Validated air quality model for the Upper Hunter NSW

In March 2016 the NSW Environment Protection Authority (NSW EPA) published the results of the Upper Hunter Air Quality Particle Model completed by PE.

The study included modelling of primary particle emissions from all sectors included in the Air Emissions Inventory for the Greater Metropolitan Region in NSW (GMR Inventory), including the mining industry, and determining their contribution to annual average particulate matter (PM) concentrations in Singleton and Muswellbrook.

As shown in results from Upper Hunter Air Quality Particle Model, generally, the model over predicts close to mining and under predicts further from mining.

The coal-mine emission inventories in the Upper Hunter Air Quality Particle Model applied PM emission factors sourced from the United States, which are typically more than three decades old. During this period there have been substantial changes to open-cut mining methods, equipment types and sizes, control methods employed, and measurement techniques.

A recent PE project sponsored by the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) has now derived Australian-specific PM emission factors for the main coal-mining sources identified in the GMR inventory.

In December 2016, PE was awarded an additional ACARP grant to incorporate these Australian-specific emission factors and controls into the Upper Hunter Air Quality Particle Model. The study objective is to determine if the new emission factors improve the model performance.

This outcomes of the study will then inform the proposed adoption of these new emission factors for use in Australia. In addition to validating new emission factors, the project will deliver an updated, validated Upper Hunter PM model that can be used for multiple future purposes including emission scenario and environmental impact assessments.

The ACARP report will be available late 2017. If you are interested in being advised when the report is published please email enquiries@pacific-environment.com.

Pacific Environment Limited published this content on 30 January 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 29 January 2017 22:55:05 UTC.

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