carbon footprint 101: basics for measuring and leveraging

Development of an LCA modelling tool for Canadian fuel productCARBON FOOTPRINT 101: BASICS FOR MEASURING AND LEVERAGING GHG EMISSIONS DATA FOR ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENERGY3 CONFERENCE – HALIFAX, NS
Creating and promoting best-in-class, investment ready conditions for a low carbon bio-resource economy.
© EarthShift Global, LLC
UPM Lappeenranta BioVernoTM Ensyn, Port Cartier, QC CelluForce – Windsor, QC Sustane Technologies – Chester, NS
‘...a facility that processes biological material (wood chips, ag crops, and even waste!) to produce products such as fuel, electricity, and commercially useful chemicals…’
INVESTMENT ATTRACTION PIPELINE
D I S C O V E R Y
E N G A G E M E N T
A C T I V E
20 + bio-resource firms in pipeline – several are active with more advancing to this stage! High focus on ‘Steel
in the Ground’
HOW WE HELP
Advocacy Key Business Level Data Connection to Resources Milestone Funding
Low cost, simple method of automating and advancing the recycling
process
Results in clean streams of recycled products, including fossil fuel
replacements - biomass pellets and diesel from plastic
First commercialization in Chester (Kaizer Meadow landfill)
SUSTANE TECHNOLOGIES
MSW supply secured
Sustainable economics
Founded in 2000, we have a simple mission:
PARTNER with our clients and help them effect CHANGE that advances their organizations’ specific SUSTAINABILITY goals.
ABOUT EARTHSHIFT GLOBAL
policy
Investment (S-ROI) • Environmental Product
and sales
Website: www.earthshiftglobal.com
Conventional?) • Government? • Academia? • NGO? • Other?
• What are your questions coming in to the session?
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
• Despite some recent plateaus in global GHG emissions, atmospheric CO2 concentrations continue to rise
• This trend suggests that reduction efforts are insufficient, and also that there are gaps in GHG emissions reporting
WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS?
• Increasing Need to Measure and Reduce GHG Emissions in order to: • Reduce impacts of climate change and
other industrial impacts • Comply with regulatory programs (e.g.
carbon tax) • Leverage opportunities in carbon offset
programs, etc. • Remain competitive and respond to
B2B and consumer demands
• Climate Change Impacts • Rising temperatures, rising sea
levels, more severe and erratic weather, heat waves, disruption and displacement of infrastructure and population
• Other Impacts of Industrial Activity • Non-renewable energy and material
consumption • Other air emissions • Land use, biodiversity loss
AGENDA Time Topic 9:00 – 9:15am Introductions and Session Overview 9:15 – 9:20am Context and GHG Emissions Trends 9:25 – 9:45am What is a Carbon Footprint?
9:45 – 9:55am Carbon Footprint Standards & Reporting
10:00 – 10:10am Current Knowledge for Carbon Footprint of Energy Systems
10:10 – 10:25am Energy Industry Responses to Reduce GHG Emissions
10:30 – 11:00am <BREAK> 11:00 – 11:10am Government Carbon Policy in Canada
11:10 – 11:40am Energy Case Study: Sustane Technologies Inc. 11:45am – 12:00pm Carbon Markets and Leveraging Opportunities 12:00 – 12:15pm Strengths and Limitations of Carbon Footprint Analysis 12:15 – 12:30pm Discussion and Session Wrap-Up
• Any questions or comments about the data presented?
• Anything to add on the trends in GHG emissions and resulting impacts?
• Other thoughts or points of discussion for the workshop?
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
WHAT IS A CARBON FOOTPRINT?
WHY ACCOUNT FOR GREENHOUSE GASES?
Different gases absorb and re-emit heat at different rates. This is measured as radiative forcing and called its Global Warming Potential
Source: NASA
CARBON FOOTPRINT OF A PRODUCT (CFP)
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions – most common GHGs include: o Carbon dioxide – CO2
o Methane – CH4
o Nitrous Oxide – N2O
• Sum of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals in a product system, expressed as CO2 equivalents
• Based on a life cycle assessment (LCA) using the single impact category of climate change
GLOBAL CARBON CYCLE
GLOBAL WARMING POTENTIAL
• Global warming potential is a quantitative measure that expresses the heat trapping potential of a GHG
• It is expressed relative to a specified time horizon (currently 100 years most commonly) • GWP factors are provided by the IPCC with each assessment report
CHARACTERIZATION & IMPACT SCORE
Each Substance (emissions & resource extractions, e.g., CH4, SF6) is multiplied by a unique characterization factor (expressed in terms of a reference substance (e.g., CO2-eq). The characterized substances, causing impact in a given impact category, are then added together to create a total impact score for that category.
CF = Characterization Factor IPCC 100
Global Warming Potential
ILCD Handbook (2010). Recommendations based on existing impact assessment models and factors for LCA in European context
MIDPOINTS TO ENDPOINTS
No knowledge of the degree of damage
High uncertainty in the end point characterization,
Greater confidence in the degree of damage
Temperature increase
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA)
LCA is a scientific method for analysis and interpretation of the environmental impacts associated with the life cycle of a product.
Raw Materials
Material Processing
Emissions and Waste
Energy and Resources
• An established methodology to evaluate environmental impacts over the entire life cycle
• Credible, scientific and comprehensive • ISO standards
– 14040 Principles and Framework – 14044 Requirements and Guidelines
• Life Cycle Initiative – www.lifecycleinitiative.org
• Identifying opportunities to improve the environmental performance of products at various points in their life cycle;
• Informing decision-makers in industry, governmental or non-governmental organizations (e.g. strategic planning, priority setting, product or process design or redesign);
• Selection of relevant indicators of environmental performance, including measurement techniques; and
• Supporting product certification and marketing (e.g. an environmental claim, eco- labeling scheme or environmental product declaration).
• Supporting product and business model innovation
UNDERSTANDING THE TRADE-OFFS LCA avoids “burden shifting” by encompassing the entire life cycle and multiple environmental impact categories.
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LCA enables the identification of the product stages or processes which contribute significantly to the environmental impacts.
IDENTIFICATION OF HOT SPOTS
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LIFE CYCLE OF COAL-FIRED ELECTRICITY
• System boundary for coal includes: o Mining; o Transport; o Combustion; and o Upstream production and
combustion of fuels • Power plant emissions
account for 90% or more of life cycle GHG emissions
LIFE CYCLE OF WOOD BIOMASS ELECTRICITY
• System boundary for wood biomass includes: o Forest harvesting; o Processing and residue
collection; o Transport; o Combustion; and o Upstream production and
combustion of fuels • Power plant emissions are
typically excluded due to biogenic nature
CARBON FOOTPRINT STANDARDS & REPORTING
GHG PROTOCOL
• Provide requirements and guidance for companies to quantify and publicly report GHG emissions and removals for products
• Organization assessment standardized under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol
• Product assessment standardized under the Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard
• Other standards can be found at http://ghgprotocol.org/standards
• The GHG Protocol is a multi- stakeholder partnership of businesses, NGOs, governments, and others convened by the WRI and WBCSD in 1998 to develop international GHG accounting and reporting standards and tools
Source: Greenhouse Gas Protocol
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SPECIFICATION - PAS 2050
• Based in large part of the ISO 14040 and 14044 standards for life cycle assessment
• Includes the use of sector-specific “supplementary requirements” to ensure consistent application for differing sectors (similar to “product rules” in the GHG Protocol)
• Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 2050 – Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services • Developed by the British Standards
Institution in 2008 • Similar quantification methods to
GHG Protocol but different purpose and development process
o Based on quantification of GHG sources, sinks, and reservoirs
• 14064-3 – Validation and verification of GHG assertions
ISO 14067:2013 Technical Specification • Carbon footprint of products –
Requirements and guidelines for quantification and communication
• Includes both goods and services (e.g. energy systems)
• Based on other standards, including ISO 14020, ISO 14025, ISO 14040, and ISO 14044
Relation to Carbon Footprint • LCA methods and standards form
the foundation of most carbon footprint standards and protocols
• Life cycle assessments provide results for a broader range of indicators, including impacts to: o Human health o Ecosystems o Resources
ISO 14040 and 14044 • Principles, framework,
requirements, and guidelines for LCA
• Most recent versions established in 2006 (update underway)
• Refer to: o Goal and scope definition o Life cycle inventory o Life cycle impact assessment o Interpretation and reporting
THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION
• The level of third-party verification required will depend on the intended use: o Internal studies do not require
verification o External single-product studies
may require a single reviewer (internal or external)
o External comparative studies may require a third-party panel review
• Most carbon footprint standards and guidelines will specify reporting and verification requirements, with particularly stringent requirements for public-facing comparative studies
• Verification may include a review of: o Methods and assumptions; o Models and calculations; o Data quality and completeness; o Transparency and scientific rigour
THOUGHTS ON STANDARDS AND REPORTING
• Third-party review provides an extra level of rigour and can result in an improved study
• Ultimately the various carbon standards on their own are voluntary and are not “enforced” by a governing body
• Standards provide internationally- accepted guidance on methods and reporting and can enhance credibility
• Most GHG accounting programs will specify which standard must be used • E.g. Alberta emission offset system
based on ISO 14064-2
• Any questions or comments about the overview of carbon footprinting?
• Any questions about the standards or methods that are used?
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/climate-change/greenhouse-gas-emissions/sources-sinks- executive-summary-2019.html
NATURAL GAS ELECTRICITY
• Life cycle GHG emissions for natural gas may range considerably from 300 g CO2
eq./kWh up to nearly 1,000 g CO2 eq./kWh
• Primary contributor is combustion of NG
• Variability is due to: • Natural gas composition • Amount of venting, flaring, and
fugitive emissions • Combustion technology
COAL ELECTRICITY
• Life cycle GHG emissions for coal are the highest among fossil fuels, and average just over 1,000 g CO2 eq./kWh, depending on technology and coal type
• Combustion emissions vary considerably and account for 90% or more of life cycle emissions
BIOMASS ELECTRICITY
• Life cycle GHG emissions for biomass electricity range from over 300 g CO2 eq./kWh to reductions of over 1,000 g CO2 eq./kWh
• Biogenic carbon emissions are typically excluded
• Some studies assume displacement of fossil fuels
OCEAN ELECTRICITY
• Very limited body of research on the life cycle GHG emissions of wave and tidal energy
• Preliminary research indicates very low carbon footprint of less than 10 g CO2 eq./kWh
TRANSPORTATION
• Primary contributor to life cycle GHG emissions for transportation is combustion of the fuel in a vehicle
• Carbon footprint research on electric vehicles and biofuels has produced mixed results about potential for reducing emissions o Issues related to background
energy systems, material intensity, and scalability
• One of the few sectors in Canada for which GHG emissions continue to rise o Fuel efficiency has improved,
but total amount of driving has increased
• Key source in this sector in 2017: o Road transportation (72%)
https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions- ghgs/20063
RESOURCE EXTRACTION AND HEAVY INDUSTRY
• Fewer clean fuel options – resource extraction and heavy industrial producers have fewer options for low- carbon fuels relative to other sectors such as electricity generation o Energy-dense fuels are required to
power these processes o Biofuels have been identified as a
potential option to displace some heavy fossil fuels E.g. Bio oil from wood residues
• Resource extraction (e.g. mining, energy extraction) and heavy industry (e.g. cement and steel manufacturing) account for a third of Canadian GHG emissions annually
• Primary sources of emissions include onsite combustion of heavy fossil fuels (e.g. petcoke, coal) and process emissions
BIOENERGY
• The carbon footprint and LCA literature provide very mixed results for bioenergy systems from a carbon standpoint
• Concerns about environmental trade-offs and issues with large- scale deployment have been identified o E.g. Ecosystem impacts from
increased harvesting
• Bioenergy options are being developed for liquid fuels (e.g. biodiesel), solid fuels (e.g. wood pellets), and gaseous fuels (e.g. hydrogen from wood residues)
• Biogenic carbon emissions are generally considered as part of a short-term carbon cycle and are excluded from national inventory reports
ENERGY SECTOR EFFORTS AND CHALLENGES TO REDUCE GHG EMISSIONS
• Rebound Effect? • Total energy use still increased
• Efforts to increase process and combustion efficiency have been a key effort by industry and government
• Energy efficiency in Canada improved by 31% between 1990 and 2016 and reduced the emissions intensity of many activities
https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-and-greenhouse-gas- emissions-ghgs/20063
RENEWABLES
• Introduction of more renewable sources of energy had a significant influence on emissions from Canadian electricity production o Total electricity emissions decreased
42% from 2000 to 2017 o Renewable electricity generation has
increased 18% between 2010 and 2017
• Fewer renewable options exist for transport and heavy industry
https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-and-greenhouse-gas- emissions-ghgs/20063
BIOENERGY
• Literature suggest carbon footprint is lower when using biomass residues (e.g. sawmill residuals) than when harvesting standing biomass
• Increased interest in using biomass for fuels and electricity generation, including: • Transportation fuels; • Space heating; • Industrial heating; • Combined heat and power.
• Feedstocks could include: • Agricultural crops and residues; • Forest biomass and wood residues; • Wastes.
• Any questions or comments about the GHG emissions data presented?
• Any questions or concerns about the methods used or the findings of the research?
FEDERAL POLICY OVERALL
• Committed to the Paris Agreement under the UNFCC
• Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change • Price on carbon • Climate adaptation • Support clean tech
• Phasing out of coal power plants by 2030 • Overall GHG reduction of 30% from 2005
levels by 2030
CARBON TAX
• Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (2018) o Trading system for large industry o Regulatory charge on fuel
• Provincial systems apply in BC, QC, NS, PEI, and NL • Federal program will apply in AB in 2020 • CRA administers a fuel charge on 21 types of fuel (e.g. aviation fuel,
natural gas, propane, etc.) • ECCC administers an output-based pricing system for industrial emitters
CLEAN FUEL STANDARD
• Fossil fuel producers must reduce life cycle GHG emissions intensity (g/MJ) to meet targets
• Low carbon fuel producers can earn carbon credits if reductions can be demonstrated
• A life cycle assessment tool is being developed to facilitate calculation of life cycle GHG emissions for low carbon fuels
• Federal government setting performance standards (i.e. GHG emissions reduction targets) for fossil fuels
• Objective to reduce GHG emissions by 30 million tonnes per year by 2030
• To include liquid, solid, and gaseous fossil fuels
SELECTED PROVINCIAL POLICIES
Quebec • Cap and trade system since 2013 • Carbon offset program
o Based on ISO 14064 Nova Scotia
• Cap and trade system o Imposed on 20 large emitters
• Currently excluded from federal 2030 coal electricity phase out
British Columbia • Carbon tax in place since 2008 • Renewable and low carbon fuel
requirements policies in place since 2010 o Based on GHGenius calculation
tool for life cycle GHG emissions Alberta
• Alberta Emission Offset System o Based on ISO 14064
• Renewable Fuels Standard
THE SUSTANE PROCESS: SEPARATION OF MSW, NEAR COMPLETE DIVERSION FROM LANDFILL
Metals Recycling
Biomass Pellets
• Sold to Biomass co-generation plants • FUTURE: Agricultural applications
• #1 used to run process • #2 sold to industrial users of Bunker ‘C’ • FUTURE: Chemical feedstock, Plastic feedstock
• Sent to landfill – clean and inert • FUTURE: Aggregates/ Composites
~ 10%
~ 50%
~ 10%
~ 5%
Sustainable economics
CALCULATING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF THE SUSTANE SYSTEM
• A complex system with a large number of co-products and options for configuration
• The use of fuels that are produced onsite • Production of two fuels for external sale, including biomass pellets
and a No. 2 diesel • Diversion of metals and plastics to recycling when they would
have otherwise been landfilled – Reduction in need for virgin metals and plastics
• Reduction of landfill emissions by diverting organic materials
o Construction and site commissioning
o Collection and transport of MSW o Extraction and processing of fuels o Generation and transmission of
electricity o Extraction and treatment of well
water
Operational sources of GHG emissions include:
o Onsite fuel combustion to power the separation and fuel production systems
o Onsite fuel combustion to power other equipment and vehicles
o Transportation and combustion of biomass pellets
o Transportation and combustion of No. 2 diesel
o Distribution of sorted recyclables
o Landfilling of inert materials o Wastewater removal and
treatment o Plant decommissioning
Potential avoided emissions from Sustane co-products:
• Credit for reduced virgin metal production
• Credit for reduced virgin plastic production
• Credit for avoided landfill emissions of CH4 due to diversion of organics
Biomass Pellets • Could be used in place of wood
biomass pellets, or in place of coal
No.2 Diesel • Could be used in place of fossil-
based diesel • Due to petroleum-based plastics
being used as feedstock, GHG emissions reductions may be minimal for this fuel
MSW diverted 25 new jobs 185,000 metric tons
CO2e saved (1.2% of NS GHG emission)
Multiple Nova Scotia Sustane Plants: 150 jobs, $200+ million
investment 1,100,000 metric tons CO2e
saved (~7% of NS GHG emission)
Nova Scotia MSW Potential: 400,000+ metric
tons MSW
78
tons available sustainably
content + affordable = desirable feedstock
Renewable Fuel & Advanced Materials Biorefinery Scenerio: 1000 + new direct jobs in NS Almost $1B investment >2,000,000 metric tons CO2e
saved (~13% of NS GHG emission)
79
More efficient recycling = lower carbon footprint & addresses a global plastic contaminatio n problem
Environmental Sustainability and Economic Prosperity for Nova Scotians!
• Work is underway to update and further validate preliminary carbon footprint calculations – Updating data, undertaking more analysis, exploring other methodological
assumptions • Research is underway on other products that Sustane system
could produce and the potential carbon benefits – E.g. Conversion of organics to other useful products
• Research is underway to expand the consideration of environmental impacts and benefits beyond carbon
• Any questions or comments about the government policies/programs?
• Any questions about the Sustane system and its potential carbon impacts and benefits?
INFORM POLICY, INNOVATION AND EFFICIENCY
• Tracking carbon footprint over time to measure progress and drive target-setting
• Data can be used for comparing product designs or selecting materials and energy sources
• Insights gained from carbon footprints can help identify where to target resources to improve eco-efficiency by showing environmental hot-spots • Activities in the supply chain,
operation, or downstream which contribute the most
• E.g. coal combustion emissions
RESPOND TO CUSTOMERS AND INVESTORS
• Investors in clean tech and environmental start-ups are increasingly asking for environmental data on the technologies they fund, with an emphasis on GHG emissions
• Customers, including business-to- business customers, are increasingly asking for GHG emissions data o E.g. big box stores requiring EPDs
• Government funding agencies may require the periodic submission of GHG emissions inventories and benefit statements
• US Renewable Identification Number (RIN), California Low Carbon Fuel Standards (LCFS)
• Canada Carbon ‘Tax’ and Low Carbon Fuel Standard
• Nova Scotia Cap and Trade • Sustainability is becoming a
business imperative! 0
2016 2021
Bi llio
ns U
STRENGTHS OF CARBON FOOTPRINTING
• Adopted early, lots of people familiar with terminology, lots of guidance available, lots of data and emissions factors available
• Responds to an issue of immediate concern to governments and stakeholders
• Provides a good launching point for broader life cycle environmental management
• Climate change is one of the most critical problems and is an indicator of some other critical issues: o Ocean acidification (CO2 only) o Fossil fuel depletion o Particulates/respiratory inorganics o Smog
• Limited assessment of environmental impact and sustainability o Misses lots of other environmental indicators o Does not assess environmental problem shifting o Does not assess social or economic dimensions
• Difficult to compare or compile carbon footprint results across studies due to differences in methods and assumptions
• Issues associated with large-scale deployment not captured in single- product analysis o E.g. land use change, environmental problem shifting
• Is current time horizon of 100 years too long given increasingly short window for action?
WEAKNESSES OF CARBON FOOTPRINTING
ISSUES OF UNCERTAINTY
• Uncertainty can be limited and accounted for by: o Assessing data quality o Statistical calculations to measure
variability in results o Transparency about methods and
data o Third-party review o Sensitivity analysis
• All quantitative modelling is an attempt to model the real model and has limitations
• Sources of uncertainty for carbon footprinting include: o Parameter uncertainty o Model uncertainty o Choice uncertainty o Temporal and geographic variability o Representativeness (data quality)
• Good environmental management requires multiple layers of analysis and consideration and the use of different tools to provide information
• Carbon footprinting alone should not be used to measure sustainability
DISCUSSION AND WRAP-UP
Fraser Gray Sustane Technologies Inc. Email: [email protected]
Rod Badcock Nova Scotia Innovation Hub Email: [email protected]
Nathan Ayer EarthShift Global Email: [email protected]
Greg Sweet Sustane Technologies Inc. Email: [email protected]
Nova Scotia Innovation Hub
VISION OF SUCCESS: BIO-REFINERIES
Global GHG emissions - overall
Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations
What are the implications?
Carbon footprint of a product (CFP)
Global carbon cycle
Global warming potential
Characterization & Impact score
Understanding the Trade-Offs
Life cycle of Wood Biomass electricity
carbon footprint standards & reporting
Product GHG Accounting
Iso standards - carbon
Third-party verification
Questions and group Discussion
Canadian GHG emissions by source
Life Cycle GHG Emissions - Electricity
Natural gas electricity
bioenergy
Efficiency
Renewables
bioenergy
Federal policy overall
Case study: sustane technologies inc.
The SUSTANE Process: separation of MSW, near Complete Diversion From Landfill
SUSTANE CHESTER Plant
System boundary
Sustane Technologies – A Circular Economy Solution!
Ongoing work
Market Opportunities
Strengths of carbon footprinting
Weaknesses of carbon footprinting
Discussion and wrap-up

carbon footprint 101: basics for measuring and leveraging

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