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Formaldehyde measurements at biogas combined heat and power plants

Plant operators, including operators of  biogas-fuelled combined heat and power plants, must have the concentration of individual substances or groups of substances in the 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 also formaldehyde. The law limits emissions of hydrocarbons, as they contribute to the greenhouse effect and are hazardous to the environment, while formaldehyde is suspected of causing cancer and is therefore categorised as hazardous to health.
Following the duty to reduce emissions, TA Luft specifies strict limit values for formaldehyde. Adherence to a current emission value of 40 mg/m³ is required for all biogas installations in standard state (decision of the federal and state working group on immission protection (LAI) on 17/18 September 2008). Without a catalyst or exhaust gas treatment, biogas-driven engines cannot adhere to this value and the emission value is exceeded.

In order to provide plant operators with an incentive for retrofitting suitable equipment to existing installations or for planning reductions immediately into new installations, the formaldehyde bonus or emission reduction bonus has been introduced within the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). The latest version specifies that a bonus of 1 Eurocent per kilowatt hour can be claimed if formaldehyde loads are minimised.

As proof, emissions have to be measured for formaldehyde each year by an organisation approved according to Clauses 26, 28 of the Federal Immission Control Act. The measurements must also demonstrate that the specified emission limits for carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides are adhered to.

What services do we offer?

• Formaldehyde measurement as a proof of adherence to limit values, for presentation to the relevant official body
• 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.