Carbon Emissions

Lesson ObjectivesGHGs and Global WarmingFamiliarize with carbon emissionsRecognize sources of carbon emissionsWhat regulatory action has been done?How can we reduce emissions from MSW

sources?How can reducing carbon emissions be

worth millions of $$$?What about the Future?

Greenhouse GasesComponents of the atmosphere that

contribute to the greenhouse effect and necessary to life on Earth but also responsible for “Global Warming”

Including:- Water vapor, 36~70% - Carbon dioxide (CO2), 9~26%- Methane (CH4), 4~9%- Ozone (O3), 3~7%- Other (N2O, SF6, …)

Greenhouse GasesNot all greenhouse gases are a threat to

the environment

The most important greenhouse gases for environmental researchers:

- Carbon dioxide (CO2), and,- Methane (CH4)

CO2 and CH4 form a large portion of the greenhouse gases

Global WarmingAn increase in the Earths temperature

has been observed during the past decades, believed to be due to increase of GHGs

Global WarmingWhat happens:

Catastrophe

•Severe weather conditions,•Sea level increase,•Health effect, •Change in agricultural pattern,•…

Global WarmingCan cause a 7.5 ft raise in sea level in

the next centuryThis can take about one third of the

present Florida’s dry land under sea water

Global Warming Potential (GWP)GWP is a measure of how much a given

mass of greenhouse gas is estimated to contribute to global warming

GWP is a relative scale comparing the gas in question to that of the same mass of CO2

GWP of CH4 is 21

Carbon ConcentrationThe atmospheric concentration of

carbon dioxide remained between 260 and 280 ppm for the 10,000 years between the end of the last glacial maximum and the start of the industrial era

Carbon ConcentrationThe present atmospheric carbon

concentration is believed to have reached approximately 380 ppm

The maximum possible atmospheric carbon concentration threatening natural condition on Earth is believed to be in the order of 550 to 600 ppm

Carbon Concentration

Carbon Emission SourcesBiogenic or Natural Sources:

- Natural activities of the environment

Anthropogenic Sources:

- Sources from human activities - CO2 and CH4 have major

anthropogenic sources

Natural SourcesNatural sources: More than 20 times

greater concentration than human sources

Natural sources are closely balanced by natural sinks (Carbon Sequestration)

Anthropogenic Sources Major anthropogenic carbon sources:

- Electricity generations plants, 21%

- Industrial processes, 17%

- Transportation, 14%

- Agricultural byproducts, 13%

- Fossil fuel processing, 11%

- Residential and commercial, 10%

- Biomass burning, 10%

- Waste disposal, 4%

Carbon Footprint A measure of the impact human activities

on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced

Units: Equivalent carbon dioxide – eCO2

Everyday activities: - Driving to school, - Drinking a bottle of water, - Eating daily food, - Turning on a light, …

Regulatory Actions1992 United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); developed nations agreed to non-binding 1990 GHG levels by 2000

1997 Kyoto Conference - The “Kyoto Protocol”; some participants made binding commitment to 1990 GHG levels (US has not ratified)

Regulatory Actions 2007 Bali Conference; US agrees to “Agree”

July 2008 G8 Conference; G8 Nations agree to cut 50% of emissions by 2050

Statewide regulations limiting greenhouse gas emissions include:

- California AB-32, - Florida Executive Order 07-127, - Regional GHG Initiative (RGGI),- Western Climate Initiative (WGI)

Regulatory Actions

Waste ManagementWaste management solutions to reduce

carbon footprint, 3 R’s:- Reduce- Reuse- Recycle

Waste disposal (Refuse):- Incineration - Landfill

Waste Management IPCC Estimate of Worldwide Landfill

Methane Emissions (BAU)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

1980 2000 2020 2040 2060

Year

GH

G, M

t C

O2

Waste Management Waste to Energy:

• Incineration: Directly producing thermal energy

• Landfill Gas: o Generated from the physical, chemical and biological

processes occurring in the disposed waste, o Main components: methane 50-60%, carbon dioxide

40-50% and other trace gases,o Using methane as a source of energy

Market Solutions:• Taxation• Cap & Trade

Waste Management

Carbon Balance

LFG to Energy Landfill gas (LFG) has a fuel value of 18-

22 MJ/m3, due to methane content

As of December 2007 there were 435 landfills capturing about 7.1 billion m3 of LFG in the US producing some 10.5 billion kWh, equivalent to powering 810,000 homes and heating 547,000

LFG to EnergyNet GHG Emissions from Landfilling –

US EPA Default Values

00.020.040.060.08

0.10.120.140.160.18

0.2

Landfill without LFGRecovery

Landfills with LFGRecovery and Flaring

Landfills with LFGRecovery and Electric

Generation

MTC

E/W

et T

on

The Carbon MarketAn official and regulated market in EU

countries, but still a voluntary market in the US

US voluntary market: – Companies paying voluntarily for carbon

emission reduction and carbon credits usually because of investment for future, commercial interest, personal interest, …

The Carbon Market

The Carbon MarketCarbon market options:

- Carbon Offset Credit- Fuel Production- Renewable Energy Credits

(RECs)- Renewable Energy Production

Tax Credits (PTCs)

LFG Carbon Market

LFG Carbon Market Orange County's, FL, LFGE system:

- More than 10,000 m3/hr LFG for 20 year,- Can generate electricity for 13,000 homes,- Takes advantage of $4 million in federal funding and tax incentives

City of Albany Landfill, NY, potential C values:- Estimated 33,638 MWh/yr electricity from LFG- Carbon Credit value $ 1,617,919- REC value $ 1,514,000 per year (@ $45/MWh)- PTC value $ 336,384 per year (@ $10/MWh)

FutureThe US voluntary carbon market trading

value has tripled from 2006 to 2007, this trend is foreseen to be continuing

Both Obama and McCain support starting a regulated carbon emissions Cap-&-Trade program

We won’t be getting any greener if we do nothing, so at least we can try by doing something …

maybe we can do some good for our future generations

Example A landfill in some county is receiving 50,000 tons of MSW

annually and is operating a LFG to energy plant with recovery rate of 500 ft3 LFG per ton MSW (50% methane content). Estimate the carbon value for this LFGE project counting in each possible option and assuming the landfill is not regulated yet to offset carbon emissions and the methane destroy efficiency is 100%.– Carbon offset value, at $ 1 per ft3 CH4

– Electricity value, at 1x10-3 MWh electricity per ft3 methane gas and electricity price is $100 per MWh

– RECs value, at $20 per MWh– PTCs value, at $10 per MWh

Solution

Step 1:Calculate the generated methane …

50,000 x 500 x 0.50 = 12.5x106 ft3 CH4

Solution

Step 2:Calculate the electricity produced from methane

…

(12.5x106) x (1x10-3) = 12,500 MWh

Solution

Step 3:Calculate each value …

Carbon offset value:(12.5x106) x 1 = $ 12,500,000 /yr

Electricity value:12,500 x 100 = $ 1,250,000 /yr

Solution

RECs:12,500 x 20 = $ 250,000 /yr

PTCs:12,500 x 10 = $ 125,000 /yr