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Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are projected for various scenarios and the plausible approaches and technologies for mitigation are identified by APB. These methods contribute to reduction of GHG and will contribute to our ability to adapt to inevitable climate changes through prevention approaches.

Estimates. Estimates of methane emissions from U.S. natural gas, petroleum, and coal industries are being produced. Open-path Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and other nalytical techniques are used to quantify emissions, such as methane and ammonia from swine farms.

Solar. Photovoltaic (PV) systems were evaluated for their potential contribution to reducing GHG emissions. Thirty-one systems totaling 376 kWe were installed on commercial and residential rooftops throughout the U.S. and have been monitored and compared with hour-by-hour utility operating characteristics of the pertinent utilities to determine accurate real-time pollution offsets provided by the PV systems. During the period (1993-1999) of the EPA installations, the U.S. PV industry experienced fairly rapid growth, especially in regard to rooftop PV systems. To take advantage of this development, a national assessment is being conducted to determine PV's offset of pollution reduction potential. This study augments EPA's data by utilizing existing data gathered from these other PV installations.

HFC/CFC Replacements. Work is being performed to evaluate next-generation, low-total equivalent warming impact (TEWI) fluids and technologies to replace air conditioning and refrigeration technologies which use HFCs as the working fluids. Low-TEWI alternatives minimize GHG emissions resulting from energy use and from direct emissions of the fluids. In-house facilities and expertise include application testing in supermarket cases and secondary loop systems.

Next Generation Technology Evaluations. Researchers are responsible for generation, controls, and emissions of and sinks for specific GHG technologies. Research will establish an in-house expertise and a database of current and future technologies for scenario evaluation.

GHG Emission Scenarios. Technology options will be analyzed with existing scenario generation models (e.g., MARKAL) and environmental stressors estimated. This will show how future emissions can be influenced by technology choices.

Adaptation. Climate change is expected to result in important physical, ecological, economic, and social impacts to the Earth and its inhabitants. One response to climate change is adaptation, which means there is a human-induced, purposeful response strategy to climate change as opposed to a natural reaction of the biosphere to stresses. A research program has been initiated which will explore adaptation strategies and develop information and technology needed to further the adaptation capability. The adaptation research program is tied into a simultaneous EPA assessment of climate change impacts to determine adaptation needs.

APB research areas are discussed in the following paragraphs. Please click on the titles listed below for specific information.

APB conducted research projects to develop and assess new potential alternatives to ozone-depleting substances (ODSs), some of which had high global warming potential, several of which have received high priority, and some of which have been commercialized.

Waste Methane. Two principal issues have been addressed: (1) a waste methane gas cleanup method that sufficiently removes contaminants from the gas to allow fuel cell operation, and (2) successful operation of a commercial phosphoric fuel-cell power plant operating on methane-rich gas from landfills and wastewater digesters. An environmental assessment has shown that this technology can virtually eliminate fugitive methane, non-methane organic compounds (NMOCs), and toxic emissions from landfills and wastewater treatment plants.

Contact

For further information, contact Susan Thorneloe at thorneloe.susan@epa.gov or 919-541-0590

Intelligent Controls. Fuzzy logic and neural networks are utilized to improve processes and controls. Prior research emphasized improving the operational efficiency of electrical motors and wind turbines. Fuzzy-logic-based controllers have been developed for energy optimization and performance enhancement.

Information about our research is discussed in the following paragraphs. For more detailed information, please click on the titles listed below: Low-Global-Warming Chemicals and Refrigerant Technologies

Office of Research & Development | National Risk Management Research Laboratory

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