligent image recognition systems accuracy in identifying instrument data through factory testing and AI training, showing an accuracy rate of nearly 99-100%. Furthermore, this plan established principle of the installation, operation, and performance for intelligent image recognition systems, and it will be used in the development of regulation for air pollution control facilities management.
3. Resource integration and meeting management
This plan has aimed at drafting regulations for control technology of stationary pollution sources in Class 3 control regions and air pollution control facilities management, thus, we visited totally 20 factories to view air pollution collection, control facilities, parameter recording of instrumentation and maintenance service, and get the feedback used to as references for drafting regulations. Besides, in order to implement the regulations, this plan also assisted Ministry of Environment to hold the meetings to elaborate the control strategies and consult specialists to discuss the issues.
In response to Stationary Air Pollution sources Testing management information System (SAPTMIS) development, this plan expected to synchronize the public information to stationary pollution sources of information disclosure management platform, and suggested to update at least daily. Also, this plan assisted Ministry of Environment to analyze the platform of the number of visitors, visiting site, using frequency and user’s residence by GA (Google Analysis) monthly. Furthermore, this plan conducted the maintenance works incorporating consultant service, troubleshooting and auditing to fulfill information security.
