Research, Development, and Demonstration

A large number of emission sources contribute to the remaining air quality problems in Southern California.  Given the diversity of these sources, it is unlikely that a single technology will solve these problems.  As a result, the AQMD continues to support a wide range of advanced technologies to address this diversity.  Projects co-funded by the AQMD’s Clean Fuels Program have included emission reduction demonstrations for both mobile and stationary sources of air pollution.

Historically, mobile source projects have targeted low-emission technology developments in automobiles, transit buses, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, and off-road applications.  These vehicle-related efforts have focused on advancements in engine design, electric power trains, and energy storage/conversion devices (e.g., fuel cells and batteries); and implementation of clean fuels (e.g. natural gas, propane, and hydrogen), including their infrastructures.  Stationary source projects have included a wide array of advanced low NOx technologies, low VOC coatings and processes, and clean energy alternatives, such as fuel cells, solar power, and other renewable energy systems.

The Clean Fuels Program continually seeks to support the deployment of lower emitting technologies.  Planning has been and remains an ongoing activity for the program, which must remain flexible to address evolving technologies and the latest progress in the state of the art.  Although the AQMD program is significant, especially at a time when both public and private funding available for technology research and development is limited, national and international activities affect the direction of technology trends.  The real challenge for the AQMD is to identify project or technology opportunities in which its available funding can make a difference in making progressively cleaner technologies a reality in the Basin.

The overall strategy is based, in large part, on technology needs identified in the Air Quality Managment Plan (AQMP) and the Governing Board’s directives to protect the health of residents of Southern California.  The AQMP is the long-term “blueprint” that defines the Basin-wide emission reductions needed to achieve ambient air quality standards by 2010, the regulatory measures to achieve those reductions, the timeframes to implement these proposed measures, and the technologies or types of technologies required to meet these future proposed regulations.

During calendar year (CY) 2004, the Governing Board approved 63 new projects, studies, or amended contracts to sponsor research, development, demonstration, and deployment projects of alternative fuel and other clean fuel technologies.  The AQMD’s contribution to these projects exceeded $15 million, with total projects costs exceeding $44 million from other government organizations, private sector, academia and research institutes.  These projects address a wide range of air quality issues with a diverse mix of advanced technologies.  The pie chart below shows the distribution of the Clean Fuels Program funds approved by the Board in 2004.

During CY 2004, the AQMD continued the advancement of alternative fuel technologies with an emphasis on deployment of natural gas vehicles, expansion of the natural gas refueling infrastructure, and expansion of the hydrogen refueling infrastructure with hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles.

In addition to the new projects, 18 research, development, and demonstration projects and 14 technology assessment projects or studies were completed in CY 2004.  The project summaries are provided to the Governing Board Technology Committee during the year as the projects are completed.  Summaries for each of these projects are provided in Appendix C of the Annual Report.

The figure below shows the potential 2005 distribution of AQMD Clean Fuels funds, based on projected program costs of $41 million for the 11 project areas discussed above.  The expected actual project expenditures for 2005 will be much less than the total projected program cost since not all projects will materialize.  The target allocations are based on balancing technology priorities, technical challenges and opportunities discussed previously, and near-term versus long-term benefits with the constraints on available SCAQMD funding.  Specific contract awards throughout 2005 will be based on this proposed allocation, the quality of proposals received and evaluation of projects against standardized criteria, and, ultimately, the Board’s approval.  Upon presentation to the Board for project approval, additional details will be provided about the technology, its application, the specific scope of work, the project team capabilities, and the project cost-sharing.