Use of Models and Facility-Level Data in Greenhouse Gas Inventories

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Use of Models and Facility-Level Data in Greenhouse Gas Inventories Abstract Implementation of the first mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting program in the United States began in earnest in the end of 2009 with publication of the Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule. This rule established EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP), which requires large direct emitters of GHGs, and suppliers of fossil fuels and industrial gases to begin data collection in 2010 and report their GHG emissions and other related data to EPA beginning in 2011. Implementation of the GHGRP is a critical milestone for the United States, with the data gathered through the program serving the foundation for future climate policy. Policymakers and stakeholders at the local, state and national level are only beginning to realize what can be done with the reported data. For the first time, the public will be able to better understand some of the large GHG emissions sources in their communities. State and national leaders will be better informed to analyze the GHG emissions implications of potential climate policy options. Among the many beneficiaries of the data will be the team compiling the Inventory of U.S. GHG Emissions and Sinks (U.S. GHG Inventory). This paper provides a background on the GHGRP and begins to explore the opportunities, and challenges, associated with incorporating the data gathered through that program into the U.S. GHG Inventory. In particular, the paper reviews how the availability of facility-level data could impact the fundamental quality objectives of the inventory- transparency, completeness, consistency, comparability, and accuracy. There are significant opportunities for the United States and many other nations that have facility-level reporting programs to improve their national inventories, as long as the incorporation of that data is done in a deliberative manner with an eye to these quality objectives. Background The United States and other developed countries agreed to submit greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reports annually when they signed the Climate Treaty in June 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit. The United States has submitted the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Sinks (the U.S. GHG Inventory) to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on an annual basis since 1993. Over the years, methods used by the United States to develop the U.S. GHG Inventory have evolved as the international guidelines have advanced and as new and better data sources become available to support Inventory development. The United States continually strives to improve the national Inventory and present the most accurate GHG emissions estimates for both the entire time series and the most recent year for which data are available. This means, as methods evolve and new data sources become available, we are very mindful of the IPCC quality objectives in developing the Inventory: transparency, accuracy, consistency, comparability, and completeness 14 . Transparency: There is sufficient and clear documentation such that individuals or groups other than inventory compilers can understand how the inventory was compiled and can be assured it meets the good practice requirements for national greenhouse gas emissions inventories. Completeness: Estimates are reported for all relevant categories of sources and sinks, and gases. Consistency: Estimates for different inventory years, gases and categories are made in such a way that differences in the results between years and categories reflect real differences in emissions. Inventory annual trends, as far as possible, should be calculated using the same method and data sources in all years and should aim to reflect the real annual fluctuations in emissions or removals and not be subject to changes resulting from methodological differences. Comparability: The national greenhouse gas inventory is reported in a way that allows it to be compared with national greenhouse gas inventories for other countries. 14 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. Edited by Simon Eggelston, Leandro Buendia, Kyoko Miwa, Todd Ngara, Kiyoto Tanabe. Published by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) for the IPCC ISBN 4-88788-032-4 IPCC Expert Meeting Report 110 TFI
Use of Models and Facility-Level Data in Greenhouse Gas Inventories Accuracy: The national greenhouse gas inventory contains neither over- nor under-estimates so far as can be judged. The United States has a significant opportunity to improve the U.S. GHG Inventory in the coming years with the establishment of the first nationwide mandatory reporting of GHG emissions program in 2009. Certain large emissions source categories in the United States began collecting GHG emissions information and other related data on January 1, 2010 and will report the information to EPA in March 2011, and every year thereafter. This paper provides a background on the EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program and begins to explore the opportunities, and challenges, associated with incorporating the data gathered through that program into the U.S. GHG Inventory. EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) Overview In October 2009, EPA issued the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule (40 CFR Part 98), which requires reporting of GHG emissions and other related data from certain large downstream sources and suppliers of fossil fuels and industrial gases in the United States. Generally, facilities that emit equal to or greater than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (mtCO 2e) emissions per year are required to submit annual reports to EPA. For some industries, for example, cement production, aluminum production and ammonia production, all or most facilities were estimated to be over the threshold, and therefore all are required to report under the program, regardless of size. In addition to capturing reporting from downstream emitters, the GHGRP requires all domestic suppliers of petroleum products; coal-based liquids, natural gas, natural gas liquids, and industrial gases, including CO 2, to report the CO 2 emissions that would be released if all fuels were combusted or industrial gases were released to the atmosphere. Importers and exporters of certain fuels and industrial gases are required to report if their potential emissions are equal to or greater than 25,000 mtCO 2e. In some case the upstream supplier of a fuel (for example natural gas) will have to report on the GHG emissions assuming complete combustion of all the natural gas that they deliver, while if that natural gas is consumed at a downstream facility that is subject to the rule (e.g., an ammonia manufacturer) the downstream facility must report on the combustion of that fuel. There is inherent double reporting in such a system requiring reporting from upstream suppliers and downstream sources necessitates caution when aggregating the emissions to estimate national GHG emissions. Coverage. Figure 1 illustrates the source categories required to collect data in 2010 and submit their first reports to EPA in March 2011. Source categories required to report as a “downstream emitter” are highlighted in yellow, blue or orange. The yellow bars represent source categories for which all facilities the meet the definition of the source category are required to report. Industries highlighted in blue are only required to report if their facility-level emissions are equal to or greater than 25,000 mtCO 2e. Other facilities that do not meet the definition of one of listed source categories must still report if their emissions from stationary combustion are equal to or less than 25,000 mtCO 2e (highlighted in orange). Industries highlighted in gray are “suppliers” and most report the CO 2 emissions that would be released if all of the fossil fuel were combusted or the industrial gases were released. Vehicle and engine manufacturers (except light duty vehicles) must report an emissions rate. IPCC Expert Meeting Report 111 TFI
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Use of Models and Facility-Level Data in Greenhouse Gas Inventories

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