Improvement of the national inventory (2012) for volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) regarding solvent use activities and methodological assessemnt (Project no. 2013/28706)
Background
The background of the project is Germany’s obligation to balance and report on emissions as they result from European and international treaties for the limitation of air pollution.
The data base for emissions of volatile organic compounds other than methane (NMVOC) from solvent-based products is basically confronted with many problems, mainly caused by unspecific statistical data. This results in assignment problems when determining the domestic consumption of solvent-containing products.
Emissions inventories usually determine the emissions of an industry by linking the domestic consumption with an industry-specific emission factor. In the case of the NMVOC inventory, inaccuracies arise because general emission factors, often with uncertainties, are provided for industries using individual solvents.
Goal and expected results
The aim of the project is to review and, if necessary, improve emission factors for solvent-based products and update the NMVOC emission inventory for 2012. In addition, emission forecasts for 2015 to 2050 are derived and documented with the associated uncertainties. The estimation is based on the determination of statistical data as well as research by industry experts and in-house industry knowledge of processes in which solvent-based products cause emissions.
The project uses results from research projects that Ökopol has carried out on the one hand for the implementation of the Solvents Ordinance (31st BImSchV) on the basis of operational solvent balances, and on the other hand from findings of a project for the EU Commission on the implementation of the EU Decopaint Directive (limitation of solvent content in products).
In the project, the user-friendliness of the existing inventory will also be tested and improved. A short completion period is planned for the project. Essential results are already being used for NMVOC reporting for 2012 and for forecasts for future years.
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