Allan Yee, City of Edmonton - Compost Council of Canada

OutlineBasic Conceptual and Technical BackgroundProtocols – uses, commonalities anddifferencesSimplified offset calculation exampleCity of Edmonton offset calculation exampleCrystal BallingWaste Management Branch

The Concept of GHG OffsetsFormalization of GHG offsets under 1997Kyoto Protocol – 2 market mechanisms: Clean Development Mechanism – rich nations“offset” their emissions through investing in cleanenergy projects in developing world. Regulated domestic emitters (industries) have theirfree GHG emissions “capped”. Sale of surpluscredits, purchase of shortfall credits from regulatedor non-regulated industries/activities throughtrading.Waste Management Branch

Side note: Validation vs. VerificationValidation/verification guidelines follow fromthe ISO 14064-3: 2006 standard.Validation - the process of determining projecteligibility and focuses on whetherproject/baseline conditions and methodologyare appropriate.Verification - checks calculation correctnessand data integrity, consistency, completenessand accuracy.Waste Management Branch

ProtocolsProtocols are SOPs for ensuring all relevantmeasurement, monitoring and GHG quantificationelements (sources, sinks, reservoirs) associated with anon-regulated activity are considered in a completelife cycle analysis.Use of pre-approved protocols largely negates theneed for validation except for unique projects.Various jurisdictions have various ways to developand approve protocols.Waste Management Branch

Various Composting ProtocolsAlberta Aerobic Composting Protocol – approved forAlberta Offset System Dec 2008, under review.CDM AM0025 – originally developed forcomposting activities at landfill in Bangladesh.CCX Composting Protocol – approved for voluntaryCCX market Apr 2009.CAR Composting Protocol – approved June 2010 forvoluntary U.S. offset program.WCI Protocol – under development for 2012 launch.CCC Composting Protocol – under development,stalled by climate change inaction at federal level.Waste Management Branch

Some Composting ProtocolCommonalities and DifferencesGeneral IPCC principles.More detailed principles – uncertainty, accuracy,conservativeness.Methane Avoidance Theory Nuances.System Boundary Conditions.Inclusions and Exclusions – N 2O, energy inputs.Crediting Period, early start dates.Waste Management Branch

Composting Offsets fromNet Emission ReductionsEmission Reduction = Emissions Baseline- Emissions Composting

Baseline Alternative to CompostingTypically, the alternative fate for wasteorganics is landfilling.Landfillsanaerobic digesters w/ nomixing.Multi-step degradation of organics underanoxic and anaerobic conditions to yield CO 2,CH 4, VOCs as GHG products.Waste Management Branch

Estimation of GHG ProductionRough estimates of GHG production can bedetermined stoichiometrically or w/ simplifiedequations.More rigorous methods through modelling.Estimates/calculations for GHG production:composting versus baseline case.GWP of various GHGs: CO 2, CH 4, NO x, CO,SO xWaste Management Branch

First Order Decay Model EquationnQt = ∑ 2k L oM ie -kt ii=1WhereQ t= total LFG emission rate, volume/timen = total time periods of waste placementk = LFG emission constant, time -1L o= methane generation potential, volume/mass of wastet i= age of the ith section of waste, timeM i= mass of wet waste, placed at time i

Baseline Calculation NuancesCAR protocol uses a FOD model adapted from the UNFCCCCDM methodology for quantifying CH 4emissions over 10 yeartime frame.CCX protocol baseline calculation assumes 3 years unabated CH 4emissions and then 75% LFG capture from years 4-10.Alberta protocol baseline uses an Environment Canada NationalInventory 1990-2004 equation that calculates the lifetimegeneration of CH 4by a mass of material under baseline landfillconditions. The default approach allows for claim of total CH 4generation potential avoided in the year the material is divertedfrom landfilling.Under baseline conditions, only quantities of CH 4. are considered.CO 2emissions in all protocols under both baseline and compostingconditions are considered biogenic and are therefore notconsidered.Waste Management Branch

GHG Generation from CompostingORGANICMATERIAL+0 2MICROBIALMETABOLISMSTABILIZED ORGANICRESIDUE(Finished compost)+ CO 2+ H 2O + HEATAerobic ConditionsWaste Management Branch

System Boundaries CDM CompostingProtocolWaste Production(households,commercial)Waste collection,sorting,transportationSortingLandfill)RecycleAerobic ConversionCompostOn site use ofelectricityElectricity from gridOn site use bydozersFuel (Diesel)End UserBoundary Limit

System Boundaries CARComposting ProtocolSSR 1Waste ProductionSSR 2Waste CollectionSSR 3Waste TransportationSSR 5SSR 6SSR 4Temporary On-SiteStorageWaste Mixing and Pre-ProcessingWaste DisposalSSR 11SSR 8SSR 7Leachate RunoffPondsStorage of FinishedCompostAerobic CompostingGHG Assessment BoundarySSR 9SSR 10Transportation ofFinished CompostDisposal of FinishedCompost at LandfillSSR 12Land Application ofFinished Compost asFertilizer/MulchKey:Baseline Project Baseline & Project

Alberta Composting Protocol: Project Element Life Cycle ChartUpstream SS’s During ProjectP1 OrganicMaterialGenerationP2 SourceSeparationP3 CollectionandTransportationP4 Off SiteMaterialProcessingP5 MaterialTransportationP15ElectricityUsageP16 FuelExtraction/ProcessingP17FuelDeliveryUpstream SS’sBefore ProjectP18Developmentof SiteP19 BuildingEquipmentOn Site SS’s During ProjectP6 Processingand CompostingFacility OperationP8 CompostHandlingDownstreamSS’s AfterProjectP23 SiteDecommissioningP20Transportationof EquipmentP7 MaterialTreatmentP11 ResidueHandlingP21Construction onSiteP22 Testing ofEquipmentDownstream SS’s During ProjectP9 CompostTransportationP10 CompostUtilizationP12 ResidueTransportationP13 ResidueDisposalP14 Residue Decompositionand MethaneCollection/Destruction

Alberta Composting Protocol – Life Cycle GHGEmissions AnalysisQuantification of emissions from: Project construction activities - discounted; Project decommissioning activities – insubstantial; and Ongoing facility operations:Process conversion of feedstock to compost;Fuel used in on-site transporting, handling and processing offeedstock and residuals plus upstream extraction emissions;Natural gas consumption plus upstream extraction emissions; andLandfilling of composting residuals.Waste Management Branch

Simplified Offset Calculation Example9,000 tonnes(Alberta Protocol Based)Collectedbagged yardwasteDebagging400 tonnes (100 t organics)Collected brushand treetrimmings1,500 tonnesOn-site wastewood chippingWindrowcompostingusing FELOn-site diesel use(screener, chipperand FEL)26,000 L2,000 GJOn-site natural gasuse for buildingheating (garageand office)Diesel fuelNatural gasLandfilled residuesfrom debagging andscreeningScreening curedcompost700 tonnes (350 t organics)Compost salesto end users

Baseline EmissionsE baseline= [M deliveredX % disposed(MCF)(DOC)(DOC F)(F)(16/12) –R][1-OX][GWP methane]Where E baselineM delivered= CH 4emissions from landfilled waste in CO 2equivalent (tonnes)= waste delivered to composting facility (tonnes)% disposed= baseline adjustment factor of 0.8 in Alberta to account for total waste in Albertaalready being composted in 2002 (uncertainty, conservativeness)MCFDOCDOC F= methane correction factor= 1 for managed landfills (IPCC default)= degradable organic fraction of waste (tonne C/tonne waste)= 0.19 for Alberta (calculated using Environment Canada data)= fraction of degradable organic carbon dissimilated= 0.77 (IPCC default)F = fraction of LFG that is CH 4, assumed to be 0.516/12 = stoichiometric factor (molecular weight fraction of CH 4/C)ROX= recovered landfill gas at baseline landfill (measured)= landfill oxidation factor= 0.1 for landfills with soil or compost covers (IPCC default)

Composting EmissionsE CH4composting= M deliveredX EF CH4X GWP methaneWhere E CH4composting= CH 4emissions from composting in tonnes CO 2equivalentM deliveredEF CH4= mass of waste composted (tonnes)= emission factor for methane generation from composting= 0.004 tonnes CH 4per tonne (IPCC default)GWP methane= global warming potential for CH 4of 21 (IPCC default)E N2Ocomposting= M deliveredX EF N2OX GWP nitrous oxideWhere E N2Ocomposting= N 2O emissions from composting in CO 2equivalent tonnesM delivered= mass of waste composted (tonnes)EF CH4= emission factor for nitrous oxide generation from composting= 0.0003 tonnes CH 4per tonne (IPCC default)GWP N2O= global warming potential for N 2O of 310 (IPCC default)

Natural Gas Usage EmissionsE ng= (F CO2)(V ng) + (F CH4)(V ng)(GWP CH4) + (F N2O)(V ng)(GWP N2O)Where E ng= direct GHG emissions from natural gas combusion, kg CO 2-eF CO2= emission factor for CO 2emissions from natural gas combustion= 1.891 kg CO 2per m 3 (CAPP value)V ng= volume of natural gas consumed (m 3 )F CH4= emission factor for CH 4emissions from natural gas combustion= 0.00049 kg CH 4per m 3 (CAPP value)GWP CH4= global warming potential for CH 4of 21 (IPCC default)F N2O= emission factor for N 2O emissions from natural gas combustion= 0.000049 kg N 2O per m 3 (CAPP value)GWP N2O= global warming potential for N 2O of 310 (IPCC default)

Upstream Natural Gas Extraction andProduction Emissions IE ng,ep= (F CO2,e+ F CO2,p)(V ng) + (F CH4,e+ F CO2,p)(V ng)(GWP CH4) + (F N2O,e+F N2O,p)(V ng)(GWP N2O)Where E ng,ep= upstream GHG emissions from natural gas extractionand production, kg CO 2-eF CO2,e= emission factor for CO 2emissions from natural gas extraction= 0.0043 kg CO 2per m 3 (CAPP value)F CO2,p= emission factor for CO 2emissions from natural gas production= 0.090 kg CO 2per m 3 (CAPP value)V ng= volume of natural gas consumed (m 3 )F CH4,e,= emission factor for CH 4emissions from natural gas extraction= 0.0023 kg CH 4per m 3 (CAPP value)F CH4,p= emission factor for CH4 emissions from natural gas production= 0.0003 kg CH4 per m3 (CAPP value)GWP CH4= global warming potential for CH 4of 21 (IPCC default)

Upstream Natural Gas Extraction andProduction Emissions IIE ng,ep= (F CO2,e+ F CO2,p)(V ng) + (F CH4,e+ F CO2,p)(V ng)(GWP CH4) + (F N2O,e+F N2O,p)(V ng)(GWP N2O)And,Where F N2O= emission factor for N 2O emissions from natural gas extraction= 0.000004 kg N 2O per m 3 (CAPP value)F N2O= emission factor for N 2O emissions from natural gas production= 0.000003 kg N 2O per m 3 (CAPP value)GWP N2O= global warming potential for N 2O of 310 (IPCC default)

Diesel Usage EmissionsE diesel= (F CO2)(V diesel) + (F CH4)(V diesel)(GWP CH4) + (F N2O)(V diesel)(GWP N2O)Where E diesel= direct GHG emissions from diesel combusion, kg CO 2-eF CO2= emission factor for CO 2emissions from diesel combustion= 2.730 kg CO 2per m 3 (CAPP value)V diesel= volume of diesel gas consumed (m 3 )F CH4= emission factor for CH 4emissions from diesel combustion= 0.000133 kg CH 4per m 3 (CAPP value)GWP CH4= global warming potential for CH 4of 21 (IPCC default)F N2O= emission factor for N 2O emissions from diesel combustion= 0.0004 kg N 2O per m 3 (CAPP value)GWP N2O= global warming potential for N 2O of 310 (IPCC default)

Diesel Production EmissionsE diesel,p= (F CO2,p)(V diesel) + (F CH4,p)(V diesel)(GWP CH4) + (F N2O,p)(V diesel)(GWP N2O)Where E diesel,p= upstream GHG emissions from diesel production, kg CO 2-eF CO2,p= emission factor for CO 2emissions from diesel combustion= 0.138 kg CO 2per m 3 (CAPP value)V diesel= volume of diesel gas consumed (m 3 )F CH4= emission factor for CH 4emissions from diesel production= 0.0109 kg CH 4per m 3 (CAPP value)GWP CH4= global warming potential for CH 4of 21 (IPCC default)F N2O= emission factor for N 2O emissions from diesel production= 0.000004 kg N 2O per m 3 (CAPP value)GWP N2O= global warming potential for N 2O of 310 (IPCC default)

Calculation ResultsBaseline emissions from landfilling feedstock = 14,847 tonnesCO 2-e.Project Emissions: Composting = 1,708.05 tonnes CO 2-e On-site diesel/natural gas consumption = 175.95 tonnesCO 2-e Upstream diesel/natural gas extraction/processing = 19.65tonnes CO 2-e. Landfill disposal of residuals = 831.6 tonnes CO 2-eNet calculated offsets = 12,111.75 tonnes CO 2-eWaste Management Branch

City of EdmontonOffset Calculation Example

Edmonton Composting FacilityComplexitiesSeparation of landfilled residuals in stages in compostingprocess, different organic fractions for each type of residual.Composting residuals landfilled in 3 different landfills, onewith LFG extraction, 2 without.Sophisticated site scale and data management software w/ 50+material codes, 15 destination codes.On site combustion of gasoline and propane in compostingoperation in addition to natural gas and diesel.Composting of biosolids, offset calculations only foraccompanying waste woodchips used in process.Utility and fuel data from internal and corporate sources.Waste Management Branch

Calculation ParametersMixed MSW feedstock = 100,000 tonnesWood chips = 10,000 tonnesDiscards = 8,000 tonnes, 0% organic, landfilled at site w/o LFG collectionPrimary Residuals = 14,000 tonnes, 13.4 organic, landfilled at site w/oLFG collectionSecondary Residuals = 15,000 tonnes, 45.3% organic, landfilled at site w/oLFG collectionTertiary Residuals = 2,000 tonnes, 45.3% organic, landfilled at site withLFG collectionNatural gas usage = 29,600 GJ = 785,353 m 3Diesel usage = 483,900 LPropane usage = 1,740 LGasoline usage = 1,280 L

Calculation ResultsBaseline emissions from landfilling feedstock = 104,370 tonnesCO 2-e.Project Emissions: Composting = 9,101.871 tonnes CO 2-e On-site diesel/natural gas/propane/gasoline consumption =2,879.564 tonnes CO 2-e Upstream fuel extraction/processing = 328.404 tonnes CO 2-e. Landfill disposal of residuals = 17,294.087 tonnes CO 2-eNet calculated offsets = 74,752.074 tonnes CO 2-eWaste Management Branch

General Tips on ProtocolBased Offset CalculationsUnderstanding of protocol boundaries, whatmaterials composted are eligible, whatemission calculations are required as part ofthe protocol.Collection of data required for protocolcalculations.Back up documentation for data managementfor verification purposes.Waste Management Branch

Offsets Crystal Balling

Offsets in ContextA number of abortive attempts/delays to set up GHGemission regulations and offset system at federal level– Liberal ditherers and Conservative naysayers.Current federal stance is that Canada will do nothinguntil the U.S. sets up federal system.Canada will harmonize with U.S., Alberta willharmonize with Canada.Natural organic impetus for all protocols towardsharmonization.Waste Management Branch

U.S. DevelopmentsObama government desire to develop cap &trade system as an emissions reductionstrategy.Quagmire of U.S. legislation (Waxman-Markey bill, Boxer-Kerry bill, current draftKerry-Lieberman bill – American Power Act)Regional systems – RGGI, WCI.Waste Management Branch

Global ContextNeed for successor to Kyoto Protocol – CDMand carbon credit mechanisms disappear whenKyoto expires at end of 2012.No binding climate change treaty came fromUNFCCC in Copenhagen in late 2009 –carbon markets fell.Ongoing discussions, next UN climateconference in Mexico in late 2010.Waste Management Branch

Questions???Waste Management Branch