Estimate Greenhouse Gas Emissions Research Articles

Variations of GHG emission patterns from waste disposal processes in megacity Shanghai from 2005 to 2015

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is one of the main anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emission sources. GHG emissions from the waste sector could rely on the disposal process greatly, and the corresponding GHG emission intensity (GHG emissions from per kg disposed MSW) might reflect the city’s waste management level. Shanghai, as the popular megacity in China, has witnessed the evolution of the waste disposal processes from landfill dominated to incineration dominated from 2005 to 2015, and the detailed GHG emission estimation was implemented combining the method recommended by IPCC and the bottom-up method. It was found that landfill contributed to 81.88% of total GHG emissions from 2005 to 2015, while the GHG emissions from incineration plants increased from 1.8×108 to 3.8×108 kg CO2-eq (CO2 equivalent) in the same period, with the amount of incinerated MSW increasing from 1.02×109 to 2.50×109 kg. The GHG emission intensity of the MSW management system reached 0.363 kg CO2-eq per kg MSW in 2012 but declined to 0.354 kg in 2015. And the GHG emission intensity of incineration was lower than that of landfill and composting, which fluctuated between 0.147 and 0.177 kg CO2-eq per kg MSW. Both the scale and the operation conditions of the waste disposal facilities could influence the GHG emission intensity. With the implementation of waste source sorting and incineration dominated in disposal processes, around 54.07% of GHG emissions could be reduced under the 2030 NP (New policy) scenario. GHG emission intensity could be employed as an indicator for waste disposal development levels.

Estimating Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Peat Combustion in Wildfires on Indonesian Peatlands, and Their Uncertainty

AbstractPeatlands play an important role as carbon pools, storing a third of the world's soil carbon. However, peatlands in Southeast Asia have suffered from depletion due to economic pressure and the demand for natural resources, often caused by land use changes and fires. Usually, land preparation requires drainage and fires, resulting in major greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere. In this work, we propose a general equation to estimate GHG emissions from fires on peatlands. The contribution of each parameter to the variance of the estimated GHG emissions was also evaluated. We used Monte Carlo simulation, meta‐analyses, and an analytical expression of variance. GHG emissions of a single fire episode were estimated at 842 Mg ha−1 CO2 eq. with a standard deviation of 466 Mg ha−1 CO2 eq. The parameter contributing most to variance was the depth of burn, at 94.2%, followed by bulk density, at 5.5%, and emission factors, at 0.3%. Our estimated GHG emissions were close to the amount estimated from the default values provided by the IPCC, strengthening confidence in the IPCC methodology. When the depth of burn was assessed by remote sensing, the parameter that most contributed to variance became the fire‐damaged area, followed by the depth of burn. The contribution of each parameter to variance, as estimated in this study, made it possible to prioritize the effort in uncertainty reduction. Combining Monte Carlo simulation and an analytical expression of variance could be a promising way of obtaining more reliable confidence intervals.

Quantifying the potency of greenhouse gas emission from manure management through anaerobic digester in Central Java

Indonesia has committed to reduce 29% of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by its own efforts and 41% with international support by 2030. The livestock releases methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from enteric fermentation and manure management. The anaerobic digester can capture CH4 emission from manure and it can be used for bio-energy to replace LPG and kerosene. This study aims to estimate GHG emission from manure management and its reductions through anaerobic digestion in Central Java Province during 2010–2015. The data were collected through questionnaire surveys, interviews, and institutional data collections. GHG emissions from livestock and its mitigation were estimated using the IPCC 2006 Tier 1 method. The results showed that Central Java has GHG emission from the livestock of 1,546.26, 1,658.38, 1,775.99, 1,708.46, 1,745.37, and 1,817.52 Gg CO2 from 2010 to 2015, respectively. The anaerobic digestion avoided CH4 emission approximately 11.55 - 117.43 Gg CO2 per year. Methane avoidance could substitute the energy around 0.50 - 5.08 Gg CO2 per year. Anaerobic digesters are processes that convert cow manure into biogas rich in methane, which can reduce indirectly GHG emissions from animal waste. Manure management through a digester produces biogas that can be used to replace non-renewable energy such as LPG and kerosene.

Challenges and opportunities for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions through dairy cattle research in developing countries.

The global dairy sector is facing the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions whilst increasing productivity to feed a growing population. Despite the importance of this challenge, many developing countries do not have the required resources, specifically funding, expertise and facilities, for quantifying GHG emissions from dairy production and research. This paper aims to address this challenge by discussing the magnitude of the issue, potential mitigation approaches and benefits in quantifying GHG emissions in a developing country context. Further, the paper explores the opportunities for developing country dairy scientists to leverage resources from developed countries, such as using existing relevant GHG emission estimation models. It is clear that further research is required to support developing countries to quantify and understand GHG emissions from dairy production, as it brings significant benefits including helping to identify and implement appropriate mitigation strategies for local production systems, trading carbon credits and achieving the nationally determined contribution obligations of the Paris Agreement.

Assessment of nitrous oxide production in eutrophicated rivers with inflow of treated wastewater based on investigation and statistical analysis.

Accurate estimation and control of greenhouse gas emissions have been recognized as imperative in recent years. Therefore, frequent investigations under uniform environmental conditions are required to better understand this concept. Thus, six sampling sites with characteristic concentrations of nitrogen and other water quality parameters were selected to investigate the behavior of water quality parameters throughout the year and to statistically examine the correlations among the parameters. Dissolved nitrous oxide (D-N2O) showed the highest positive correlation coefficient with NO2-N among nitrogen species. The results of the principal component analysis suggested that river water quality could be broadly classified based on photosynthesis and contamination from treated wastewater. Photosynthesis caused an increase in pH, with concomitant decrease in D-N2O concentration. Using the results of multiple regression analysis, D-N2O was accurately estimated based on nitrogen concentration, pH, and concentration of organic matter in various situations. The results of a detailed survey suggested that D-N2O was produced in the river from nitrogen sources released from the wastewater treatment plant. The main roles of the wastewater treatment plant for D-N2O behavior in the river were the supply of the nitrogen source that was the precursor of D-N2O, the supply of the nutrients that induced the photosynthesis, and the direct supply of D-N2O at a low water temperature. The models based on multiple regression analysis could efficiently predict the D-N2O concentration produced in rivers at sites downstream of the wastewater treatment plant, except for the direct supply of D-N2O as an effluent at low water temperature.

The effect of driving cycles and H2 production pathways on the lifecycle analysis of hydrogen fuel cell vehicle: A case study in South Korea

This study focuses on the simulation and analysis on the fuel economy of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, data collection and modeling to estimate greenhouse gas emission during its lifecycle. Since regenerative braking is a velocity related process, a car which is equipped with it can be significantly affected by the driving cycle. Therefore, the influence of five driving patterns on the fuel economy of a FCEV is investigated. Further prediction of life cycle emission is carried out by several hydrogen production pathways. The results indicate that the mileage of this FCEV for 1 complete charging can be extended by as much as 7% in fast shift driving mode with energy recovery of 30% during braking. The results also prove that hydrogen produced by natural gas in an on-site manner can reduce the lifecycle emission by more than 50%, comparing to that by Naphtha.

EVALUATION OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN STATE CAPITALS OF NORTH EASTERN NIGERIA

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to solid waste management (SWM) techniques being practiced in the North eastern region of Nigeria are unaccounted for as such these emissions cannot be monitored or controlled. This research estimated GHG emissions into the atmosphere from the current SWM technique practiced in the region, GHG emissions from two different waste management techniques – open burning and incineration was also simulated. The research found that incineration with electricity recovery is the most suitable SWM process therefore suggested that the authorities and other stakeholders in the region should give it serious consideration.

Estimate of greenhouse gas emissions during coal production

The paper discusses the categories of greenhouse gas emissions associated with coal mining enterprises activities. The features and quantitative assessment of greenhouse gas emissions are also considered on the example of a coal mining enterprise. Recommendations are provided for reducing greenhouse gas emissions at coal mining enterprises.

The estimation of greenhouse gas emission in leachate treatment plant and its carbon credit revenue

Landfilling disposal method has led to the more concern environmental issue around the world, which are greenhouse gas emissions. According to IPCC (2006), the waste sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which accounts for about 5% of the global greenhouse budget. This 5% is methane (CH4) emissions from the anaerobic decomposition of solid waste and carbon dioxide (CO2) from the decomposition of wastewater. Methane is one of the most important greenhouse gas (GHG) due to it has about 21–23 times global warming potential than CO2. The CH4 and N2O emissions released in leachate treatment systems are the second-largest sources of greenhouse gases. The study is aimed to estimate methane emissions in leachate treatment plant in Landfill Rimba Mas Perlis, Malaysia, and its carbon credit revenue. The CH4 emission from the leachate treatment plant was estimated by using the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) methodology AM0013 and its economic benefit was determined based on the Clean Development Mechanism. From the study, the greenhouse gas emission in a leachate treatment plant has contributes to a reduction in carbon emissions by 233.21 tonnes/yr which could attract the carbon credit of RM 8,162.35 based on RM35/tonnes of CO2. The results indicate the anthropogenic emission in the leachate treatment plant can bring direct economic benefits to the local.

Calculation of new enteric methane emission factors for small ruminants in western Kenya highlights the heterogeneity of smallholder production systems

Context African livestock play a critical role in food security and the wider economy, while accounting for >70% of African agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. Accurate estimates of greenhouse gas emissions from livestock are required for inventory purposes and to assess the efficacy of mitigation measures. While there is an increasing number of studies assessing methane (CH4) emissions of cattle, little attention has been paid to small ruminants (SR). Aims Enteric CH4 emissions were assessed from 1345 SR in three counties of western Kenya to develop more accurate emission factors (EF) for enteric CH4 from sheep and goats. Methods Using on-farm animal activity data, feed samples were also analysed to produce estimates of feed digestibility by season and region. The combined data were also used to estimate daily CH4 production by season, location and class of animal to produce new EF for annual enteric CH4 production of SR. Key results Mean dry-matter digestibility of the feed basket was in the range of 58–64%, depending on region and season (~10% greater than Tier I estimates). EF were similar for sheep (4.4 vs 5 kg CH4/year), but lower for goats (3.7 vs 5 kg CH4/year) than those given for SR in developing countries in Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Tier I) estimates. Conclusions Published estimates of EF for SR range widely across Africa. In smallholder systems in western Kenya, SR appear to be managed differently from cattle, and EF appear to be driven by different management considerations. Implications The findings highlighted the heterogenous nature of SR enteric emissions in East Africa, but also suggested that emissions from SR are quantitatively less important than other estimates suggest compared with cattle.

Estimation of Potential Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Solid Waste Disposal Sites According to the Climatic Context and Demographic Characteristics of Moroccan Regions

Estimation of Potential Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Solid Waste Disposal Sites According to the Climatic Context and Demographic Characteristics of Moroccan Regions

Inventory of greenhouse gas emissions and removals in Kaluga region

Climate change, namely global warming, remains at the forefront of the global environmental debate. At present, the international Paris Agreement, which aims to maintain the average temperature of the planet, is in force. The Russian Federation develops, annually updates, publishes and provides a national inventory of anthropogenic emissions and removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases. Each region shall annually conduct an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions and removals on its territory. According to international recommendations and methods for estimating greenhouse gas emissions and removals, the base year should be 1990, because then it becomes possible to carry out an analysis for a multi-year period. Different methodological bases and instructions of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources are used to estimate GHG emissions and removals. Inventory of greenhouse gas emissions and removals in Kaluga region for the period 1990, 2012-2017 was conducted by JSC "Research Institute of Atmosphere", and for 2018 – LLC Ecoanalitika. The amount of absorbed greenhouse gases was considered for such land categories as forest land, arable land, fodder land, lands of settlements and special purpose lands. GHG emissions were estimated by the sectors "Energy" (Section I), "Industrial Processes and Product Use" (PIP) (Section II), "Agriculture" (Section III) and "Waste" (Section IV). The calculation of greenhouse gas emissions may be of varying complexity. The higher the level of complexity, the more accurate the results. Presented data for 1990, 2012-2018 show that GHG emissions excluding absorption increased by 5 per cent, while emissions excluding absorption decreased by 38 per cent. The presented chart shows that the largest amount of emissions is in the Energy Sector. The results of the assessment of GHG emissions and removals should be used in planning the development of the annual inventory.

Smart city - a sustainable solution for enhancing energy efficiency and climate change mitigation in Saudi Arabia

Smart cities are considered as the future of urban habitation to accommodate increased population with better utilisation including power, water, and transportation. Yet, the benefits of smart cities are hard to measure especially as financial benefits and as climate change mitigation. This study investigates the potential of implementation of four smart cities in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The information and communications technology for the proposed cities is selected considering licensing and operation regulations, size of data, power consumption, and infrastructure cost. An appropriate methodology was developed to estimate the savings in power, water, and transportation sectors. A climate change mitigation analysis was conducted to estimate the co-benefits of the proposed smart cities focusing on electricity and water use reduction. Based on the analysis of the whole project cycle, the estimated greenhouse gas emission reduction will vary between 1.82 million tons and 6.06 million tons and the financial sensitivity analysis revealed that the range of savings will vary between $75,701,012 and $170,281,940.

Forest fires and carbon emission release in semi-arid regions of Indonesia: the evidence from medium resolution of satellite imagery

Forest fires are one of the causes of forest degradation and deforestation in Indonesia. Tropical savanna forests are one of the forest ecosystems found in the Indonesian region with a semi-arid climate type prone to drought and fire. Forest fires contribute to the release of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. The calculation method to estimate the burnt area is still an obstacle in calculating greenhouse gas emissions due to forest fires. This research aims to assess the burnt area in tropical savanna forest cover type using medium resolution satellite imagery data by utilizing the Normalized Burn Ratio index in four villages in East Sumba Regency and estimating greenhouse gas emissions these activities. The results showed that the NBR method does not produce an estimate of the burned area with a fair degree of accuracy because the characteristic of channel 7 (SWIR) is sensitive to vegetation moisture content. The savanna forest cover type is the type of land cover identified as the most dominant burned area. It produces the highest greenhouse gas emissions compared to other land cover types.

Smart city - a sustainable solution for enhancing energy efficiency and climate change mitigation in Saudi Arabia

Smart cities are considered as the future of urban habitation to accommodate increased population with better utilisation including power, water, and transportation. Yet, the benefits of smart cities are hard to measure especially as financial benefits and as climate change mitigation. This study investigates the potential of implementation of four smart cities in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The information and communications technology for the proposed cities is selected considering licensing and operation regulations, size of data, power consumption, and infrastructure cost. An appropriate methodology was developed to estimate the savings in power, water, and transportation sectors. A climate change mitigation analysis was conducted to estimate the co-benefits of the proposed smart cities focusing on electricity and water use reduction. Based on the analysis of the whole project cycle, the estimated greenhouse gas emission reduction will vary between 1.82 million tons and 6.06 million tons and the financial sensitivity analysis revealed that the range of savings will vary between $75,701,012 and $170,281,940.

2019 개선된 IPCC 가이드라인에 따른 농업분야 재배(경종)부문의 배출량 산정방법 개선연구

Accurate estimation of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is very important for mitigation action of climate change. The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) guidelines have been used for calculating emissions from the energy, industrial processes, agriculture, and LULUCF (Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry), and waste sectors in national country. Assessment of national GHG emissions from the agriculture sector has been conducted using the 2000 Good Practice Guidance and 2006 IPCC Guidelines. In 2019, refined guidelines, such as the 2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines were published. We conducted to this study to investigate application of the new guidelines which including calculation equation, emission factor, fractions and so on to compare of the old one.<BR> Some emission factors and fractions were changed to disaggregated ones considering climate zone and fertilizer type. Also, the default cultivation period of rice was provided for the fist time in the guideline and that was 112 days in the East Asia region. The nitrous oxide emission factor for flooded rice fields was changed from 0.003 to 0.005 kg N₂O-N (kg N)<SUP>-1</SUP> when applied to single and multiple drainage of rice paddies. In addition to fraction of N loss through leaching and runoff, fraction of synthetic fertilizer N and organic N fertilizer that volatilize as NH₃ and NO<SUB>x</SUB> were changed. When the changed parameters including emission factors, were applied to estimation of national GHG inventory of the agricultural sector, total emissions were reduced by 1,132 Gg CO₂-eq.

Estimation of greenhouse gas and odour emissions from a cold region municipal biological nutrient removal wastewater treatment plant

Seasonal temperature variations in cold regions worldwide lead to variable gas emissions from municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWTPs) due to changing wastewater temperatures in open-to-air treatment processes. The objective of this study was to determine the greenhouse gas (including carbon dioxide, CO2; methane, CH4; and nitrous oxide, N2O) and odour (including ammonia, NH3; and hydrogen sulphide, H2S) emission rate estimates (EREs) from the open-to-air processes of a biological nutrient removal (BNR) type MWTP in Saskatoon, SK, Canada. This MWTP experiences seasonal temperatures from −40 °C to 30 °C with the resultant wastewater temperatures considered herein of 13 °C and 17 °C being chosen based on monitoring data for winter and summer, respectively. Laboratory-scale reactors simulating anaerobic, anoxic, aerobic, and settling treatment processes were used to monitor gas EREs using wastewater samples taken from the analogous MWTP processes during the winter and summer seasons. Results indicated that the overall winter EREs for CO2, CH4, and N2O were 45,129 kg CO2/d, 21.9 kg CH4/d, and 3.20 kg N2O/d, respectively, while the H2S EREs were insignificant. The higher temperature for the summer samples resulted in increased EREs for CH4, N2O, and H2S EREs of 33.0 kg CH4/d, 3.87 kg N2O/d, and 2.29 kg H2S/d, respectively. However, the CO2 EREs were reduced to 37,794 kg CO2/d. Overall, the aerobic reactor was the dominant source of the GHG emissions for both seasons. In addition, studied changes in the aerobic reactor aeration rates (in reactor) and BNR treatment configurations (from site) further impacted the EREs.

Contribution of food loss to greenhouse gas assessment of high-value agricultural produce: California production, U.S. consumption

Food loss (wasted and spoiled food) increases the burden on resources and environmental impacts throughout the entire food chain. This study describes and deploys a model and identifies data sources for estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with food loss from farm production, delivery and refrigeration, retail sale, household consumption, and waste management in the United States using four California-grown high-value produce as case studies. The ratios of food wasted to food produced are 50%, 60%, 50%, and 64% for avocados, celery, lemons, and strawberries, respectively, and the differences are largely influenced by consumer-level and on-farm food loss. From the consumption perspective, this means, for example, that 1.8 units of strawberries are wasted for every unit consumed. The packaging material is a significant environmental offender, contributing, e.g. 52% to the total emissions (without food loss) for strawberries. End-of-life analysis of wasted food and packaging covers the common waste management practices: landfilling, composting, anaerobic digestion, incineration, and recycling. Uncertainties in the data are assessed through Monte Carlo simulation. With the consideration of food loss, the total GHG emissions from the entire life cycle of strawberries, celery, avocados, and lemons increase by 93%, 62%, 56%, and 53% to 0.26, 0.038, 0.061, and 0.058 kg CO2 eq. per one serving size, respectively. Emissions from the annually wasted strawberries, avocados, celery, and lemons in California amount to 76, 24, 12, and 12 000 tons of CO2 eq., respectively. Fourteen percent of the world’s population could have a serving of strawberries just from the annually wasted strawberries in California. However, wasteful consumer action can be even more significant. Emissions from a typical driving scenario to a store to purchase only one produce exceeds the emissions associated with all four produce combined. Reducing food waste during consumption and the environmental impacts of packaging should be prioritized.

Greenhouse gas emissions from termite mounds in a transition area between the Cerrado Savanna and the Atlantic Forest in Brazil

The contribution of termites to the global balance of greenhouse gases, which is aggravated by large seasonal variations in their emissions, remains unclear. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the influence of termite mounds on CH4, CO2 and N2O emissions and to analyze their diurnal variations over a 9-month (249-day) period in a transition area of the Cerrado Savanna and Atlantic Forest biomes in Brazil where the current land use was a non-managed pasture. We used transects to estimate greenhouse gas emissions across the study area. The results revealed that soils settled by termites emitted more CH4 than they consumed, exhibiting 113% higher CH4 emissions than soils without termites, which emitted an estimated 10.09 g of CH4 ha−1 day−1 on average. The wood-feeding Cornitermes sp., the most abundant species in the mounds area analyzed in the experiment, accounted for 83.12% and 83.09% of the CH4 and CO2 fluxes. Extrapolating our results to non-managed Brazilian pastures, CH4 emissions arising termite mounds could reach up to 6.25 Tg ha−1 yr−1. The results of this study reveal that tropical pastures in transition areas between Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes infested by termite mounds can greatly contribute to increased CH4 emissions and should be considered in the inventory of greenhouse gas emissions.

Comparison of indices for evaluating building green values based on greenhouse gas emission reductions

The rapid increase of the amount of impervious surfaces in urban areas has generated heat islands and other adverse environmental impacts that subsequently increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Local governments are now looking for an index to encourage building owners to increase green areas, including green roofs and green walls. Currently, several building green value (BGV) indices can be used to assess building greenness, including the green coverage ratio (GCR), biotope area factor (BAF), green factor (GF), and green plot ratio (GnPR). However, these indices use different sub-indexes and weights, such that the values they output vary significantly. To analyze their applicability, this study compares output values of the BGV indices and estimated GHG emission reductions for three typical buildings under three conditions: no green roof or green wall; a green roof; and a green roof and green walls. The GCR does not include green walls and thus cannot reflect reductions in GHG emissions from green walls. The BAF values are highly correlated to associated GHG emission reductions. The trend of GF values vs. associated GHG emission reductions is less consistent than that using the BAF method because the weights of GF are not consistent with associated thermal resistance improvements. The correlation between GnPR values and associated GHG emission reductions is the strongest among all BGV indices because the ratio of leaf area indexes for green roofs to that of green walls is close to the ratio of U-value reductions from green roofs and green walls.