1824, 743M What h management Ww g institute EXPERTS FORUM LOGIN JOIN CART emission factors? And where can Ifnd them? - GHG and Carbon Accounting Auditing, Management & Training | Greenh. Zz COURSES & DIPLOMAS SERVICES ABOUT @ BS=smera fy 7 WHAT ARE EMISSION VIEW BY CATEGORY FACTORS? AND WHERE CAN | FIND : THEM? a News Inside the Institute OCTOBER 31, 2022, BY TANI COLBERT-SANGREE From the Journal Iryou're a greenhouse Webinar Series as (GHG) ges (GHG) Podcasts expert, you know Uncategorized emission factors (EFs) are an essential input to your work in carbon accounting. While performing emissions calculations you have surely experienced the challenge of locating and identifying the most representative and up-to-date EF for your work. This blog is here to help you the next time you begin this task by identifying the major EF databases available for your use. But first, let’s cover the basics. ..what is an emission factor? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), EFs are defined as “a representative value that attempts -ntps:ifghginsttute.0rg/2022/10/3 1 what-are-emisslon-factors-and-where-can.-findsheny ane1118:24,743 PM What ara emission factors? And where can | find them? - GHG and Carbon Accounting, Auditing, Management & Training | Green to relate the quantity of a pollutant released to the atmosphere release of that pollutant.'[1] Typically for GHGs, EFs are express the emissions-producing activity or material input, such as kilogr. emitted per tonne of bituminous coal combusted.[2] To estimate emissions, an EF is multiplied by the corresponding production output of a manufacturing plant, the energy containec the amount of electricity consumed. Activity data need to be con’ the EF to calculate GHG emissions. The basic formula is: ___ Emission > factor Electricity consumed Figure 1, Depicts a calculation for estimating GHG emissions ap power plant that produces a quantity of electricity (identified by tl invoice) that is consumed by an end-user (not pictured in the gre HOW ARE EMISSION FACTORS DEVELOF Emission factors may be quantified in a handful of ways. They ci understanding of stoichiometry for processes that strictly follow ¢ reactions, or they can be developed empirically through statistic Numerous studies have been published for most emission sourc literature to inform EFs (see Table 2: Emission Factor Databases based on expert judgment by evaluating all the avaitable evidenc average emissions rate for a specific technology. EF vary in the breadth of activity or activities they cc P %a + Askal C address a single source category, such as CQ, emissions result gasoline (petrol) in light-duty on-road vehicles, However, some E aggregated) values across multiple sources, processes, or value CH, emissions associated with gasoline consumption — which in -ntps:ifghginsttute0rg/2022/10/3" what-are-emisslon-factors-and-where-can.-findsheny ae1118:24,743 PM What ara emission factors? And where can | find them? - GHG and Carbon Accounting, Auditing, Management & Training | Green from unrefined fossil fuel extraction, fuel processing, transportati combustion). These broader EFs are often developed by applyin Examples of single-source emission factors are presented in Tat Table 1: Examples of GHG Emission Factors soueen GramPle EF Considerations Stationary + kg CO, / combustion tonne *kg COp/ Btuor MM) EF 8.are generally estimated : of the average carbon conter kg G02 | scf activity data collected in ener orm than units of mass or volume kg COz/ EFs expressed in mass or vc gallon orL consistency in the fuel. Fuel combusted must match the E Mobile +kg CO2/ scf of mass. combustion gr m3 + kg COz/ gallon or L Fugitive CH, CHg/ million These EFs typically set a det (gas m? of emissions assuming typical < transmission & marketable frequency of intermittent leak storage) gas equipment (e.g., valves, com and equipment maifunctions. *The carbon content of fuels is correlated to their energy conter reported in energy units produces more accurate emission estir EFs are also distinguished as direct or indirect. Direct EFs identi released to the atmosphere by the activity being inventoried (e.g methane produced from a quantity of waste that is decomposing developed as described above. Indirect EFs are used to estimati the emissions physically occur from a separate intermediate acti activity.{3] For example, an indirect EF would provide the rate of electricity consumed by an office building even though the direct plants that combust fuel to generate electricity for the building's « indirect EF that proportionally averages the various power produ supply electricity to a utility's customers. The EF in Figure 1 wou What’s more accurate using direct measurement or a Like me, you probably learned that direct emissions measureme or continuous emissions monitoring (e.g., CEMS) — produces mc -ntps:ifghginsttute0rg/2022/10/3 1 what-are-emisslon-factors-and-where-can.-findsheny ane1118:26,743 PM What ara emission factors? And where can I find them? - GHG and Carbon Accounting, Auditing, Management & Training | Green results than emissions estimation using an EF, However, due to the mass flow through a stack, direct measurement is not always quantification method. For example, quantifying CO, emissions a power plant stack using direct gas flow and concentration mon significant uncertainty [4] Also, the emissions of CO, from fuel cc correlated with the carbon content (i.e., mass fraction) of the fue These carbon content values can be precisely measured throug! as the basis for fuel combustion CO, EFs. In addition to these gi the most accurate method for CO, estimation depends on the pc composition (¢.g., is this unit of gasoline chemically the same as uncertainty of the measurement equipment (e.g., how precise is equipment's calibration (e.g., how much error is acceptable for e calibrated?) In contrast to CO, EFs for fuel combustion that are based on ac non-CO, emission sources the operational conditions of the acti when combusting gasoline in an engine) will often influence the + activity,{6] For these sources, direct measurement, performed co than using EFs, especially EFs that are not specific to a technolc catch is, for many source categories, it is impractical to directly n methane leaks along a natural gas pipeline network or NjO rele: When direct emissions measurement is not feasible or will not in calculation, the use of EF is appropriate. LOCATING AN APPROPRIATE EF Not all countries or researchers compile their EF in the same w make sure to check that the following considerations match your + Geographic relevance — EFs typically correspond to spe some emission sources location is irrelevant. + Scale of application — EFs can be representative at vari + National or regional — an EF can represent the aver activity occurring at a national or regional scale and t specific technologies and practices (e.g., national ste + Site-specific — an EF can be applied to represent th occurring at a specific facility or place using specified production from a plant in Texas using coal-fired blas nips :ifghginsttute0rg/202210/3 1 what-are-emisslon-factors-and-where-can.findheny ang1118:24,743 PM What ara emission factors? And where can | find them? - GHG and Carbon Accounting, Auditing, Management & Training | Green ‘An EF may be appropriate to use only when it is representative site-specific EF does not represent an average of practices for th located. Some simple steps you can take to avoid common EF errors inc + Reference — Ensure that EFs come from a reliable refere government agencies, IPCC Guidelines, National Inventor) + Activity scope — EF specify the activity(ies) to which thy geographic or contextual applicability limits for these activit + Units — Be aware of how EF are presented so you know required. The most common errors in emission inventories The IPCC Guidelines for national GHG inventories provide guide data quality issues. Importantly, the guidelines also provide valu: uncertainties associated with each default EF they include.[7] Ge representative an EF is of the situation at hand the more accurat are evaluating emissions from dairy cows, a regional default EF accurate result than an EF specific to the breed and national cor requires a judgment of representativeness with respect to the loc evaluated. One exception is stoichiometric EFs, which reflect kni their uniformity, stoichiometric EFs are highly accurate across cc use, for example, when evaluating CO, emissions from lime pro construction not the fruit), With these considerations in mind, here is a list of publicly availa descriptive information. If you are confused about the difference the purposes of inventories, such as for countries or companies, project-level to quantify emission reductions (or removal enhanc blog post. Table 2: Emission Factor Databases and Resources EF Database or Scale of Resource Application Activity Sco Intergovernmental Panel Intended for use at Direct EFs fc on Climate Change the national scale and sink cate (IPCC) Emission Factor and may be across all se Database (EFDB) applicable at the + Energy & Ir Emission Factor project level. Processes al Database (EFDB) Product Use Includes national 0 Fuel comb! emission factors _ 0 Energy sec and in some cases 0 Gas pipelir leakage -ntps:ifghginsttute0rg/2022/10/3 1 what-are-emisslon-factors-and-where-can.-findsheny sie1118:24,743 PM What ara emission factors? And where can | find them? - GHG and Carbon Accounting, Auditing, Management & Training | Green EF Database or Resource Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) List of Grid Emission Factors List of Grid Emi Factors World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Greenhouse Gas Protocol Calculation Tools* Scale of Application regional EFs where available. Intended for use at the project level for quantifying emission reductions, Factors are specific to defined national and regional contexts. Calculation tools are intended for use at the corporate level Tools provide EFs and guidance to evaluate specific emissions- producing activities. Some EF specify applicable industries. ‘Some EF specify applicable country contexts. Activity Sco + Waste sect + Agriculture, and Other Le sector: © Biomass aceumulatior 0 Fertilizer us Indirect EFs + Waste sect + Agriculture, and Other Le sector + Other: © Indirect nitr oxide emissic the atmosph deposition of Indirect EFs: + Electricity consumption EFs) * Marginal (a electricity ‘consumption Direct EFs: + Stationary ‘combustion + Transportat vehicle distat freight, public transport) + Refrigeratic air-conditioni ‘equipment + Production aluminum, ac ammonia, ce iron & steel, | 22, nitric acic paper, semiconduct wood, and lir + Production cement (for ¢ India) + Production hitpsvghainstue.org/2022/1013 1 what-are-emissionfactrs-and.where-can-findheny ens1118:24,743 PM What ara emission factors? And where can | find them? - GHG and Carbon Accounting, Auditing, Management & Training | Green EF Database or Resource US EPA Air Emissions Factors AP-42 Note: the database includes other non-GHG air pollutants. US EPA Emissions and Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID)** Note: the database includes other non-GHG air pollutants. The Climate Registry's (TCR) Default Emission Factors - 2021*** Scale of Application Intended for use at the process and project level."* Intended for use at the corporate and project level. Covers the USA with regional average EFs. Intended for use at the corporate and project level. Activity Sco paper (for Me Indirect EFs + United Stat electricity by * China/Taiw: electricity by Direct EFs: + external cor sources + solid waste + stationary it combustion « * evaporatior sources + petroleum i + organic che process indu + liquid stora: + inorganic cl industry + food and ac industries + wood prod industry + mineral pro industry + metailurgici industry + biogenic so * ordnance d + miscellanec sources Excludes: + Carbon rer activities (e.¢ biomass gro technologica capture) Indirect EFs + Electricity consumption + Transmissic distribution loss factors Direct EFs: + Stationary combustion £ hitpsVghainstue.org/2022/1013iwhat-are-emissionfactrs-and.where-can-find-hen ms1118:24,743 PM What ara emission factors? And where can | find them? - GHG and Carbon Accounting, Auditing, Management & Training | Green EF Database or Scale of Resource Application Activity Sco the USA and Provides regional including EF: factors for the to the followii USA and Canada, _ sectors: utilty-specificEFs 0 Electricity forthe USA, and generation 8 national grid © Industrial average EFsfor 0 Commercie many other o Energy q countries. © Residential + Mobile com EF (for the | Canada) + Fugitive EF including for refrigeration conditioning equipment ai geothermal ¢ indirect EFs + Electricity consumption oUS. eGRIL (2019) and u (2005-2019) 0 Canadian (2018) 0 Mexico (20 national aver © Other coun (2010 and 2¢ national aver Carbon Footprint Intended for use at Indirect EFs Country-Specific the national level + Production Electricity Grid and may be EFs***** (for Greenhouse Gas applicable atthe countries ine Emission Factors corporate or T&D line loss project level. + Residual fu factors" + Electricity consumption EFs for the L States, Cana Australia Asian Development Intended for use at Direct EFs: Bank Guidelines for the project level. + Fuel combt Estimating Greenhouse Indirect EFs Gas Emissions of Asian + National gri average mar hitpsVghainstue.org/2022/1013iwhat-are-emissionfactrs-and.where-can-find-hen ane1118:26,743 PM What ara emission factors? And where can I find them? - GHG and Carbon Accounting, Auditing, Management & Training | Green EF Database or Scale of Resource Application Activity Sco Development Bank (avoided) EF Projects wind or solar and for other in 29 countrie * Users are advised that some tools are more than 20 years ole current conditions. “The AP-42 emissions factors were developed for regulatory t facilties/sites but may have greater relevance to facilities or act if processes are the same. ** GHGMI published a blog on the 2021 eGRID tool update the detail. *** Note that TCR's database for purchased electricity outside updated — EFs provided are from 2010 and 2011 **** Used for location-based reporting. “++ Used for market-based reporting. In conclusion, while EFs vary in numerous ways the resources p you select the most appropriate one. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Further resources that are publicly available are provided below: + List of LCA databases collated by the GHG Protocol: http databases + Electric companies may be interested to review the EPRI Accounting for Electric Companies: A Compendium of Tect Frequently Asked Questions — for additional information rel accounting concepts. + European Union's European Environment Agency (EEA) national GHG information for EU-member countries overall emissions. + European Residual Mix which identifies the make-up of g member states and providing grid emission factors. + Canada's National Pollutant Release Inventory: the Cana for tracking facilities’ pollution released into the air, water, c + Thailand's CO2 Emissions by Energy Type and Sector: a Thailand's national-level emissions data including data for + New Zealand's guidance for measuring emissions: an err entities within New Zealand seeking to voluntarily monitor « EF databases and LCA resources that are available behind a pa access them): nips :ifghginsttute0rg/2022/10/31 what-are-emisslon-factors-and-where-can.-findsheny ons124, 743M What + International Energy Agency (IEA) compiles annual em from electricity and heat generation here: https:/www.iea.c product/emissions-factors-202 1#emissions-factors + 0 LCA Consultants - Life cycle assessment and input-o' based on national economic and environmental statistics th https://Ica-net.com/services-and-solutions/input-output-dat: This blog post draws from content published by the Electric Pow Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounting for Electric Companies: Briefing Papers and Frequently Asked Questions which was aut! Cover image is within the public domain Footnotes: [1] https://www.epa.goviair-emissions-factors-and-quantification/ factors-and-quantification [2] This is a simplified example, but typically when it comes to fu express CO, by the energy content of fuel (as opposed to the m fuel combusted would be more common. [3] Technical note: this is the definition of an indirect EF accordin the IPCC Guidelines identify indirect emissions in Chapter 7 of th IPCC Guidelines to be emissions that are caused as a result of r Within organizational accounting (what the GHG Protocol establi responsible for the emissions entering the atmosphere then the : anthropogenic processes, which led to GHG emissions, would b emissions and it would be categorized as a direct emission ("Sec nitrogen fertilizer is applied to an agricultural field it leaches into causing NzO emissions “downstream” of the fertilizer’s applicatic human induced process of microbial denitrification (as well as ot GHG Protocol would characterize the application of fertilizer as ¢ source while the IPCC Guidelines would identify it as an indirect, applying fertilizer to an agricultural field does not directly result ir downstream microbial denitrification that causes atmospheric le\ an example of why different GHG accounting frameworks — orga instance — are distinct tools that produce non-comparable results ‘nips :ifghginettute.0rg/2022/10/3 1 what-are-emisslon-factors-and-where-can.-findsheny emission factors? And where can Ifnd them? - GHG and Carbon Accounting Auditing, Management & Training | Greenh. DB sone828, 749M What [4] I recently learned from Matej Gasperic, Senior Program Mane mass flow of a waste gas stream from a stack can have an unce uncertainty in the measurement of the concentration of COz, the temperature, and the chimney dimensions and shape. [5] Essentially the number of Carbon (C)-atoms in the fuel equal: because the fuel is the source of C-atoms. [6] For example, unlike CO, NO forms from the nitrogen prese the available nitrogen becomes N20. For CH, emissions, the bu determines whether some molecules of CH, enter the atmosphe dependent upon the technology, its calibration, temperature, the being run at maximum or optimal output) and other potentially ve [7] 2006 IPCC Guidelines Chapter 2. Available: https://www.ipce- nggip.iges.or jp/public/2006gV/vol1 htm! 6 responses to “What are emission factors? And whe 1. “\ Sonjai Kumar says: March 30, 2023 at 5:33 am Very good and useful write-up Reply 2.) “\ Mohamed Hamouda says: May 27, 2023 at 10:48 pm Very good information Thanks a lot Reply 1“ SHRINIVAS PATIL says: September 21, 2023 at 1:04 am Useful information. Thank you. Reply 4," “Alma Cardenas says: February 15, 2024 at 1:24 pm -ntps:ifghginsttute0rg/2022/10/3 1 what-are-emisslon-factors-and-where-can.-findsheny emission factors? And where can Ifnd them? - GHG and Carbon Accounting Auditing, Management & Training | Greenh. DB we1118:26,743 PM What ara emission factors? And where can I find them? - GHG and Carbon Accounting, Auditing, Management & Training | Green Very useful information — a great resource to use and keep Reply 5.7 “Ruth says: February 28, 2024 at 6:31 am z Very useful information and well put together. Thank you. | 8 USA EF has margin, does the UK EF has margin as well? EF lists? 9 Reply 6 Tani Colbert-Sangree says: March 4, 2024 at 9:48 am Hi Ruth, Not sure which resource you are referring to with the USA not intended to be a comprehensive compilation of EF date resources that are on our rdaar and we use regularly at Gr where to locate a UK marginal EF. For India and China you might check the IGES database Ii: sure where to point you. If you locate other resources that others please feel free to post another comment and we ce them to update this blog. Thank you, Tani Reply Leave a Reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are ma COMMENT * nips :ifghginsttute0rg/202210/3 1 what-are-emisslon-factors-and-where-can.findheny rane1118:24,743 PM What ara emission factors? And where can | find them? - GHG and Carbon Accounting, Auditing, Management & Training | Green NAME * EMAIL * . Zz WEBSITE 8 CO SAVE MY NAME, EMAIL, AND WEBSITE IN THIS BROWSER I OMMENT JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST Email address Go! 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