Overview of the Multi-Sector Air Pollutants Regulations: part 2

The Multi-Sector Air Pollutants Regulations (MSAPR) put in place, for the first time, national limits on emissions of harmful pollutants by stationary spark-ignition engines (engines). In 2014, the engines covered by the MSAPR accounted for 40% of Canada’s total industrial nitrogen oxide (NO_X) emissions. The MSAPR will lead to substantial emission reductions from these engines, with associated benefits to human health and the environment.

A stationary spark-ignition engine is an engine that, when used, does not move and is not in or on a machine that is self-propelled. It operates like a gasoline-fueled engine, using a spark plug or other sparking device to ignite the gas. The MSAPR do not cover liquid-fuel-fired engines, but only those that combust gaseous fuel. These engines are typically used for natural gas compression (such as maintaining well pressure or moving gas along pipelines), but can also be used for other purposes, such as providing power to back-up generators and pumps.

The MSAPR apply to new (“modern”) engines operating in several industrial sectors:

• aluminium and alumina
• base metal smelting
• cement
• chemicals
• fertilizers
• electricity
• iron ore pellets
• iron, steel and ilmenite
• natural gas transmission pipelines
• oil sands
• petroleum refining
• potash
• pulp and paper
• upstream oil and gas

The MSAPR also applies to approximately 6,300 existing engines, with more than 95% of these engines located in the upstream oil and gas sector and the natural gas transmission pipeline sector. In the MSAPR, “oil and gas facilities” include only natural gas transmission pipeline and upstream oil and gas sectors, as well as related natural gas underground storage facilities, but not other facilities such as oil sands facilities or petroleum refineries. Other industrial sectors such as electricity, chemicals manufacturing, and pulp and paper also use engines in small numbers. Engines in residential, institutional or commercial facilities and those in other industrial sectors are not subject to the MSAPR.

Pre-existing engines are those manufactured before September 15, 2016. To prove that an engine is pre-existing, a record that establishes the date of manufacture or proves that the engine was owned or operated on or before this date may be submitted. Modern engines are those not proven to be pre-existing.

The performance standards in the MSAPR are different for new (“modern”) and pre-existing engines. Although the requirements for new engines come into force upon registration of the Regulations, engines are not considered new unless they are manufactured on or after September 15, 2016. Requirements depend on whether the engine is regular-use or low-use, as per the table below.

The standards for pre-existing engines only apply to regular-use engines. There are two compliance phases, starting in the years 2021 and 2026. Regulatees have the option to meet a performance standard on a per-engine basis (flat limit) or on a group basis (yearly average limit), as per the table below.

The MSAPR will result in emission reductions across Canada; however most of the reductions from the engine requirements will be in Alberta and British Columbia. An uncontrolled engine of average size (600 kilowatts) can emit 24 g/kWh of NO_X, equal to approximately 126 tonnes of NO_X per year. Such an engine can emit as much NO_X in one hour as a new light-duty vehicle would emit, on average, over 325,000 kilometres. If the NO_X emissions of this same engine are reduced to 4 g/kWh, NO_X emissions would be reduced by as much as 105 tonnes per year.

Between 2016 and 2035, it is estimated that the Regulations will reduce NO_X emissions from engines by about 1,932 kt. The estimated value of the benefit to Canadians is $6.4 billion. In 2026, it is expected that the engines portion of the MSAPR will lead to a 40% reduction in the NOx emissions of the upstream oil and gas sector compared to 2014.

The performance standards in the MSAPR for new (“modern”) are comparable to those in the U.S. EPA’s New Source Performance Standard for Stationary Spark Ignition Internal Combustion Engines adjusted for Canadian conditions such as weather and the location of engines.

There is a broad range of proven technologies and operational improvements that industry can use to reduce NO_X emissions from engines. These include rich-to-lean engine management systems, three-way catalysts in conjunction with air-to-fuel ratio controllers, pre-combustion chambers and improvements to the ignition system. The estimated cost to industry to comply with the Regulations is $394 million, between 2016 and 2035.