Biosolids Emissions Assessment Model: User Guide
Contents
1. The Climate Registry s methodologies and calculators do not include Scope 3 emissions However these will be developed by the Registry over time The BEAM includes some Scope 3 emissions because significant emissions associated with wastewater solids management are Scope 3 and biosolids managers have decision making authority that can impact these emissions e g selection of a dewatering system that requires less polymer mitigates the Scope 3 emissions associated with polymer production and transportation 4 3 Greenhouse Gas Tiers The IPCC defines a tier as representing a level of methodological complexity and accuracy in GHG accounting There are three tiers Tier is the basic method Tier 2 intermediate and Tier 3 most demanding in terms of complexity precision and data requirements The Climate Registry has adopted essentially the same tier system but it has renamed them and reversed the order Tier A is the preferred and most complex rigorous accurate and demanding of data from local measurements Tier B is the intermediate level and Tier C is the least complex and accurate As the BEAM is intended to be consistent with The Climate Registry General Reporting Protocol the use Tier A B and C terminology is used The BEAM tool does not track or indicate the tier level of estimates it calculates Users must assess the estimates they create with the tool based on their understanding of the accuracy of their data inputs The BEAM2. or facility The BEAM was developed in consideration of current leading protocols For consistency and to facilitate the eventual development of the BEAM into an approved protocol key terminology from these leading protocols has been adopted This includes the key concepts of GHG emission debits and credits as well as emission scopes and tiers 4 2 GHG Emission Scopes In the BEAM the concept of GHG emission scope is consistent with the IPCC The Climate Registry and other protocols There are three levels of scope 4 2 1 Scope 1 Scope emissions are direct emissions those over which the organization has direct control In a wastewater solids management scenario Scope 1 emissions include for example fugitive methane CH 4 from anaerobic digestion and emissions from burning natural gas to heat the digesters The Climate Registry and other protocols require the reporting of all Scope 1 emissions and these emissions would be a critical part of any formal report to Environment Canada 4 2 2 Scope 2 Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions associated with the consumption of purchased or acquired electricity steam heating or cooling In a wastewater solids management scenario Scope 2 emissions are for example from the electricity purchased for gravity belt thickening running blowers for aerobic digesters and centrifuge dewatering The Climate Registry and other protocols require the reporting of all Scope 2 emissions h
3. COzeq 13 Step 4 Viewing entire program results The image below shows an example of the results section of the first worksheet The first worksheet shows the subtotals and totals for the entire program Note The results in the light grey Note The results in the dark grey cells show equivalent net cells show total equivalent net emissions by Scope and by unit emissions for each unit process process o CO eq Totals Mg year Biomass 1 R Si ope 1 Scope 2 Scope 1 amp 2 Scope 3 ombuction tiii Enter x for all applicable x 0 a a ee E x a 3 I 3 I x a ee ll x 4676 aas 22 o sse EE x o ai 1064 x SE x 16 602 x Sa x x S x 3319 x a TOTALS 34 418 374 34 791 4 887 20 120 39 678 Note Results on the bottom show the total net program emissions for each Scope Note Results for biomass combustion are also provided but are not included in the totals This follows the Note Total net equivalent emissions for the entire program are provided For this example the total net emissions are 39 678 Mg year of COzeaq methodology used in accepted accounting protocols
4. Defaults Interim Calculations and Outputs ccc cccccccesssssseeceecceeeesseseeeceeeaasenseeeceees 4 3 4 Steps or Using the BEAM orane a a had nad nei andes eaGuaken 5 33 Review ine and Interpre une RESIS iaren a E A 6 F E OEA O a A E caecinateaen oat c Lice oaed nvm caedeatahinseiya tian 6 Deer WI MICIPROCESS RESES sss ascension a n a a 6 Dee Oyra RESU a a a fiashedejaatacu st backeassuaasaas tsasaa dee 6 4 Protocols Scopes Tir Senia a A a A A etek iad 7 4 1 GHG ACCOUNUMS Frorocols sisien E a 7 4 2 GHO EMISSION SCOPES sient ches cp ssacebancd cdavioal cat shedadatasasagelaboiads cennlaael oe teae cer otacel ae eiemestcaahelanoes 7 Aided SCOPE wh d4 tonsn tosses camate tes E N ant aee eae ae nbc tateoraaaben mene retegeuuncs 7 AD IC ODED T cance saassacnocanuesasasuacseasea cee ansacapseneuatanactnns ones sauanasnaesoorased acaeuac go eaceaacoenates 7 NCO cen cahee reacties cate ueractaictea E satadnetesictic eneeaanta a cncteaaencet 7 4 3 GCS MOISE Cy SS TA E E E E EE A E AEE E E E 8 4 4 Greenhouse Gas from Biomass Combustion ccccccccccccccccceeceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeseeeeeeeeeees 9 S Further Lint Fin Atri soos dose eco sesso sed soa oats sea cea soars eee 9 Appendix One Visual Guide to the BEAM 0 00 00 cccccccccccceecaeeeeeeeeceeeeeaaaeeseeeeceeessuaeaeeeeeeeeeeas 10 LIST OF TABLES Table Ws Nes Hobie GEG SOUICES amp ivesastasecsninci edi A oddone dsasesaintn ENA 3 Pable 2 Delineation Or GiGi
5. accounting calculations Credits are subtracted from debits to yield net GHG emissions from a given activity of the facility 3 5 2 Unit Process Results Each unit process worksheet shows total GHG emissions for the specific unit process and the equivalent emissions i e debits or credits for the various elements of the unit process e g equivalent emissions from electricity use All emissions results are shown in grey cells The total emissions for a given unit process are provided in the summary table next to the cell entitled CO equivalents Mg year The numbers below the total represent a breakdown of the emissions by Scope Scopes may be generally defined as follows e Scope 1 These are direct emissions that the generator can control An example is the emissions generated by burning natural gas to heat digesters e Scope 2 These are indirect emissions associated with consumption of purchased or acquired electricity steam heat or cooling An example is the emissions associated with electricity generated by a coal fired power plant e Scope 3 These are indirect emissions not included in Scope 2 emissions An example is the emissions associated with the extraction production and transportation of materials or resources An example is the emissions associated with the manufacture and transport of polymers or other conditioners More discussion on Scopes and their relevance is provided in Section 4 Within the totals s
6. i ving Gompost to land L diesel fueltay gr T CO Emissions from Diesel used Ma day 2 16 i Electricity Use ELcnoaty raguirements of composting syatem KYY ayi 4 500 Note Pink cells contain interim calculations used to CO Emissions from Electricity used Ma day i ee 5 Methane Emissions ZH emitted from compost pile Maday H CO Emissions equivalents from released CH Mgiday S 8 determine default No eae on m i P val ues bl ue cel Is 0 00 This information may O arbon Sequestration From compost applied to soll MgCO day 6268 be of use to the user e ee lt Fertilizer Off set Credits _ From nitrogen applied to soll Ma COsdayi aoo From phosphorus applied to soil Mg CO May i Pope _ 2 View unit process sesasi oao results in the grey cells Grey cells Instructions and Notes id II General Enter data for all solids that were composted Whenever possible use data Fom local measurements provi S a equivalent For this ftw if entering a local value ter i Goth the blue and orange cells Default is for Gancity of Sawdust e m ISS O n S ie subtotals and Dielaull rom refererioe wales i totals Data used to calculate default for information only f i Process output 12 Step 3 Viewing unit process results The image below shows an example the results from a unit process worksheet The notes ex
7. specific data as possible for the green input cells The data should represent an average over a relatively long period 1 e one year or more Be sure to convert the data to the units specified If the required data cannot be obtained the calculator tool provides default values blue cells that can be used in lieu of program specific data Enter the collected data into the appropriate green cells in the BEAM for each applicable unit process worksheet Be sure to work from the top to the bottom of each worksheet If necessary use the default value provided in the blue cell adjacent to the green cell This information must be copied to the green cells or entered manually Be sure that all input cells green have data in them and that the units match that required by the model You are now ready to review and interpret the results Specific unit process results are provided on the relevant unit process worksheet and summarized on the first worksheet 3 5 Reviewing and Interpreting Results 3 5 1 Emissions Accounting When a facility or operation releases anthropogenic i e generated by humans GHGs to the atmosphere they are accounted as debits positive numbers of metric tonnes Mg of CO2 equivalents CO2eq Conversely if a facility or operation conducts an activity to offset GHG emissions such as sequestering short term cycle biogenic carbon from biosolids then credits negative numbers of Mg of COzeq are applied to the
8. CCME Canadian Council Le Conseil canadien of Ministers des ministres of the Environment de l environnement Biosolids Emissions Assessment Model User Guide PN 1430 ISBN 978 1 896997 86 5 PDF Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment 2009 The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment CCME is the major intergovernmental forum in Canada for discussion and joint action on environmental issues of national international and global concern The 14 member governments work as partners in developing nationally consistent environmental standards practices and legislation Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment 123 Main St Suite 360 Winnipeg Manitoba R3C 1A3 Phone 204 948 2090 Email info ccme ca Website www ccme ca Reference listing CCME 2009 BEAM User Guide Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Winnipeg Ce rapport est aussi disponible en francais ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This document is based on work done by SYLVIS Environmental under contract to CCME as revised by the Biosolids Task Group E ADOUNC U r Cas coeeesennnaneser naatenententenent A server Terri ereeretrs errs arrestee 1 2 Greenhouse Gases and Biosolids ccc eceessssssseeeeeseeseseesssssssssesssessessseesssesaesaasaaaaasaaaaaaaaaeaagas l De RET BAIN ooreen aa sain A iA S ws 2 3 1 BOUIN ACS es coe ere arts r oa a aase Sana cee E 2 3 2 BEANO Oena E Senn aoe TOR TeR En Cn ne Tenet 3 3 3 Inputs
9. General Enter data for the wastewater treatment process as well as the province in which your program s electricity consumption occurs Com e only those pages ofthe BEAM that apply to uni processes marked with x above Greenhouse gas emissions including totals and scope subtotals for the e bigso is management program are summarized above For all calculator sheets enbar data starting atthe top of each sheet Use actual data and enter inio the green cels whenever possible Biomass combustion emisssons are not included in total CO equivalents Seo User s Guide for more information Note General notes Note Output values are and instructions are shown in grey included at the bottom of the worksheet 11 Step 2 Unit process data entry The image below shows an example of a unit process worksheet For each applicable unit process marked x on the main input page complete the relevant unit process worksheet Composting sie 4 Enter data in al Feedstock Input SS ee green cells Input values starting at the top and working down the worksheet ies ves Volume of sludge in compost ae 25 a Note Values in blue cells may be used as inputs if specific information is not known Enter these values into the green cells Fuel Use Grinding Hct toy O Setting up and breaking down piles L lt diesel tuevday p lt L diesel tuelicday SLI CALETA otal hue use lor comp
10. Minimal energy use Thermal drying CH and NoO Lack of supporting data 3 2 BEAM Overview The BEAM was created to simplify the process of estimating the GHG emissions debits and credits from different biosolids management scenarios The BEAM is a spreadsheet tool that consists of 14 worksheets in one MS Excel workbook document This includes the following pages worksheets 1 WWT Inputs amp CO2eq Totals Alkaline Stabilization 2 Storage 3 Conditioning amp Thickening 4 Aerobic Digestion 5 Anaerobic Digestion 6 Dewatering 7 Thermal Drying 8 9 Composting 10 Landfill Disposal 11 Combustion 12 Land Application 13 Transportation 14 References amp Assumptions The first worksheet requires the user to input general wastewater treatment and use information It also provides a summary of the results The remaining worksheets require inputs and generate results for specific unit processes For each unit process the user can input data from local site specific measurements regional estimates or more general default values provided in the spreadsheet tool The final worksheet provides all of the default values and assumptions used for determining the results The default emissions factors and conversions are current best estimates selected from the published literature for most at least two independent sources or calculations were used to corroborate accuracy 3 3 Inputs Defaults Interim Ca
11. cesses used to treat utilize and or dispose of wastewater solids These processes are considered unit processes in the BEAM as outlined in Section 3 2 below Collection systems e g sewers and wastewater treatment plants are also potentially significant sources of CO2 CH4 and N20 These are not included in the scope of the BEAM In the determination of significant sources of GHG for each unit process some sources were considered negligible Table 1 provides a summary of the sources of negligible GHG sources and the rational for exclusion from the BEAM Table 1 Negligible GHG sources Unit Process Negligible GHG Rationale Aerobic surface layer effectively Facultative lagoon oxidizes CH Aerated lagoon CH Maintenance of an aerobic environment limits production Mesophilic aerobic digestion CH and N2O Maintenance o an aerobic environment limits production Physical addition of polymer in Minimal energy requirement for thickening process Anecdotal evidence of small Biogas recovery and combustion NO releases but not supported by data Considered negligible if total CHs and NO 50 26 this promotes an aerobic environment i Considered negligible if process a air teana biofilter Considered negligible if C N gt 30 compost curing Compost is stable and microbial Compost curing CH and NO processes minimized supporting data indicates minimal emissions CH and NO Assumed that this process is kept aerobic Passive dewatering
12. ens enerne E oeeoaantecari E sevensateench nas ERE 9 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 ABOUT THIS USER GUIDE The Biosolids Emissions Assessment Model or BEAM was developed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment CCME for use primarily by Canadian biosolids generators The model was developed to allow operators engineers and managers the ability to assess potential greenhouse gas GHG emissions from a range of biosolids management scenarios The model can be used to e estimate a programs GHG emissions including establishing a baseline e compare emissions from different biosolids management scenarios within a program e estimate the impacts on GHG emissions resulting from changes in a biosolids management program and e understand the factors that have the greatest impact on increasing or reducing GHG emissions These types of assessments are especially important for agencies seeking to become carbon neutral or better and for determining the potential financial implications e g costs carbon credits of changes to biosolids management strategies based on GHG implications This document provides the necessary background information for understanding the model including its inputs basic calculation methods and outputs and provides step by step instructions for using the model 2 GREENHOUSE GASES AND BIOSOLIDS Biosolids management practices can impact anthropogenic GHG emissions in many ways Anthro
13. lculations and Outputs Within the BEAM different colours are used in cells throughout the spreadsheet to alert the user to the type of information required or contained in each cell There is a key on each worksheet that defines the information contained in coloured cells The following is a summary of the colours used and what each indicates e Green These are cells that require user input For the most accurate results the user should provide as much program specific data as possible for the green cells The required information and units are provided next to each green cell If information is not known for a specific input the optional default values in the blue cells may be used The calculations and results are based on the inputs in the green cells e Blue These are cells that provide default values that can be used as inputs for the green cells if program specific data are not available If values from the blue cells are used they must be copied to the green cells or entered manually e Pink These cells provide the results for interim step calculations that are used to calculate default values blue cells They contain information that may be of use to the user for other purposes or for information only For example for biosolids composting the pink cells show the results of calculations for diesel fuel used for grinding and pile management e Grey These cells represent the GHG emissions results from various sources
14. owever it is understood that on the aggregated national scale Scope 2 emissions will likely also be counted by another entity the electricity generator 4 2 3 Scope 3 Scope 3 emissions are all other indirect emissions not covered in Scope 2 Scope 3 emissions include upstream and downstream emissions resulting from the extraction and production of purchased materials and fuels transport related activities in vehicles not owned or controlled by the reporting entity and outsourced activities The Climate Registry 2007 New guidance on estimating Scope 3 emissions is currently being developed by World Resources Institute release of the guidance is expected in 2010 World Resources Institute 2008 There are often many significant Scope 3 emissions attributable to wastewater solids management An example includes the emissions caused by manufacture and transport of dewatering polymers or other conditioners A biosolids specific example of a Scope 3 credit is the fertilizer offset when biosolids replace the need for synthetic chemical fertilizer A caveat to Scope 3 emissions is that because they are indirect emissions they may also be counted by others therefore when reporting e g to The Climate Registry Scope 3 emissions should not be added to Scope and 2 emissions or included with Scope 3 emissions generated by others they are reported separately The BEAM accommodates this requirement by delineating emissions by scope Currently
15. plain key results Note The calculator shows COzeq emissions from the various parts of the unit process This example from the composting unit process shows emissions from fuel use electricity use and from the composting operations It also shows equivalent credits for carbon sequestration and chemical fertilizer offsets Results are in grey cells Fuel Use 261 447 708 708 r 67 CO Emissions from Diesel used Mg day 2 15 aua JE SESS SSSSS S lectricity Use Electricity requirements of composting system kVVhiday 4 500 4 500 CO Emissions from Electricity used Mg day W rt my 0 5 kaid m 3 a o CH emitted from compost pile Ma day CO Emissions equivalents from released CH Mg day j 0 000 0 0079 itrous Oxide Emissions N O emitted from compost pile Mg day N O emitted from applying compost to soils Mag day CO Emissions equivalents from released N O Mg day wa j r f Me arbon Sequestration From compost applied to soil Mg CO day 7 ertilizer Off set Credits From nitrogen applied to soil Mg CO day From phosphorus applied to soil Mg CO fday CO equivalents Mg year 2 933 RS pee ua a Scope __ 1 497 298 Scopes1 amp 2 _ 1 200 1 734 Biomass combustion a Note Total net equivalent GHG emissions are shown here including a breakdown of the emissions by Scope This example shows a net credit of 2 933 Mg year of
16. pogenic emissions are those that are generated by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels There are also natural sources of GHG emissions such as the release of carbon dioxide from the decomposition of organic matter in the environment Methods can be used to limit GHG emissions and result in credits for carbon sequestration storage and displacing other sources of anthropogenic GHG emissions It is generally agreed that the important GHG emissions contributing to climate change from biosolids management are e carbon dioxide CO2 e methane CH and e nitrous oxide N20 While several other GHGs exist e g fluorocarbons wastewater treatment and biosolids management are not considered significant sources Therefore the BEAM focuses on the three primary GHGs The three primary GHGs have varying potential impacts on global warming and climate change Nitrous oxide and methane are respectively 310 and 21 times more potent GHGs than carbon dioxide This means that from the perspective of GHG impacts the emission of tonne of nitrous oxide is equivalent to 310 tonnes of carbon dioxide 3 THE BEAM 3 1 Boundaries The focus of the BEAM is wastewater solids management which begins when the solids are removed from primary and secondary clarifiers or from the bottom of wastewater lagoons and ends at biosolids disposal or utilization Sludge lagoons are included in the BEAM The BEAM assesses GHG emissions from the common pro
17. rted as Scope emissions 5 FURTHER INFORMATION For additional information regarding GHG quantification and reporting please refer to e The Government of Canada Greenhouse Gas Reporting Site www ghegreporting gc ca e The Climate Registry General Reporting Protocol www theclimateregistry org resources protocols general reporting protocol php e The Clean Development Mechanism cdm unfccc int index html e The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change http www ipcc ch APPENDIX ONE VISUAL GUIDE TO THE BEAM Provided overleaf is a visual guide to the BEAM Step 1 Worksheet 1 data entry The image below shows the first worksheet in the BEAM Important input steps and notes for this worksheet are provided below 1 Enter general 2 Enter general program and user wastewater treatment and solids information n information _ 3 Enter x for applicable unit processes Treatment and Solids Characteristics 160 60 Amount of Wwestesater Treated milion liters iday or ae Amount of Wastewater Treated mid Populabon tered by VWintbewaler Treatment a 181348 influent BOD img 5 Location i p anen Scope 1 EEEn 1 064 03 Note The key indicates the meaning of colours i a used throughout the model Deppe 1 direct erwssions Soop d purchated ebectioty heal or theam Soppe J productan of purchased matenals and uses of end products Instructions and Notes
18. tool is flexible in that it allows the use of user defined data Tier A a combination of default and user obtained data Tier B or the use of default values alone Tier C that were derived from the review of literature and existing protocols Table 2 provides a description of each tier Table 2 Delineation of GHG tiers tuer Description The Climate Registry p Direct measurements local data Combination of some direct measurements local data and regional default values National or regional default values 4 4 Greenhouse Gas from Biomass Combustion The Climate Registry General Reporting Protocol 2008 and other protocols e g United Kingdom Water Industry Research require reporting of CO2 emissions from the combustion of biogas generated in an anaerobic digester and any other combustion of biomass such as wood Although these emissions of CO2 are biogenic they must be reported However these emissions are always reported separately and are not summed with other emissions Thus in this calculator tool they appear separately and do not have any effect on the calculated total GHG emissions for biosolids management scenarios Note that this separate reporting for biomass e g biogas combustion only includes CO 2 emissions It does not include fugitive CH4 and N20 emissions from biosolids or biogas combustion these are considered anthropogenic and can be mostly eliminated with proper operational controls These emissions are repo
19. ummary table results for Biomass combustion are also reported This is in line with reporting requirements for recognized GHG reporting protocols Emissions from biomass combustion are not included in the totals but as per the reporting protocols must be reported separately Further explanation is provided in Section 4 3 5 3 Overall Results The first worksheet entitled WWT Inputs amp GHG Totals page provides summed totals for the entire biosolids management program listed by scope and by unit process The net emission subtotals and totals are provided in grey cells As per accepted protocols biomass combustion emissions are also provided but they are not included in the total emissions Values at the bottom of the table show the emissions by Scope and for biomass combustion Values on the right side of the table show emissions for each unit process Values in the middle of the table show emissions by Scope and unit process The total CO2eq emissions for the modeled program are provided in the bottom right corner of the table This worksheet may be printed to illustrate the general program elements and all emissions 4 PROTOCOLS SCOPES amp TIERS 4 1 GHG Accounting Protocols In order to reduce GHG emissions the International Panel on Climate Change IPCC the Climate Registry and other organizations have developed protocols consistent systems for estimating the GHG emissions from a particular jurisdiction activity
20. within a unit process the subtotals and totals Results are shown on each unit process worksheet and summarized on the first worksheet CO gt 2 equivalents note It is standard practice to report emissions in CO equivalents CO2eq to allow consistent comparisons of results Nitrous oxide and methane emissions are multiplied by 310 and 21 respectively to determine the CO equivalent values 3 4 Steps for Using the BEAM This section outlines the steps for using the biosolids GHG tool for calculating emissions from existing biosolids management programs A visual guide to these steps is provided in Appendix One 1 Save a version of the BEAM and give the file a name that describes the biosolids management program and date or iteration for example MyBiosolidsProgramBaseline MarchO9 xls On the first worksheet entitled WWT Inputs amp CO2eq Totals enter the required program wastewater treatment WWT and solids characteristics information at the top of the page In the summary table entitled CO2eq Totals Mg year insert a small x in each box corresponding to the biosolids management unit processes that apply to your program or the program you want to model Note that this table also provides outputs that are updated using the individual unit process worksheets For each unit process selected refer to the corresponding worksheet see tabs at the bottom for that unit process Collect as much program
Download Pdf Manuals
Related Search