Individual measurements
Formaldehyde measurements at biogas combined heat and power plants
Plant operators, including operators of biogas-fuelled combined heat and power plants, must have the pollutant emissions in their plant exhaust gas determined every three years. This is required by conditions in the plant operation approval documents. The legal basis for this is the Federal Immission Control Act (Bundesimmissionsschutzgesetz - BImSchG) and its implementing regulation, the Technical Instructions on Air Quality Control (TA Luft).
The exhaust gas test covers substances hazardous to air quality, such as overall dust, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, oxides of sulphur, hydrocarbons and organic substances, in particular formaldehyde. Since 2004 formaldehyde has been categorised as "carcinogenic for human beings". TA Luft specifies an emission limit for formaldehyde of 60 mg/m³ for internal combustion engines.
To provide plant operators with an incentive for implementing measures in order to further reduce formaldehyde emissions to below this limit, the legislature has introduced the so-called "environment bonus" for power feed into the grid. This bonus is paid to operators of biogas plants which are subject to approval according to the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG) if certain conditions are met. Measurements have be carried out each year by an organisation approved according to § 26 of the Federal Immission Control Act in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the measures used for emission reduction. Currently the criterion is that a "limit value" of 40 mg/m³ for formaldehyde is not exceeded, related to a residual content of 5 Vol.-% oxygen in the exhaust gas, with simultaneous fulfilment of the emission limits for nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide taken as a whole, and for carbon monoxide. The criterion has to be fulfilled in each individual measurement (generally 3 per source). Rules for the monitoring are specified in writing in the final report of the Federal/Laender immission protection working party (LAI) of 17/18 September 2008.
Generally, no bonus is paid for biogas installations which are not subject to approval in accordance with BImSchG. In case of doubt and for exceptional cases, for example for old installations, an environmental assessor should be consulted.
In the current version of the EEG it is specified that 1 cent per kilowatt hour is paid if minimisation of the formaldehyde emissions is proven.
What services do we offer?
- Formaldehyde measurement as a proof of adherence to limit values, for presentation to the relevant official body in order to claim the emission reduction bonus
- Advice on emission reduction
- Engine optimisation
What makes us special?
- We are approved according to Clauses 26, 28 of the Federal Immission Control Act for measurement of a wide spectrum of substance groups.
- Based on our long experience and the measuring equipment available to our assessors, we can help you fulfil the legal requirements and achieve your own particular goals.
- Our environmental assessors will be pleased to attest your fulfilment of the conditions for receiving the different types of bonus in accordance with the Renewable Energy Sources Act including: technology bonus, cogeneration bonus, liquid manure bonus, landscape conservation bonus and renewable raw material (NaWaRo) bonus.
Which standards and legal requirements form the basis for the work?
- BImSchG
- Various immission control ordinances (BImSchV)
Contact us:
Our experts are always ready to answer your questions. Simply send an e-mail by clicking the contact box at the top right of this page.
You will find the services we provide in connection with biogas installations here.
