Next Generation Wood and Pellet Heaters: Implications for Testing

Transcription

1 Next Generation Wood and Pellet Heaters: Implications for Testing Prof John Todd Eco Energy Options Pty Ltd for Vipac Solid Fuels Seminar, 21 August 2012

2 Current Issues Woodheaters are increasing in popularity Air quality will probably worsen Epidemiological studies are showing stronger than expected links between fine particle concentrations and adverse health impacts Some local authorities in Aust and NZ are banning new woodheater installations An alternative to bans is a new generation of cleaner burning woodheaters

3 What would drive change in Australia? Commonwealth government action State government action must act if Air NEPM is not complied with Local government stronger influences from community activists New Standards for heater emissions Industry initiatives complex because of competition & international influences Consumer choices

4 Why is it difficult to get cleaner woodheaters? Up to about 2010 the number of woodheaters in use was declining, air quality was improving, so government was happy to keep out of it Enforcement of existing regulations is lax, so manufacturers that do not comply have a competitive advantage Difficult for consumers to get reliable information for many smoke is not a priority

5 Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics surveys

6 Nationally Standing Council on Environment and Water is developing a National Plan for Clean Air only reporting by end of 2014 Standards Australia Committee (CS 062) that deals with woodheaters has not met since March 2007 the woodheater standards are in urgent need of revision Essentially nothing happening in the foreseeable future

7 The current generation of woodheaters produce about 10g of particles for each kg of wood burnt when used in homes, this needs to come down to about 1g/kg

8 Some people can operate awoodheaterso that it smokes out a whole neighbourhood

9 Local and State Governments Isolated pockets of action A few local government areas now ban new woodheater installations A few local government areas now require lower emission factors for new woodheaters Several studies have been commissioned by States, all show high community health costs associated with wood smoke WA now regulates moisture content of firewood

10 New Zealand Much more active in regulating wood smoke and enforcing heater certification Less than 1.5g/kg and 65% efficiency (compared to Australia 4g/kg no efficiency limit) Some areas now less than 0.8g/kg Several areas ban new installations Talk of a new test method (aimed at more realistic operation) with even lower emission limit

11 Wood pellet heaters Not popular in Australia because of high pellet price In Europe and North America they are proving very popular Pellets are much cheaper, they are used for residential heating and small industry The Aus/NZ Standard for testing safety of pellet heaters has been drafted but not published so authorities are reluctant to promote them Emissions are about one tenth those of woodheaters when used in people s homes

12 Rika pellet stove Austria

13 Next 5 Years in Australia Most likely, no change in national or state regulations Some local government authorities in areas where winter smoke levels are high will introduce bans on new installations or lower emission limits for new heaters There is no talk of tighter enforcement of regulations

14 My personal view on what should happen We already know: Woodheaters are one of the largest sources of air pollution in Australia Fine particles (PM2.5) Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (e.g. B[a]P) Carbon monoxide, air toxics (formaldehyde, benzene) Adverse health impacts are occurring lung cancer, respiratory & heart disease, aggravated asthma

15 If woodheater numbers continue to increase there are only two sensible options: (i) cleaner burning heaters (aim for one tenth current emissions) with proper enforcement (audits etc.), or (ii) bans on new installations and gradual removal of existing heaters Option (i) is preferred because of the many good things associated with woodheaters (from both household and industry perspectives) it is just the smoke that we need to reduce

16 Implications for test laboratories The calorimeter room + dilution tunnel approach is sound and unlikely to change in the near future (i.e. test infrastructure unlikely to change) The operation of heaters during testing is likely to change so it is more like real world (simple) Very low emission heaters will require changes to sample rates (simple) Independent auditing will mean good record keeping essential (should already be in place) Potentially a surge in testing to meet new regulations

17 To move forward, we need a new cooperative approach to reducing emissions involving industry, research and testing laboratories, and pollution control authorities