1/17/23, 8:50 AM Greenhouse gas emissions calculations | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

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Business With Us / Permits and regulations / Air permits / Calculating emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions calculations

SECTION MENU

Create an editable spreadsheet with the information indicated below. Each step in
your calculations needs to be clear and easy to follow.

Facility information
Provide the facility information listed on the Calculating emissions page, except
maximum capacity.

Emission calculations
Generally, you will list the pollutants your facility emits in the left column, and each
calculation will be another column in your spreadsheet. Provide the formula or
equation for each calculation.

List the GHGs that the process or unit emits:

Carbon dioxide
Methane
Nitrous oxide
Hydrofluorocarbons
Perfluorocarbons
Sulfur hexafluoride
Carbon dioxide equivalent
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For each pollutant except carbon-dioxide equivalent, provide the emission

factor. Hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons are each reported as the
total of several individual compounds (see Table A-1 of Subpart A of 40 CFR
Part 98), but document the emission factor for each compound. Use
uncontrolled emission factors, and include the applicable units.
List the global warming potential of each pollutant except carbon dioxide
equivalent, found in Table A-1 of Subpart A of 40 CFR Part 98.
Calculate the mass emission rate:
Mass emission rate (lb/hr) = Emission factor (lb/unit) x Capacity (unit/hr)
Calculate the maximum uncontrolled mass emissions:
Maximum uncontrolled mass emissions (tons/yr) = Mass emission rate
(lb/hr) x 8760 (hrs/yr) x 0.0005 (tons/lb)
Calculate the maximum uncontrolled carbon dioxide equivalent:
Max uncontrolled carbon dioxide equivalent (tons/yr) = [1 x uncontrolled
carbon dioxide (tons/yr)] + [25 x uncontrolled methane (tons/yr)] + [298
x uncontrolled nitrous oxide (tons/yr)] + [22800 x uncontrolled sulfur
hexafluoride (tons/yr)] + [GWPPFCn x uncontrolled PFCn (tons/yr)] +
[GWPHFCn x uncontrolled HFCn (tons/yr)]
Include the pollution control efficiency percentage, which is the capture
efficiency percentage multiplied by the destruction/collection efficiency
percentage (shown on Form GI-05A or similar), for each pollutant. Form CD-
05 also requires a plan to demonstrate and maintain the destruction/collection
efficiency. If there is no control for a particular pollutant, indicate “zero” as
the control efficiency. Don't enter a control efficiency for carbon dioxide
equivalent.
Calculate the maximum controlled mass emission rate for each GHG expect
carbon dioxide equivalent:
Max. controlled mass emission rate (lb/hr) = Mass emission rate (lb/hr) x
{[100 – Pollution control efficiency] ÷ 100}
Calculate the maximum controlled mass emissions for each GHG except
carbon dioxide equivalent:

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1/17/23, 8:50 AM Greenhouse gas emissions calculations | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Max. controlled mass emissions (tons/year) = Maximum controlled mass

emissions (tons/year) x {[100 – Pollution control efficiency] ÷ 100}
Calculate the maximum controlled carbon dioxide equivalent:
Max controlled carbon dioxide equivalent (tons/yr) = [1 x controlled
carbon dioxide (tons/yr)] + [25 x controlled methane (tons/yr)] + [298 x
controlled nitrous oxide (tons/yr)] + [22800 x controlled sulfur
hexafluoride (tons/yr)] + [GWPPFCn x controlled PFCn (tons/yr)] +
[GWPHFCn x controlled HFCn (tons/yr)]
Calculate actual emissions (tons/year) for existing units, take an average of the
usage data from the previous two calendar years. For registration permit
Option D applicants, use the previous 12 months of operation. To calculate
actual emissions using the above equations, substitute actual operating
parameters and/or hours per year operated for the maximum capacities to get
mass emissions in tons per year. Then multiply these calculated actual mass
emissions by the appropriate global warming potential for each pollutant, and
add them together to get the carbon dioxide equivalent.
Find the limited controlled mass and carbon-dioxide equivalent emissions
(tons/year) by taking into account all your facility's operation limits, such as
hours of operation, amount of material handled, etc. Repeat the emission rate
calculation by multiplying the emission factor by the maximum capacity of the
operation, but take into account your operation limits. If an emission unit is
subject to an emission limitation specified in 40 CFR pt. 60, 40 CFR pt. 61, 40
CFR pt. 63, or Minn. R. ch. 7011 or you are proposing a more stringent limit,
you must indicate this and include those factors in the calculation. Registration
Permit D applicants can skip this step.

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1/17/23, 8:50 AM Greenhouse gas emissions calculations | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

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