Air Quality
Air quality has been, for many years, an important focus of attention in Europe, resulting in legislative initiatives that affect the downstream oil industry through its operations and products.
Air quality has been, for many years, an important focus of attention in Europe, resulting in legislative initiatives that affect the downstream oil industry through its operations and products.
Concawe aims to participate in the work leading to new legislative initiatives and to carry out rigorous air quality analysis to contribute to the science, play an active stakeholder role and to inform its members. Concawe was very active in past EU scientific programmes including CAFE (Clean Air For Europe) and CAPE (Clean Air Program for Europe) and aims to play an important role in the Commission’s planned fitness check and likely subsequent revision of the current Ambient Air Quality Directive. Concawe has devoted substantial effort to developing its own air quality modelling tools which it uses to carry out these efforts and has submitted several contributions to the Stakeholders Expert Groups.
Concawe also completes research to identify and understand emerging air quality monitoring techniques, develops best practice documents for our members including methodologies for estimating refinery source air emissions, and contributes to the development of European standards through participation in the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) working groups.
Concawe has been conducting air quality research since its creation in 1963 and has published numerous technical reports on a wide array of topics.
For more information send an e-mail.
Revising ambient air quality standards – the implications for compliance in Europe towards 2050
Report no. 3/23
The impact of shipping emissions to urban air quality in Europe – Detailed port-city analysis
Report no. 2/23
Guidance for diffuse VOC emission determination following EN 17628:2022
Report no. 1/23
Implications of extended pollutant coverage within E-PRTR – Assessment of relevance and significance of air emissions from mineral oil and gas refineries
How additional actions in the road transport sector could improve air quality in Europe — an extension of the Concawe urban air quality studies (Concawe Review 31.1)
Impacts of low carbon technologies on environmental parameters: air/water/waste
Report no. 3/22
Literature review of Particulate Matter (PM) from transport with a special focus on organic aerosols
Report no. 2/22
How Covid-19 lockdown affected air pollution in Europe — a multi-city analysis (Concawe Review 30.1)
Understanding the process of setting air quality limit values and the associated compliance challenge—the ozone study (Concawe Review 30.1)
Literature review on emissions of semi- and intermediate volatile organic compounds and formation of organic aerosols with focus on the refinery sector
Report no. 1/21
Results of a comparative pilot field test study of a first generation Quantitative Optical Gas Imaging (QOGI) system
Report no. 23/20
Understanding the process of setting air quality limit values and the associated compliance challenge
Air emissions from the refining sector. Analysis of E-PRTR data 2007-2017
Report no. 4/20
A comparison exercise between a wind LIDAR and anemometers mounted on a 30 m mast
Report no. 13/19
Air pollutant emission estimation methods for E-PRTR reporting by refineries
Report no. 4/19
An overview of HCN emissions from FCCU’s and their potential impacts on human health
Report no. 1/19
Climate impacts of particulate pollutants emitted from international shipping
A comparison of the impacts of Euro 6 diesel passenger cars and ZEVs on urban air quality compliance
Real driving emissions of Euro6 diesel passenger cars and their impact on urban air quality
A comparison of real driving emissions from Euro 6 diesel passenger cars with zero emission vehicles and their impact on urban air quality compliance – Urban air quality study: extension I
Report no. 8/18
Sulphur dioxide emissions from oil refineries in Europe (2015)
Report no. 5/18
Air emissions from the refining sector. Analysis of E-PRTR data 2007-2014
Report no. 4/18
Using forest carbon credits to offset emissions in the downstream business
Report no. 9/17
Using forest carbon credits to offset emissions in the downstream business
Current policy conditions are not generally conducive to the use of voluntary carbon credits in the refining sector. Could the development of ‘carbon neutral’ petrol and/or diesel fuel using forest carbon credits provide a solution?
Air pollutant emission estimation methods for E-PRTR reporting by refineries
Report no. 4/17
Experimental evaluation of the flux chamber technique to determine VOC emissions from a water surface
Report no. 3/17
An evaluation of an optical gas imaging system for the quantification of fugitive hydrocarbon emissions
Report no. 2/17
Emission factors for metals from combustion of refinery fuel gas and residual fuel oil
Report no. 9/16
Sulphur dioxide emissions from oil refineries in Europe (2010)
Report no. 1/16
Literature review and practical experiences on continous dust monitoring at low concentrations
Techniques for detecting and quantifying fugitive emissions – results of comparative field studies
Report no. 6/15
Air pollutant emission estimation methods for E-PRTR reporting by refineries
Report no. 3/15
Air emissions from the refining sector. Analysis of E-PRTR data 2007-2011
Report no. 2/15
Abating fugitive VOC emissions more efficiently
Comparing best available techniques for detecting refinery fugitive emissions
Towards the establishment of a protocol for the quantification of VOC diffuse emissions using open-path remote monitoring techniques: DIAL monitoring of a VOC source of known emission flux
Report no. 12/14
Concentration Response Functions for Morbidity Endpoints under the Project HRAPIE
A review of the concentration response functions for morbidity endpoints under the HRAPIE project was conducted.
Science and Policy interface: role of integrated assessment modelling (IAM) and cost-benefit analysis (CBA)
Methods for estimating VOC emissions from primary oil-water separator systems in refineries
Report no. 5/14
Fifty years of air quality conservation
As important today as it was 50 years ago
Evaluating the Value of a Life Year (VOLY)
Air quality policies depend on realistic values for both societal costs and societal benefits.
Interview with CONCAWE’s first Research Associate
Lucia Gonzalez Bajos talks about her experience as CONCAWE’s first Research Associate.
Reducing the concentration of fine particulates in ambient air
Three factors are discussed that should be considered for a robust air quality policy.
Cost effectiveness of emissions abatement options in European refineries
Report No. 6/11
Report of a workshop on environment and health: evaluating European air quality research and translating priorities into actions 19-20 January 2009
Report No. 8/10
European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR)
Capturing and reporting industrial pollutant emissions data
Refinery BREF related environmental parameters for aqueous discharges from refineries in Europe
Report No. 2/10
Sulphur dioxide emissions from oil refineries in Europe (2006)
Report No. 1/10
CONCAWE sulphur survey
Tracking the fate of sulphur through the refining process
Best Available Techniques (BAT) for the mineral oil and gas refineries
Revision of the refinery BAT reference document is now under way
Impact of marine fuels quality legislation on EU refineries at the 2020 horizon
Report no. 3/09
Air pollutant emission estimation methods for E-PRTR reporting by refineries
Report no. 1/09
Reducing the sulphur content of marine fuels
Could the cure be worse than the disease?
Optical methods for remote measurement of diffuse VOCs: their role in the quantification of annual refinery emissions
Report no. 6/08
Cost-benefit analysis and air quality policy
Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is an important tool for estimating societal costs and benefits.
Cost-benefit analysis for air quality policies
An update and an IPPC Directive case study
The Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive
The justification for its proposed revision is further challenged by the findings of the Euro-Delta Project
Impact on the EU of SOx, NOx and primary PM2.5 emissions from shipping in the Mediterranean Sea: Summary of the findings of the Euro Delta Project
Report no. 1/08
The compliance challenge from measuring PM10 concentrations
Correction factors can make all the difference
The European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register
A publicly available display of industrial emissions
New ship emissions inventory for the Mediterranean Sea
Recent study sheds new light on earlier work
Sulphur dioxide emissions from oil refineries and combustion of oil products in Western Europe and Hungary (2002)
Report no. 2/07
Evaluation of health impacts in an environmental cost benefit analysis
The challenge of allocating a monetary value to changes in human health due to air pollution
The Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution— under the microscope
Analysing the implications of the Commission’s ambitious air pollution targets
The case for Gothenburg
The benefit of including all ‘Gothenburg Protocol’ countries in the scope of the National Emission Ceilings Directive Review
EU-wide BAT—an expensive suit that doesn’t fit everybody!
What light does the CAFE programme shed on the concept of a common EU-wide BAT in the context of the IPPC Directive?
Impacts of air pollutant caps on climate
Could policies designed to address air pollution impact climate?
The cost-effectiveness of NOx abatement in European refineries
Checking the consistency of data
The IPPC directive, refinery BREF, and european refineries – a guidance manual
Report no. 4/03
Sulphur dioxide emissions from oil refineries and combustion of oil products in western Europe and Hungary (1998)
Report no. 10/02
Refinery sulphur emission reductions reflect the different regional needs
SO2 emissions legislation and the north/south divide
VOC emissions from loading gasoline onto sea-going tankers in EU-15: control technology and cost effectiveness
Report no. 9/14
SO2 emissions from ships in Europe
Can restrictions in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic be environmentally justified?
The refinery BAT reference document
An important document with a potential for misuse
Carbon, sulphur and hydrogen in oil refineries
In order to meet new fuels specifications, refineries need to reduce carbon and sulphur contents of petroleum fuels and therefore use more hydrogen. The net result is an increase in global CO2 emissions.
European air quality: changing priorities
Some insights from the second European Auto/Oil Programme.
The impact of Auto/Oil I and II on refinery costs and global CO2 emissions.
The EU Commission’s independent consultants recently published their results on the consequences of Auto/Oil II in terms of refinery costs. In addition CONCAWE has estimated the associated changes in global CO2 emissions.
Ambient particulate matter: sources and apportioning
Both current and predicted levels of PM emissions are subject to great uncertainty; hence the development of meaningful air quality strategies is complicated.
Particulates and policy— the role of models
Much work on the development of reliable models still needs to be done to address concerns over particulate emissions.
Environmental levels of benzene at the boundaries of three European refineries
Report no. 99/57
Best available techniques to reduce emissions from refineries
Report no. 99/01
Assessing the monetary benefit of improving air quality
Can decision-makers trust these monetary benefit figures?
Best Available Techniques to reduce emissions from refineries
CONCAWE will play a full part in the development of the BAT reference document for refineries.
What will European air quality be like in the future?
Decisions on legislation for the future need to be based on the situation then, not on what it is now.
Acidification strategy sensitivity analysis
Flexibility leads to similar overall environmental protection at lower cost.
Cost-effectiveness of marine vapour emissions control
CONCAWE updates its figures in the light of European and US experience.
Report No. 3/98
sulphur dioxide emissions from oil refineries and combustion of oil products in western europe and hungary(1995)
Cost-effectiveness of controls on sulphur emissions from ships
A review of CONCAWE data in the context of recent developments.
Critical loads and critical levels
CONCAWE supports the use of critical loads and critical levels in the assessment and management of athmospheric polluants, but believes that their implications must be understood.
An ozone abatement strategy for Europe?
Health protection should be the priority—but what are the real health benefits of costly proposals?
Modelling the dispersion of particulate matter in air
There are significant pressures for EU-wide modelling— but what are the current capabilities?
An introduction to particulate matter issues
Particulate matter : sources and presence in air.
APHEA – A pan-European study on the effect of air pollution
Analysis of reported data
Comparative severity of possible air quality limit values
A comparison between EU air quality data andpotential EU limit values.
The European Union’s Acidification Strategy (I)
A potentially cost-effective option to reduce emissions in accordance with environmental requirements
The European Union’s Acidification Strategy (II)
Is it consistent with other envisaged EU legislationto control acidifying polluants?
Effect of product quality changes on energy consumption and CO2 emissions from European refineries
Report no. 6/95
VOC emissions from external floating roof tanks: comparison of remote measurements by laser with calculation methods
Report no. 95/52
The contribution of sulphur dioxide emissions from ships to coastal deposition and air quality in the channel and southern north sea area
Report no. 2/94
Capital and operating cost estimating aspects of environmental control technology – residue hydrodesulphurisation as a case example
Report no. 88/51
Sulphur emissions from small stationary oil combustion plant and the availability of low sulphur fuel oil in the EEC
Report no. 87/61
Volatile organic compound emissions in western Europe: control options and their cost-effectiveness for gasoline vehicles, distribution and refining
Report no. 6/87
Cost-effectiveness of hydrocarbon emission controls in refineries from crude oil receipt to product dispatch
Report no. 87/52
Sulphur emissions from combustion of residual fuel oil based on EEC energy demand and supply, 1980-2000
Report no. 5/86
Volatile organic compound emissions: an inventory for Western Europe
Report no. 2/86
Cost of control of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates emissions from large combustion plants in oil refineries
Report no. 7/84