Understanding CDM Methodologies - SuSanA

Baseline scenario and additionality
The methodology is the only methodology that refers to another approved
methodology (AM0028) for identification of the baseline scenario. AM0028
is applicable for tertiary N 2
O abatement only, however the baseline
alternatives are the same for both secondary and tertiary abatement. Baseline
scenario identification follows a step-wise approach.
Financially most
attractive Option
to reduce N 2
O
Emissions and/or
NO x
Emissions is the
Baseline Scenario
In a first step, all technological options that reduce N 2
O emissions as well
as NO X
emissions (as long as they impact N 2
O emissions at the same time)
need to be considered as potential baseline scenarios. A non-exclusive list of
such options includes (i) the continuation of venting of all N 2
O, (ii) alternative
use of N 2
O (e.g. recycling and use as a feedstock), (iii) installation of a (new)
Non-Selective Catalytic Reduction (NSCR) unit, (iv) installation of an N 2
O
destruction or abatement technology (e.g. primary, secondary or tertiary)
and (v) installation of a new tertiary measure that combines NO X
and N 2
O
emission reduction.
Subsequently, all baseline alternatives have to be eliminated that do
not comply with the legal and regulatory requirements on N 2
O and NO X
emissions. If an option is in theory mandated but not enforced, nonenforcement
needs to be demonstrated for the alternative to be considered a
possible baseline scenario.
In a third step a barrier test needs to be performed for all alternatives (e.g.
investment or technological barrier).
Finally, an investment analysis shall be undertaken for all remaining
alternatives and the alternative which is financially most attractive is the
baseline scenario.
Baseline emissions
Baseline Emission
is Output times
N 2
O Emission
Factor
Baseline
Campaign as
the Basis for
Emission Factor
Determination
As in the absence of the project the N 2
O would have been vented, the N 2
O
emissions baseline is the amount of nitric acid produced during project
operation multiplied with an N 2
O emission factor per output of nitric acid.
The emission factor is calculated based on measurements of N 2
O emissions
during a so called baseline campaign. In nitric acid manufacturing a
campaign is a discrete production run which lasts from a new set of primary
catalyst gauze until the gauze is decomposed and is exchanged by new
gauze. The baseline campaign refers to a single full campaign at similar
operating conditions as the last previous five campaigns (see monitoring
section below) at which the N 2
O emissions are measured. The amount of
N 2
O emissions over the length of the campaign is calculated according to the
following formula:
BE BC
= VSG BC
x NCSG BC
x 10 -9 x OH BC
Baseline
N2O
emissions
Mean gas
volume
flow rate
Mean
concentration
of N2O in stack
gas per hour
Operating
hours of
the baseline
campaign
71