Chapter 8.2 - Improvements
Last updated on 09 Oct 2018 06:49 (cf. Authors)
Improvements since Submission 2017
The following changes were introduced since the 2017 annual submission:
- NFR 1.A.3.b: implementation of biogas as fuel
- NFR 1.A.3.c: inclusion of abrasive emissions from railways
- NFR 2.A.6: revised AD for Ceramics Production (2.A.6)
Improvements planned for future submissions
Possible improvement issues that have been identified so far and will be checked in the future are given below:
Over-all inventory / all source categories:
- To prioritise improvements on the basis of the results of the uncertainty analysis, it is planned to determine uncertainty analysis at source category level.
Individual source categories:
stationary combustion:
- Revision if the reporting structure of biogas and liquid biomass (1.A.1.a)
- Possibly measurements of POPs and heavy metal for large combustion plants (1.A.1.a)
- Improvement of EF for waste incineration plants for 1990 (1.A.1.a)
- Revision of SO2 emission factors (1.A.1.b)
- Further comparison of inventory data with PRTR and ETS (1.A.1)
- Calculation of a complete time series for liquid biomass use (1.A.4.a i)
- Calculation of a complete time series for biogas use (1.A.4.c i)
mobile combustion:
- implementation of abrasive emissions from tyres, brakes and road surface into TREMOD (1.A.3.b vi + vii)
- validation and revision of approach for abrasive emissions from railways; possible implementation into TREMOD (1.A.3.c)
Investigated Review Findings
NECD 2017
| Aspect | Sector | Finding | NECD 2017 | Implemented | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transparency | 1A1 | Presents its NH3 EF for stationary combustion in the next submission of its IIR, justify the use of these and compare these against the values in 2016 EMEP/EEA Guidebook. | DE-1A1-2017-0001 | No | A comparison with default values is not possible |
| Transparency | 1A1a | Improves the transparency of its IIR regarding PM2.5 shares used for each fuel (solid fuels (coal and lignite) and gaseous fuels, but also biomass if relevant). | DE-1A1a-2017-0001 | Yes | |
| Transparency | 1A1b | Include the country specific EFs for combustion in refineries in the relating chapter of its IIR to improve transparency. | DE-1A1b-2017-0001 | No | Emission factors are under revision. New emission factors will be included in the IIR following completion of the running refinery project. |
| Transparency | 1A2gviii | Improve the transparency of the IIR to explain its assumptions on the PM2.5 fraction used for each fuel and particularly for liquid fuels, biomass and other fuels. | DE-1A2gviii-2017-0001 | Yes | |
| Transparency | 2A1 | Include the explanation and rationale for using two sets of activity data to be included in the IIR for the next submission. | DE-2A1-2017-0001 | Yes | |
| Transparency | 2C | Update the SO2 emission factors for 2C5, 2C6 and 2C7a for the next submission to reflect the individual production activities and to include more transparent information on primary vs. secondary production of lead, zinc and copper in the IIR. | DE-2C-2017-0001 | Yes | |
| Transparency | 2D3d | Include explanation on recalculation to 1994 in the next submission. | DE-2D3d-2017-0001 | No | Will be reported with the next submission 2019. |
| Transparency | 3B | Include the information for the proportional of NO-N and N2 and the reference in the IIR to improve transparency. | DE-3B-2017-0002 | Yes | |
| Transparency | 3B2 | Mention that NFR 3B2 includes lambs and also explain the lower EF NMVOC used for lambs. Furthermore, the TERT recommend that Germany in IIR mentioned that pullets are included in NFR 3B4giv other poultry. | DE-3B2-2017-0004 | Yes | |
| Transparency | 3F | Include more information in the IIR for the next submission, referring to the specific law and clarifying from which year the ban came into force. Furthermore, it is recommended to inform whether there are derogations for field burning under certain circumstances or for certain crop types. | DE-3F-2017-0001 | Yes | |
| Aspect | Sector | Finding | NECD 2017 | Implemented | Comment |
| Consistency | 1A2 | Use the right notation keys in the NFR tables for its next submissions. (1A2 Stationary Combustion in Manufacturing Industries and Construction, PM2.5, 2005-2015) | DE-1A2-2017-0001 | Yes | |
| Aspect | Sector | Finding | NECD 2017 | Implemented | Comment |
| Comparability | 3Da1 | Use the updated emission factors available in the 2016 EMEP/EEA Guidebook (Table 3.2) for the next submission. | DE-3Da1-2017-0001 | Yes | |
| Aspect | Sector | Finding | NECD 2017 | Implemented | Comment |
| Completeness | 2B10a | Investigate whether flaring occurs in relation to carbide production e.g. by contacting the single producer of carbide. | DE-2B10a-2017-0002 | Yes | flaring is a common destruction technic in chemical industry. But no information exists to assign flaring quantities to a single installation. |
| Completeness | 2B3 | Include the NOx emissions in the next submission preferably using a country specific method to account for the specific technologies and abatement equipment applied. | DE-2B3-2017-0001 | Partly | Will be reported with the next submission 2019. |
| Completeness | 2B6 | Include the NOx emissions in the next submission. | DE-2B6-2017-0001 | No | Germany will look into possible implementations for this in the future. Not reported 2018. |
| Completeness | 2C3 | Include NOx from aluminium production in the next submission to improve completeness and comparability. | DE-2C3-2017-0001 | No | Will be part of the 2019 submission. |
| Completeness | 3Da2b | Include the emission from sewage sludge applied to agricultural soils in the next submission. | DE-3Da2b-2017-0001 | Yes | |
| Completeness | 5A | Include NMVOC and PM2.5 emissions from 5A in its next submission. | DE-5A-2017-0001 | No | Guidebook Tier 1 default emission factors not applicable, no other method/factors available. |
| Completeness | 5D | Include the estimation of NMVOC emissions from wastewater treatment plant in its next submission. | DE-5D-2017-0001 | Yes | |
| Completeness | 5E | Although the Guidebook has methods for car and house fires in Chapter 6, it may be more transparent to include these in Chapter 7 as Chapter 6D is more focused on compost and sludge. The ERT encourages Germany to consider including some of these emissions in the next submissions. | DE-5A-2017-0003 | Yes | |
| Aspect | Sector | Finding | NECD 2017 | Implemented | Comment |
| Accuracy | 1A1a | Include the revised estimate of activity data and emissions for biogas in its next submission. | DE-1A1a-2017-0003 | No | The National Energy Balance would have to be revised in order to facilitate this change. This is currently not on the agenda. |
CLRTAP 2010 & 2014
| Aspect | Sector | Finding | CLRTAP 2010 | CLRTAP 2014 | Implemented | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Provide a PDF version of the IIR for offline use and to better facilitate the review process | § 6, 9, 11, 28 | § 17 | No | The current Wiki platform isn't able to export a whole site to PDF. But we can provide an offline HTML version with full navigation. | |
| General | Use the results of the KCA to prioritise improvements in the inventory | § 14 | Yes | |||
| Aspect | Sector | Finding | CLRTAP 2010 | CLRTAP 2014 | Implemented | Comment |
| Transparency | Inaccuracies were found in the use of notation keys, and it is recommended to justify the use of notation keys in the IIR for each particular sector. | § 38 | § 19 | Partly | Information tables for NE & IE were added to the completeness chapter of the current IIR | |
| Transparency | Provide more detailed to explain emission trends, e.g. annual fluctuations and discontinuities of emissions. | § 21, 78 | Yes | |||
| Transparency | Provide more detailed information on the rationale for recalculations at a sectoral level, to compliment the information already provided in the recalculation tables per pollutant. | § 30, 43, 90, 107 | Yes | |||
| Transparency | Extend the use of a bibliography for some subsectors to all sectors in the IIR. | § 77 | Partly | The amount of recurring references is very small within most source categories. And the total number of references per page is usually quite low. So directly linking to the documents seems like a good way to make sources available to the readers. | ||
| Transparency | 1A1b | Include implied emission factors in the text of the respective chapter rather than referring to other sections in in the IIR. | § 55 | No | Emission factors are under revision. New emission factors will be included in the IIR following completion of the running refinery project. | |
| Transparency | 1A2a\1A2b\2C | For iron & steel, there is a mix of reporting under 1A2a (PM & CO), 2C1 (NOx, SOx, VOC, NH3) and "NE" (HMs and POPs). For non ferrous metals, similar issues are observed. The recommendation is to explain the rationale for reporting in different source categories, as well the rationale for NEs. NE reporting should be avoided as much as possible, e.g. by applying Guidebook Tier 1 EFs. | § 48, 49 | Yes | The reporting in the different source categories is explained in the IIR. | |
| Transparency | 1A2gviii | The ERT recommends that Germany include details of the units of AD used in its estimations, as this was not always the case. | § 51 | Yes | ||
| Transparency | 1A3b | Explain in more detail the emission calculation for road transport, not only by saying that HBEFA and TREMOD are used but giving more information including an overview of emission factors in the next versions of the IIR. | § 65 | § 72 | Yes | |
| Transparency | 1A4 | Provide more detail on the emission factors used, including their applicability for the different years and sub-categories of the time series. Find EFs to estimate emissions for heavy metals (for example: using tier 1 in the EMEP Guidebook, inventories in other countries). | § 52 | Yes | ||
| Transparency | 1B2d | Report in the IIR on what basis emissions from geothermal energy extraction are considered negligible. | § 59 | Yes | ||
| Transparency | 2 | From the IIR, it is not always clear which specific activities are included in each sector, in particular for Industrial Processes and Solvent use. | § 20 | Yes | ||
| Transparency | 2D3 | The methodology described in the IIR for solvent and other product use is found to be not transparent. Provide detail on all 37 subcategories, including activity data and emission factors. | § 18, 96, 97, 98 | Yes | The transparency of the IIR for solvent use and product use was much improved in the Submission 2016. | |
| Transparency | 3B | Explain the variation in activity data for goats in the IIR. | § 120 | Yes | ||
| Transparency | 3B | The ERT recommends including in the IIR information on the complete time series of the activity data, description of emission drivers, recalculations and improvements for the agriculture sector. | § 86, 94 | Yes | ||
| Transparency | 3B | Provide additional information in the IIR, especially related to: TAN contents, distributions of housing and storage facilities (e.g. for the first and last reporting year), slurry storage systems and the spreading systems applied, corresponding EFs. | § 117 | Yes | ||
| Transparency | 5A\5B\5C | Since all incineration is reported under energy, add information about the methodology used for different types of waste incineration under NFR 1. In NFR 6C, use the notation key “IE” instead of “NO”, and to explain the use of the notation key in the IIR. | § 103, 104, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115 | § 136 | Partly | Information on methods used for estimation of energy-related is reported in NFR 1. Germany considers NO to be correct and explains the situation in its IIR. |
| Aspect | Sector | Finding | CLRTAP 2010 | CLRTAP 2014 | Implemented | Comment |
| Consistency | 1A1\1A2 | In the IIR in the "Short description" for 1A1 and 1A2, Germany presents a tier 2 or 3 approach. However, during the review Germany indicated that only the tier 2 approach was used. This needs correction in the IIR (was agreed by Germany to do this) | § 47 | § 54 | Yes | |
| Consistency | 1A5 | The IIR says Tier 1 method is used for 1A5, but it is actually Tier 2/3. This should be corrected in the IIR. | § 53 | Yes | ||
| Consistency | 2 | Ensure time series consistency of TSP emissions between 1990 and later years, and clearly explain in the IIR where and why consistent reporting is not possible. | § 80 | Yes | ||
| Consistency | 2A1\2A2 | A time series inconsistency is found which relates to a different reporting structure before 2000. It is recommended to explore the feasibility of harmonizing the methodology. | § 93 | Yes | ||
| Consistency | 2D3 | Provide emissions for 1990-2005 at a disaggregated level similar to later years, if possible. If not, explain why for the earlier period emissions have been estimated at a more aggregated level. Also clearly document in the case of IE where emissions have been allocated. | § 100, 101 | Yes | The manufacturing industry was the most important branch of the GDR economy. The transformation of the markets and the disappearance of large state-owned enterprises in the course of the German unity led to a dramatic change in the eastern part of Germany. The considerable economic and structural differences between East and West following German reunification do not allow a recalculation with the methodology refined in 2000 and 2005, which makes it possible to calculate emissions at a disaggregated level. | |
| Consistency | 3B | The ERT encourages Germany to further improve the consistency of the time series of NH3 for manure management. In chapter 4 of the EMEP/EEA Guidebook 2013 specific methods are provided. | § 110 | Yes | ||
| Consistency | 3B | Animal numbers show a step change due to a different reporting time. This should be corrected for and described in the IIR as appropriate. | § 119 | Yes | ||
| Consistency | 3B | Check and explain the variation in activity data for horses in the IIR. | § 121 | Yes | ||
| Consistency | 3B | The activity data (animal numbers) is coming from various sources and some corrections are being done. It is recommended that Germany includes a table in the IIR showing the livestock numbers from different sources and the type of elaboration/correction that has been done. | § 94 | Yes | ||
| Consistency | 3B | Explain how the change in farm practices or the implementation of mitigation measures has affected the time series in the IIR in order to facilitate the assessment of emission trends. | § 111 | Yes | ||
| Consistency | 3B | Explain in the IIR why the NH3 EF for dairy cattle decreased from 2011 to 2012. | § 122 | Yes | ||
| Consistency | 3B | Explain in the IIR why the NH3 EF for swine decreased from 1993 to 1994. | § 123 | Yes | ||
| Consistency | 3B | Explain in the IIR why the NH3 EF significant changes for different poultry subsectors in the 2000s. | § 124 | Yes | ||
| Aspect | Sector | Finding | CLRTAP 2010 | CLRTAP 2014 | Implemented | Comment |
| Comparability | 1A2\2 | Germany reports emissions from sugar production in source category 2D2. It is recommended to report these emissions under 1A2e and include a more detailed description of the sub-categories, the methodology used, the source of activity data, the source of EFs and consistency across the time series (1990-2008). | § 50 | No | Reporting of NMVOC and PM emissions from sugar production in 2H2 (used to be 2D2) is correct according to the Inventory Guidebook 2016. | |
| Comparability | 1A2a\1A4ai\1A4ci\1A5a | Notation key NE is used for (many) heavy metals despite the availability of EFs in the EMEP/EEA Guidebook. If all HM emissions from iron & steel are reported in 2C1, the notation key should be IE. | § 56 | Partly | Implemented for 1A4ai and 1A4ci | |
| Comparability | 1A3di(ii)\1A4ciii | Emissions reported as IE. The ERT encourages Germany to make separate emission estimates for these sectors in future IIR reports and, in the meantime, a separate summary table of all categories (fully or partially reported as IE) and where they have been moved would be beneficial. | § 69 | Yes | ||
| Comparability | 1A4aii | Emissions for main pollutants were reported as IE. The ERT encourages the Party to investigate further statistical resources for missing estimates in this sector and include a progress report within the next IIR. | § 67 | Yes | ||
| Comparability | 1A4bii\1A4cii | Implied NOx emission factors are at the high end of the range when compared with a selected group of countries (AT, BE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, IE, IT, NL, NO). The ERT recommends that the Party reviews the emission factors for these two sources and includes an explanation for this issue in the IIR. | § 66 | No | This minor issue has not yet been checked. The inventory compiler will look into this as soon as resources allow. | |
| Aspect | Sector | Finding | CLRTAP 2010 | CLRTAP 2014 | Implemented | Comment |
| Completeness | Emissions prior to 1990 are not reported. | § 7, 27 | § 24 | Yes | ||
| Completeness | LPS data were not reported. | § 10 | Yes | |||
| Completeness | A key category analysis (KCA) was missing for the base years (1990 or 2000 for PM) of the pollutants. | § 13 | Yes | |||
| Completeness | Try to estimate emissions for missing sources (now reported as “Not Estimated”), and if this notation key is used explain better the reason why. | § 12, 14, 24, 29 | § 23, 44a | Partly | Ongoing effort | |
| Completeness | 1A2a\1A2b\1A4\1B1a | Some emissions are not estimated for some pollutants: heavy metals and POPs for 1A2a, particulates, heavy metals and POPs for 1A2b, heavy metals for 1A4 and NMVOC for 1B1a. The ERT recommends Germany to use the Guidebook default EFs if no other method is available. | § 37 | Yes | ||
| Completeness | 1A3a | NH3 reported as NE. Recommendation to investigate the emissions or report as NO if emissions do not occur. | § 68 | Yes | The notation key 'NE' is used only for ammonia from aviation gasoline (as recommended in the 2016 EMEP Guidebook). whereas for jet kerosene, emissions are estimated. | |
| Completeness | 1A3ai(i)\1A3aii(i) | Heavy metal emissions are currently not estimated. The ERT recommends that the Party estimates these emissions, using the methodology in the EMEP/EEA Guidebook. | § 62 | Yes | ||
| Completeness | 1A3biv\1A4bii | PM10 and PM2.5 emissions are reported as “NE”. The ERT recommends that Germany completes the inventory by estimating these emissions. | § 63 | Yes | ||
| Completeness | 1A3bv | Evaporative emissions from running losses (i.e. vapour generated in the fuel tank during vehicle operation) were missing because not considered in the TREMOD model. The ERT recommends to include these in the inventory. | § 73 | No | This issue has not yet been looked into as other model revisions especially as a follow-up of 'diesel gate' appeared much more relevant, tying up all resources. | |
| Completeness | 1A3dii | Pb and Hg emissions are currently not estimated. The ERT recommends that the Party considers the emission factors available in the Guidebook. | § 64 | Yes | ||
| Completeness | 1A4ai\1A4ci\1A5a | HM and POP currently not reported since no consistent dataset is available (partly country specific, partly Guidebook). The recommendation is to describe the issue in the IIR and until it is solved use the Guidebook emission factors despite their recognized uncertainty, rather than reporting NE. | § 57 | Partly | Implemented for 1A4ai and 1A4ci | |
| Completeness | 1B1a | In 2010 "NE" is indicated for particulates and “NA” for NMVOC, but the Guidebook has EFs. It is recommended that Germany identifies the type of coal mining, using the EFs from the EMEP Guidebook or other references to estimate emissions for this sector. In 2014 NMVOC was reported as NE, and the ERT recommends Germany to describe why NE is reported (emissions assumed negligible). | § 54 | Yes | ||
| Completeness | 2C1 | Include emissions for dioxins and heavy metals based on new research project. | § 80, 81 | Yes | ||
| Completeness | 3D | The ERT encourages Germany to estimate PM10, and PM2.5 emissions for 4D, in future submissions, following the EMEP/EEA Guidebook recommendations. | § 86 | Yes | ||
| Completeness | 5A\5B | Improves the completeness of the inventory by estimating emissions from solid waste disposal and wastewater handling. | § 127 | No | Ongoing effort | |
| Completeness | 5A\5B\5C | The inventory regarding Waste is currently not complete, with missing estimates for several source categories. | § 102 | § 134, 135 | No | Ongoing effort |
| Completeness | 5D\5E | Check if sources which would have to be included under "Other waste" exist in Germany, such as for instance composting, unintentional fires etc. | § 139 | Yes | ||
| Completeness | 6 | Consider currently missing sources: NH3 emissions from Cats and Dogs, from Zoo animals, and human ammonia emissions, etc. | § 116 | No | ||
| Aspect | Sector | Finding | CLRTAP 2010 | CLRTAP 2014 | Implemented | Comment |
| Accuracy | Implement a (qualitative and quantitative) uncertainty analysis and use the results to prioritize improvements to the inventory | § 20, 24 | § 32, 44e, 85 | Yes | ||
| Accuracy | Include a chapter in the IIR with for each source category the foreseen improvements for the inventory | § 34 | Partly | Included for most categories | ||
| Accuracy | Updating projection data as far as necessary, especially in case of significant recalculations of previous time series. | § 31 | Yes | |||
| Accuracy | 1A1b\1A1c\2 | Improvement from Tier 2 to Tier 3, using plant-specific data, for some industrial processes including cement production, as well as for large combustion plants (e.g. 1A1b, 1A1c) | § 19, 41, 45, 46 | Partly | Included for large combustion plants, no plant-specific data for cement production | |
| Accuracy | 1A3bvi | This source is a key category for Pb and the ERT has noted that the emission factor for brake wear used by Germany was higher than the maximum range quoted by the 2013 Guidebook. Germany is recommended to review the EF, explain where it is coming from in the IIR, and potentially revise to bring in line with the Guidebook. | § 74 | Yes | ||
| Accuracy | 1A3dii\1A5b | Review the methodology for national navigation by distinguishing between coastal and inland shipping based on an ongoing research project, as well as explicitly include emissions from military activities. | § 75, 76 | Yes | ||
| Accuracy | 2A1 | Cement production is a key source for Hg, HCB and for NOx, PM10 and PAH but Tier 1 is used. The ERT encourages Germany to use plant-specific data collected as part of the LCPD, IPPC and E-PRTR to develop a tier 2 or 3 methodology in the near future and to document these in its IIR. | § 79 | § 88 | No | No plant-specific data for only two pollutants useful (Hg, PM2.5) |
| Accuracy | 2D3 | Increase the use of information from individual installations that make a high contribution to the key categories, such as car assembly sites and big printing installations. | § 104 | Yes | Emissions caused by the use of solvents and solvent-based products are reported in the relevant source groups. In our methodology we also include the application of solvent-based products in large installations such as those used in automotive series production or large printing systems. The emission data of defined individual plants are thus included in the calculation but cannot be shown and published individually for reasons of confidentiality and data protection. | |
| Accuracy | 2L | Include results of ongoing research project to improve from Tier 1 to higher Tier methodology. | § 82, 83 | Yes | ||
| Accuracy | 3B | There were errors in the calculation of N excretion rates, it is recommended that Germany corrects this. | § 98 | Yes | ||
| Accuracy | 3B | Describe the efforts taken to verify / validate the emission model in the IIR. | § 118 | Yes | ||
| Aspect | Sector | Finding | CLRTAP 2010 | CLRTAP 2014 | Implemented | Comment |
| QA/QC | Fully implement the QA/QC system for the air pollutant emission inventory. If possible, implement a unified QA/QC system for reporting to CLRTAP and UNFCCC. | § 21, 24, 62, 74, 88, 105 | § 37, 44d | No | Ongoing discussion | |
| QA/QC | Widen the use of the existing QA/QC system, used for the set of activity data as well as the methods and emission factors for GHGs, for the needs of CLRTAP/NECD inventories and providing further details on its implementation in the IIR (general and sectoral descriptions). | § 33, 40 | § 16, 69, 84, 87, 103, 105 | No | Ongoing discussion | |
| QA/QC | Include information on verification and validation of the inventory in the IIR. | § 38 | No | Ongoing discussion |
Next section: 12. Projections