RFS2 Fuel Pathway Analysis

Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Model

GREET (Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation) is a publicly available, full life-cycle model developed by the Argonne National Laboratory (U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy). The model calculates energy and emission impacts of liquid and gaseous fuels, electricity and agricultural chemicals produced in the U.S. and other selected countries. GREET allows researchers and analysts to evaluate fuel and vehicle combinations on a full fuel-cycle basis. The model is available as an Excel spreadsheet, as a software program and as an online tool. The GREET model forms the basis of the modeling used by U.S. EPA and the California Air Resources Board for evaluating fuel pathways under the RFS2 and LCFS, respectively.

RFS2 Efficient Producer GHG Calculation Tool

EPA has developed the Efficient Producer Petition Process (EP3) to expedite the evaluation of new corn and sorghum ethanol fuel pathway petitions under the RFS2. The EP3 is designed for highly efficient producers that use process fuels (natural gas, coal, biomass, biogas) and methods (fermentation, distillation and dehydration) already approved by EPA. There are 3 calculation tools, based on producers that process only corn, only grain sorghum and corn and grain sorghum. The tool is parameterized with a producer’s latest annual data and submitted as part of petition application. The EP3 significantly simplifies the effort needed to submit a petition and reduces the time required to receive approval from EPA.

California LCFS Fuel Pathway Analysis

California GREET Model

CA-GREET is the life cycle model used by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to evaluate biofuel and alternative fuel pathways under the readopted Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The model is based on Argonne GREET model and has been modified to suit the needs of the LCFS and parameterized with California-specific information; the current version is CA-GREET2.0.

There are currently two versions of the model based on Tier 1 and Tier 2 methodologies; Tier 1 fuels are produced from conventional processes, feedstocks or process fuels and Tier 2 fuels are considered next generation fuels that include new fuel types, waste feedstocks are renewable (low carbon intensity) process energy. CA-GREET must be used to determine a fuel pathways carbon intensity score to apply for a new fuel pathway under the LCFS. CA-GREET2.0 replaces the previous model, CA-GREET1.8b, used under the original LCFS program.

Beginning on January 1st, 2019, ARB will adopt an updated version of the CA-GREET model (CA-GREET3.0), in addition to 5 simplified calculation tools for Tier 1 pathways. The fuel pathway categories will be revised to include 3 fuel categories: Tier 1, Tier 2 and Look-up Table pathways.

European RED Fuel Pathway Analysis

BioGrace Life Cycle Model

The BioGrace model is a life cycle emission model for biofuels and bioliquids approved by the European Commission to demonstrate compliance with the European Union’s greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements. The model was developed for the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme of the European Union.The model has been recognized as a voluntary scheme by the European Commission and is compatible with the sustainability criteria of the Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC, RED) which are equally stated in the Fuel Quality Directive (2009/30/EC). The tool calculates fuel cycle emission results for a range of European biofuels and is used for fuel certification under the RED and FQD programs. The BioGrace project also includes a list of standard values for fuels, chemicals and energy carries, which permit life cycle assessment of a wide range of fuel pathways beyond the scope of the BioGrace model. The latest version is version 4d.

User-friendly greenhouse gas calculators have also been developed in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom. These tools are parameterized with local production data. Finally, the BioGrace II project developed a greenhouse gas calculation for electricity, heating and cooling from biomass. Version 3 was released in May 2015.

Sustainable Production Development

Ecoinvent Database

The Ecoinvent database is an internationally respected life cycle database used to calculate a wide range of environmental impact results for biofuels, chemicals, lubricants, surfactants and many consumer products. The database was developed by Ecoinvent Centre in Switzerland and provides well documented process data for thousands of products and mass and energy flows.  Mr. Riffel calculates a wide range of life cycle impact category results using the latest Ecoinvent database, version 3.4, operated using OpenLCA software, a powerful open-source life cycle model. Results are used for communications with business partners, customers and investors and used for funding applications.

Life cycle impact categories include climate change potential, energy use, eutrophication potential, acidification potential, photochemical oxidation potential, ozone layer depletion, water depletion, land use change, abiotic depletion potential (elements & fossil fuel) and many others.

GaBi Databases

The GaBi database is also used to calculate environmental impact results for biofuels, chemicals, lubricants, surfactants and many consumer products. The database was developed by thinkstep and provides well documented process data for thousands of products and energy and mass flows. Mr. Riffel calculates a wide range of life cycle impact category results using the latest GaBi databases, operated using OpenLCA software.

RSB Biomaterials Pathway Analysis

RSB Greenhouse Gas Calculator

The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) is a voluntary certification scheme that allows any producer of biomaterials (fuels, biochemicals, lubricants, plastics, etc.) to certify their product(s) as sustainable. RSB is an international coalition of farmers, producers, non-governmental organizations, experts, governments, and intergovernmental agencies dedicated to ensuring the sustainability of biomaterial production worldwide. Therefore, producers from anywhere in the world may be certified. Certification is based on sustainability standards encompassing environmental, social and economic principles and criteria. In addition to several application components, certification under RSB requires use of the online greenhouse gas calculator tool, which determines emission results for the feedstock and finished product. RSB certification may also be used to demonstrate compliance with the RED.

Customized Life Cycle Analysis

Life cycle model (LCM) developed in-house

Riffel Consulting has developed a unique modeling technique for assessing the sustainability impacts associated with any production pathway. The technique is implemented in a highly modular, customizable life cycle model (LCM) which provides fully disaggregated results that can be viewed and summarized in many different useful ways. The LCM combines life cycle inventory (LCI) data, which define life cycle impacts of fuels, electricity and chemicals, with the life cycle input parameters, which define the quantity of each input required for production. The flexibility of the LCM allows the use of LCI data from any source (existing models, published literature, etc.), can track any sustainability criteria (fossil and total energy use, greenhouse emissions, air pollutant emissions, water use, water pollutant discharge, etc.) desired and can model any production pathway.

Riffel Consulting has developed numerous customized LCMs for individual clients’ pathways, including biofuels, alternative fuels, biochemicals and manufactured goods. The LCM allows clients to assess their average and short-term environmental performance and track improvements of over time. The tool also allows producers to identify a range of process changes available to achieve desired emission reduction goals. Mr. Riffel works with clients to update and expand customized LCM’s as needed to meet the client’s latest needs.

Canada, U.S. and India Fuel Pathway Analysis

GHGenius Life Cycle Model

GHGenius is a publicly available Canadian life cycle greenhouse gas and energy use model. The tool is based on a 1998 version of Mark Delucchi’s Life Cycle Emission Model (LEM) and was initially developed by Delucchi with data National Resources Canada (NRCan) Statistics Canada, Environment Canada, the National Energy Board and other government agencies and associations. The model has been expanded and updated to model projections to 2050 and several additional regions including Mexico, U.S., India and specific regions of Canada and the U.S. The model is currently maintained by the consulting firm (S&T)2.

GHGenius analyzes the emissions of many contaminants associated with the production and use of traditional and alternative transportation fuels; the model also includes an economic assessment of the lifecycle cost of greenhouse gas emission reductions. GHGenius can predict emissions for past, present and future years through to 2050 using historical data or correlations for changes in energy and process parameters with time that are stored in the model.

Other Environmental Models

GREET Vehicle Cycle Model

The GREET Vehicle Cycle Model (GREET2) developed by Argonne National Laboratory calculates life cycle energy use and emissions associated with the manufacture of vehicles. The scope includes a wide range of light duty and heavy duty vehicles for conventional and lightweight scenarios. The tool models production of the raw materials (steel, plastic, rubber, metals, etc.) and vehicle manufacturing.

GREET CCLUB Land Use Change Emissions Calculator

The Carbon Calculator for Land Use Change from Biofuels Production (CCLUB) was developed by Argonne National Laboratory and calculates carbon emissions from land use change (LUC) for 4 ethanol fuel pathways, including ethanol from corn, corn stover, miscanthus and switchgrass. Land change area data is derived from Purdue University’s Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model, a computable general equilibrium (CGE) economic model. Feedstock and belowground carbon content data for the United States were derived from the CENTURY model’s soil organic carbon submodel and represent county-level data.

GREET Power Water Model

Argonne National Laboratory has developed a power water model which calculates the water consumption associated with electricity generation in the U.S. The tool is built upon a data inventory that analyzes water requirements by fuel source, generation technology and cooling system. The tool includes 13 fuel sources, 19 subcategories and 8 electricity generation technologies. The model also incorporates 4 types of cooling systems and analyzes water withdrawal and consumption factors for each cooling system type. The tool can be used to estimate water use at the state or national level. Further analysis can be conducted to examine how changes in fuel source mix and cooling system mix impact water use.Water-Global Analysis and Prognosis

Water-GAP Model

The global freshwater WaterGAP model calculates water flows and storage on every continent of the globe, except Antarctica, accounting for human influence on the natural freshwater system by water abstractions and dams. The model aids in understanding the freshwater situation across the world’s river basins during the 20th and the 21st century, and is used to assess water scarcity, droughts and floods and to quantify the impact of human actions on freshwater. WaterGAP includes the WaterGAP Global Hydrology Model and five water use models for irrigation, livestock, households, manufacturing and cooling of thermal power plants. An additional submodel computes the fractions of total water use that are derived from either groundwater or surface waters (rivers, lakes and reservoirs).

EPA Online Greenhouse Gas Emissions Equivalency Calculator

The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Equivalency Calculator was developed by EPA to allow users to convert energy use and emissions results to everyday terms that the average person can understand. The model allows the input of energy use or greenhouse gas emissions and outputs equivalent emissions in passenger vehicles, tons of waste sent to the landfill, gallons of gasoline, burned, pounds of coal burned, wind turbines installed and many other tangible metrics. This tool is very useful for biofuel and biochemical producers who wish to communicate their emission savings (determined by a life cycle assessment) to customers and other companies in terms they can understand.

BESS Corn Ethanol Model

The Biofuel Energy Systems Simulator (BESS) was developed at the University of Nebraska Lincoln to calculate the energy efficiency, life cycle energy use, natural resource use and greenhouse gas emissions associated with corn ethanol fuel pathways. The model is capable of assessing a wide range of feedstock and biorefinery options and configurations and provides detailed, disaggregated results. The model estimates the required feedstock production area, fertilizer and pesticide inputs, and water requirements (for irrigation and the ethanol plant) based on user input of the crop production parameters or default parameters based on current average values and typical biorefinery design. The model may be used for land use and water planning, sensitivity analysis and regional, state or national analyses.