BOARD MEETING DATE: December 7, 2007
AGENDA NO. 2
PROPOSAL:
Execute Three Contracts to Cosponsor Emissions Testing of Various Blends of Alternative Fuels
SYNOPSIS:
There is increased attention on alternative fuels due to national support for biofuels and state activities resulting from AB32, AB1007, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard and changing natural gas composition. In order to evaluate the most likely emission impact from these fuels, this action is to execute three projects with the University of California Riverside College of Engineering Center for Environmental Research and Technology. The first would cosponsor a project with CARB evaluating diesel biofuels and biofuel blends. The second would evaluate different blends of ethanol for light-duty vehicles. The third would cosponsor a project with the California Energy Commission evaluating various natural gas blends. The total cost for these three projects is expected to be $2,280,000 with the AQMD funding not to exceed $450,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, November 16, 2007. There being no quorum, Chairman Roy Wilson heard the agenda items as a committee of one. Chairman Wilson communicated his approval of staff recommendations and directed that the item be forwarded for Board consideration.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Authorize the Chairman to execute three contracts with the University of California Riverside College of Engineering Center for Environmental Research and Technology:
- To evaluate the emission impacts of diesel biofuels and biofuel blends in an amount not to exceed $150,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund (Fund 31);
- To evaluate the emission impacts of different blends of ethanol for light-duty vehicles in an amount not to exceed $250,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund (Fund 31); and,
- To evaluate the emission impacts of different natural gas blends on vehicle emissions in an amount not to exceed $50,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund (Fund 31).
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
There is increased attention on alternative fuels due to national support for biofuels and state activities resulting from AB32, AB1007, and the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. These efforts are necessary in order to address the promulgation and deployment of low greenhouse gas emitting fuels and technologies. However, in order to ensure that such fuels and technologies also have low criteria pollutant emissions, specifically NOx and PM, staff is supportive of more fully analyzing the emissions from lower carbon fuels, particularly blends of biodiesel, ethanol, and natural gas.
Biodiesel
In various diesel engine studies, replacement of petroleum diesel fuel with biodiesel fuel has demonstrated reduced PM, CO, and air toxics emissions. Biodiesel is also promoted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions because it can be made from renewable feedstocks, such as soy and canola. Biodiesel can be formulated at varying percentages by blending with petroleum diesel fuel and is commonly used at 20 percent, or B20, to avoid congealing at cold temperatures and possible engine seal and gasket damage which can occur with 100% biodiesel, or B100. Biodiesel and biodiesel blends, however, have a demonstrated tendency to increase NOx emissions, which exacerbates the ozone and PM2.5 challenges faced in the Basin.
In May 2007, CARB approved a biodiesel research study with the University of California Riverside College of Engineering Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT). This study is currently funded by the State at $1,380,000 to characterize biodiesel emissions and investigate its tendency to increase NOx emissions. This effort will also study the emission impacts of vegetable oils as unreformed diesel fuel. CARB will use this study to assist in developing the Low Carbon Fuel Standard related to biodiesel. CARB has requested that the AQMD cosponsor this investigation.
Ethanol
Another biofuel gaining increased national media and state regulatory attention is ethanol. The amount of ethanol in gasoline is currently 5.7%, or E6, to replace the banned MTBE as an oxygenate to reduce CO emissions. There are also efforts to further increase the ethanol content to 10%, or E10, and above as a means to increase the amount of renewable fuels in the state. Contemporary light-duty vehicles, however, are not equipped to manage these increased levels of ethanol and could result in higher criteria pollutant emissions. As such, an investigation into the tailpipe emissions for commercial gasoline (E6), the certification fuel, which is still based on MTBE gasoline, and higher ethanol blends, e.g., E10, is warranted.
Natural Gas
Finally, heavy-duty natural gas engines and vehicles have been commercialized and demonstrated success in reducing emissions in a wide variety of applications. However, domestic sources of natural gas may not be able to keep up with future demand for residential and power generation in the Basin, causing local suppliers to rely on LNG from foreign sources. These sources typically have wider compositional variation and higher heat content than the gas now being used in southern California. Since engines and other equipment are designed to operate on natural gas of a more standard quality, the emission impact of different natural gas blends needs to be better understood. In an effort to do this, the California Energy Commission (CEC) solicited for proposals to investigate natural gas blends and selected CE-CERT. The CEC has requested that the AQMD cosponsor this investigation.
Proposal
CE-CERT has proposed three different projects to investigate the emission impact of: diesel biofuel and biofuel blends; ethanol-gasoline blends in light-duty vehicles; and different natural-gas blends in vehicles.
Biodiesel
The CE-CERT diesel biofuels project consists of four basic tasks. In Task 1, two heavy-duty engines will be tested on the engine dynamometer with three different biofuels. Two of these fuels will be tested at five blend levels between 0 percent (neat diesel fuel) and 100 percent (neat biofuel). One California-producible renewable fuel will be tested at four blends between 0 percent (neat diesel) and 100 percent (neat renewable fuel). Tests will also be conducted at three different load levels. In Task 2, three heavy-duty diesel vehicles will be tested at the ARB-MTA chassis testing laboratory. The same fuels and blends from Task 1 will be tested on these vehicles, but only at two different load levels. In Task 3, two off-road pieces of equipment will be tested at the CARB Stockton testing facility. The same fuels and blends from Task 1 will be tested at steady-state modes. In Task 4, NOx mitigation will be investigated. This will include emission testing on the CE-CERT engine dynamometer and ARB-MTA chassis dynamometer.
Ethanol
The CE-CERT ethanol-blend study consists of three basic tasks. In Task 1, six different light-duty test vehicles will be selected. Vehicles will then be procured through either rental agencies or by loan from private parties. In Task 2, chassis emission testing will performed on each vehicle with five different ethanol-gasoline blends. Duplicate tests will be performed for each vehicle-fuel combination. Beside regulated pollutants, various toxic species will be measured. In Task 3, the emission data will processed, statistical analyses performed and a final report prepared.
Natural Gas
The CE-CERT evaluation of natural gas blends has five basic tasks. Task 1 is a literature review of available information comparing emissions against natural gas blend levels. Based on this information, a test plan will be developed in Task 2. It is anticipated that four natural-gas blends will be tested on three engine/vehicles. In Task 3, three engines with four gas blends each will be tested on the engine dynamometer. In Task 4, it is anticipated that the same or identical engines and fuels tested in Task 3, will be installed in heavy trucks and emission tested at steady-state loads on a chassis dynamometer in the Riverside area. Finally, in Task 5, the data will be analyzed, statistical analyses performed, and comparisons made with previously published data.
Benefits to AQMD
The proposed projects are included in the March 2007 update of the Technology Advancement Plan under the project entitled, “Perform Study of Comparative Emissions of Alternative Fuel and Conventional Fuel Engines.” The AQMP relies upon the expedited implementation of alternative fuels in southern California to achieve air quality standards and to continue reductions in air toxic exposure.
The use diesel biofuels have the potential to reduce PM by more 50 percent in older heavy trucks and busses (those without diesel particulate filters). These vehicles make up the majority of the heavy-duty fleet and will continue to dominate the emission inventory for many years. This is predicated upon any increase in NOx emissions being mitigated either through fuel reformulation or additives or minor injection timing changes. Ethanol-gasoline blends have a similar potential benefits. Ethanol can reduce regulated pollutants but may increase certain toxic species. Natural gas vehicles also have a reduce emission footprint. However, out of specification fuel blends can upset the low emission character as well as create toxic species. All these alternative fuels have the potential to reduce emissions providing the fuel blends are compatible with the emission control systems of the engines.
Sole Source Justification
Section VIII.B.2 of the Procurement Policy and Procedure identifies four major provisions under which a sole source award may be justified. It is requested that for project one (diesel biofuels) a sole source award be made under provision B.2.d.: Other circumstances exist which in the determination of the Executive Officer require such waiver in the best interest of the AQMD. Specifically, these circumstances are: B.2.d.(1) Project involving cost sharing by multiple sponsors. Project one is being cosponsored by CARB and the National Biodiesel Board. CARB is the lead agency for controlling air pollution in California. The National Biodiesel Board is an industry organization promoting the use of biodiesel fuel, one of the forms of diesel biofuels.
For project two (ethanol), it is requested that a sole source award be made under provision B.2.d.(8): Research and development efforts with educational institutions or nonprofit organizations. This project will be conducted by CE-CERT, an educational institution under the University of California Riverside.
For project three (natural gas), a sole source award is not being requested since CE-CERT was selected through a competitive bid process conducted by the CEC; AQMD staff participated in the review and selection process.
Resource Impacts
Total cost for the three proposed projects for CE-CERT is approximately $2,280,000. AQMD’s contribution from the Clean Fuels Fund shall not exceed $450,000.
The estimated cost-share for project one, the diesel biofuel project, is as follows:
CARB $1,380,000
National Biodiesel Board 50,000
AQMD Task under Contract #00182* 50,000
AQMD 150,000
Total $1,630,000
* AQMD Contract #00182 is an existing level of effort consulting contract with CE-CERT. Staff would like to use this contract to immediately conduct emissions testing to expedite the project initiation.
The estimated cost for project 2, the ethanol project, is $250,000 from the AQMD.
The estimated cost share for project three, the natural gas project, is as follows:
California Energy Commission $350,000
AQMD 50,000
Total $400,000
Sufficient AQMD funds are available in the Clean Fuels Fund, which is established as special revenue from the state-mandated Clean Fuels Program. The Clean Fuels Program, under Health and Safety Code Sections 40448.5 and 40512 and Vehicle Code Section 9250.11, establishes mechanisms to collect revenues from mobile sources to support projects to increase the utilization of clean fuels, including the development of the necessary advanced enabling technologies. Funds collected from motor vehicles are restricted, by statute, to be used for projects and program activities related to mobile sources that support the objectives of the Clean Fuels Program.