Ammonia emissions and farms – PREPAIR launches an innovative tool for estimating emissions based on the techniques used in intensive farming

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The software “BAT-Tool” is available online, and it has been realized within the project’s actions of the agricultural sector.  The calculation tool makes it possible to estimate ammonia emissions starting from the data on the techniques applied in intensive pig and poultry farming and to compare different scenarios, providing also simplified information on other gases emitted by the plants.

The BAT-Tool software is a supporting tool in the review procedures of the Integrated Environmental Authorizations and for other obligations that require an assessment of emissions. It represents a first step towards the creation of a common farms emissions evaluation model of the Po basin, foreseen as a project output. Its final version will include other species bred in farms and other pollutants, and it will have an integrated approach between the different environmental components.

The BAT-Tool has been developed by the Emilia-Romagna Region together with the working group of PREPAIR, it has already undergone a test phase that involved technical experts of the sector in different regions and allowed to develop different aspects. The tool is now freely accessible after registering at the following link: http://www.crpa.it/battool

Among the already active functions, it is possible for plants manager to export the data inserted and use them for the presentation of questions or requests.

The user manual can be downloaded by our website’s page dedicated to the agricultural actions (Italian only).

PREPAIR takes part to the EU GREEN WEEK in Brussels

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The #EUGreenWeek will take place in Brussels from May 13 – 17: the week will be built around the findings of the Environmental Implementation Review, and its suggestions for the future of these laws.

EU Green Week 2019 will weigh up the findings of this Review, asking questions such as:

What benefits do EU environmental laws bring for citizens?
What does successful implementation look like?
Where are the problem areas?
How can stakeholders take ownership of these laws?
Most importantly, we will be looking at how the EU can facilitate the process, making sure that the voices of citizens are heard.

PREPAIR will also participate to the Green Week: our lead partner, the Emilia-Romagna region, will represent the project in two different sessions:
Peer learning from LIFE – Thursday, May 16 from 14:30 to 16:00 at the Green Cafè Tent

Cleaning the air, cutting industrial emissions – Friday, May 17 from 9:30 to 11:00 at Einstein

Find out more about the #EUGreenWeek

For the detailed program look here

Emissions in the Po basin: PREPAIR creates a database on the whole territory

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An emissions inventory is an organized series of data about the amount of pollutants introduced into the atmosphere from natural sources and human activities, with particular reference to a specific period of time and a specific territorial area. An inventory of this kind has been developed within action A1 of PREPAIR: emission data of the Po basin and Slovenia for the year 2013 have been collected and analyzed; this area is 135,000 km2 wide and has 28 million inhabitants.

This database was obtained from the combination of local or national (for Slovenia) inventories developed in the different territorial areas and maintaining as much detail as possible on the types of emission sources and on the territories of the singles municipalities.

From a quantitative perspective, the emission data analysis of the Po basin regions confirms the relevance of the non-industrial combustion sector for the PM10 emissions, 56% of the total (59% for the whole domain), followed by road transport, 20% of the total emissions of PM10 (18% on the whole domain). Road transport represents also 50% of the total NOx emissions (51% on the PREPAIR domain), followed by industrial combustion (15% and 14% on the domain) and off-road vehicles (13% and 12% on the domain). The agriculture sector is confirmed as the main emission source of NH3 (97% of the total emissions).

Data confirm also that the Po basin represents a unique hot-spot in Europe. The Po valley is one of the most densely populated areas in Europe and yet the PM10 and NOx emissions per capita are lower than the average of EU28 countries (EEA, 2018). In fact, data demonstrate that PM10 emissions per capita in the Po basin are 3 Kg/person/year (3,4 kg/person/year for the PREPAIR domain) versus 4,3 kg/person/year of EU28 in 2013. Similarly, NOx emissions per capita are about 15 kg/person/year both for the Po basin and the PREPAIR domain versus 16,6 kg/person/year of EU28 in 2013.

The analysis of the emission data and of the emission estimation methodologies supported also the preliminary activities of those actions that will define and collect new data within the project.

The final report on the emission database and its abstract can be found in the section Documents & outputs of action Emissions dataset at this link.

 

PREPAIR at the launch conference of the life project VEG-GAP

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On February 27, the launch conference of the life project VEG-GAP “Vegetation for urban green air quality plans” will take place in Bologna.

This event will be an opportunity for promoting new collaborations between universities, institutions, businesses and active citizens. PREPAIR will also be introduced by the lead partner, Emilia-Romagna Region, between the other projects and initiatives.

Read the program of the conference

Sign up for the event

Read more about the project