DEFRA Biomass fuel methodology

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This methodology represents greenhouse gas emissions associated with the stationary combustion of biomass and biogas fuels. The data and calculation methodology originates from the UK government department DEFRA, as published in their most recent greenhouse gas (GHG) conversion factors documentation.

The methodology

Emissions model

The emissions calculation methodology is based upon emissions factors which relate mass- or energy-based quantities of biomass/biogas fuel with their associated quantity of greenhouse gas emissions.

Because the fuels represented in this category are derived from recently grown biomass, the emissions they produce on combustion are almost entirely benign from the point of view of atmospheric warming: the carbon released from the biomass tissues has only recently been sequestered from the atmosphere (during plant growth) and therefore does not represent a net contributor to atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. As such, emissions according to this methodology are arealso differentiated into two types:

'indirect' or 'Scope 3' emissions represent those greenhouse gases emitted in association with stages in the fuel production chain such as raw material extraction and fuel delivery, and therefore considered to 'embodied' within the fuel.

Emissions which are 'outside of scopes' are equivalent to the CO₂ absorbed from the atmosphere during growth of the biomass

Model data

Emissions factors relating to the following calculation requirements are available for all fuel types:

indirect emissions by mass: Scope 3 emissions on the basis of fuel mass
indirect emissions by energy: Scope 3 emissions on the basis of energy consumed
non-scope / biogenic emissions by mass: Biogenic emissions on the basis of fuel mass
non-scope / biogenic emissions by energy: Biogenic emissions on the basis of energy consumed

Similar methodologies

The DEFRA methodologies for the stationary combustion of conventional fuels are available on the basis of fuel mass, volume or energy yield.

How to use this category

Choosing a specific activity type

To use this methodology, specify the fuel type using the fuel drill down choice.

Activity data required

Since emisisons according to this methodology are directly proportionate to fuel quantity, the quantity of fuel used must be specified using either the mass or energy profile item values.

Results and calculation

CarbonKit returns the quantity of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the quantity of fuel specified. The following discrete amounts are returned:

indirectCO2e: indirect CO₂e emissions
bioCO2: biogenic CO₂ emissions

Users should note that all quantities (including the separated CH₄ and N₂O emissions) are expressed in terms of CO₂e - the quantity of CO₂ which would exert the same atmospheric warming effect and the emissions quantity.

	UID	Label
	273B4US95Z8O	biogas
	TCXA129EYOY4	grasses/straw
	YAO8BMD01U8W	wood chips
	N8P9LHY2208R	wood logs
	UKHDSL8Q21MY	wood pellets

Name: DEFRA_Biomass_fuel_methodology

Full path: /business/energy/stationaryCombustion/defra/biomass

Parent Category: Fuel combustion by DEFRA

Provenance: DEFRA

biogas biogenic biomass calculation combustion defra defra_annex9 emission_factor fuel indirect lca stationary UK