Green is nice, but can it make me money?Carbon Accounting

NCS Swinburne – Offering you courses in Carbon Accounting and Carbon Management

VISIT www.swinburne.edu.au/ncs

> Short Course in Carbon Accounting (face to face or online)

> Short Course in Carbon Farming and Trading

> Diploma of Carbon Management (face to face or online)

Global Warming Potential

> Different greenhouse gases have different heat retaining or insulating ‘strengths’

> This ‘strength’ is commonly known as the global warming potential (GWP) of a greenhouse gas.

GWP

Carbon dioxide equivalents

> Greenhouse gases are measured in carbon dioxide equivalents

CO2-e> Carbon dioxide equivalent is “a measure used to compare the

emissions from various greenhouse gases based upon their global warming potential”. (OECD)

CO2-e = mass of gas (kg or t) x GWP

GWPs of the six Kyoto gases

The 6 Kyoto GHGs ChemicalFormula

Global Warming Potential*

Uses/Major Sources

Carbon dioxide CO2 1 Fossil fuel combustion,Land use change, Cement

Methane CH4 21Natural gas

Enteric fermentationAnaerobic decomposition

Nitrous oxide N2O 310 Fertilisers, Combustion

Perfluorocarbons C3F8 7,000 Electronics, Cathodes for aluminium manufacture

Hydrofluorocarbons CHF3 (HFC-23) 11,700 Refrigerant

Sulphur hexafluoride SF6 23,900 High voltage switchgear, Manufacture of magnesium

* For 100 year time horizon. * the typical uncertainty value is +/-35% Source: DCC NGA Factors November 2008

Accounting methodologies – GHG Protocol

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol - A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard

> a standard> defines boundaries> defines scopes> reporting and much more . . .> from: WRI/WBCSD> www.ghgprotocol.org/standards/corporate-

standard

Operational boundaries - Scopes

Defines which emissions sources are included or excluded and their categorisation.

Source: GHG Protocol

Emissions Factors

• Emissions factors are quantities of GHGs produced per unit of emitting activity.

• The analysis is usually done by or for a government department.

• They are reviewed from time to time (annually)

Emissions factors

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Factors commonly used examples*

Natural Gas: 51.33 kg CO2-e / GJ

Electricity (Vic): 1.22 kg CO2-e / kWh

Food waste: 0.9 kg CO2-e / kg

Petrol: 2,288 kg CO2-e / kL

* from NGAF June 2009 Note that these change regularly and the latest NGA Factors workbook should be consulted

Where are emissions factors found?

Australian Government - National Greenhouse Accounts (NGA) Factors

The source for almost all of your emissions factors!

http://www.climatechange.gov.au

Calculating emissions

To calculate the emissions due to a given activity, we must know:

1. The amount of the activity taking place.

2. The emissions factor associated with that activity.

The calculation is then:

activity x emissions factor = emissions (CO2-e)

WANT TO KNOW MORE?NCS Swinburne – Courses in Carbon

VISIT www.swinburne.edu.au/ncs

> Short Course in Carbon Accounting (face to face or online)

> Short Course in Carbon Farming and Trading

> Diploma of Carbon Management (face to face or online)