2.D - Solvent Use And Product Use (OVERVIEW)

The solvent and product use subsector comprises very different products not only in use but also in production.
All products are assigned to one of the following nine source categories covering alltogether 37 SNAP codes.

General information relevant for all product groups could be found on this site. For category-specific topics or deviations from this general description could be found on the category-specific sites.

Emissions of 2.D.3.b/c are not calculated via the solvent containing model and therefore excluded in this description.

‘NMVOC’ is defined in accordance with the VOC definition found in the EC solvents directive. For purposes of the definition of solvents, the term ‘solvent use’ is also defined in accordance with the EC solvents directive.

NMVOC emissions are calculated in accordance with a product-consumption-oriented approach.

In this approach, solvent-based products or solvents are allocated to the source category, and then the relevant NMVOC emissions are calculated from those solvent quantities via specific emission factors. Thus, the use of this method is possible with the following valid input figures for each product group:

• Quantities of VOC-containing (pre-) products and agents used in the report year,
• The VOC concentrations in these products (substances and preparations),
• The relevant application and emission conditions (or the resulting specific emission factor).

The quantity of the solvent-based (pre-)product corresponds to the domestic consumption which is the sum of domestic production plus import minus export.

The calculated NMVOC emissions of different product groups for a source category are then aggregated.

The product / substance quantities used are determined at the product-group level with the help of production and foreign-trade statistics. Where possible, the so-determined domestic-consumption quantities are then further verified via cross-checking with industry statistics.

Since 1990, so the data, NMVOC emissions from use of solvents and solvent-containing products in general have decreased by nearly 60%. The main emissions reductions have been achieved in the years since 1999. This successful reduction has occurred especially as a result of regulatory provisions such as the 31st Ordinance on the execution of the Federal Immissions Control Act (Ordinance on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain facilities – 31. BImSchV) ¹⁾, the 2nd such ordinance (Ordinance on the limitation of emissions of highly volatile halogenated organic compounds – 2. BImSchV) ²⁾ and the TA Luft.

Emission trends in NFR 2.D.3

Uncertainties for emissions for each product were obtained by error propagation and refer to the 95% confidence interval.

For the majority of activity data (domestic consumption) based on official statistics, a relative uncertainty of ±10% has been applied.

Regarding the solvent content, for each product a relative error at ±15% was applied, but not exceeding 100% or falling below 0%.

As for emission factors, for each product a relative error at ±15% was applied, but not exceeding 100% or falling below 0%.

Hence the overall uncertainty of emissions caused by application of products of this source group is 40% with exception of ‘antifreeze agents for cars’ at 60%.

Routinely the NMVOC emissions of the last reported year must be updated in the next reporting cycle in accordance with the then final data of the foreign trade statistics.

At the moment, no general improvements for all product groups are planned. Category-specific improvements could be found on the Category-specific sites.