Pre-publication: New predefined fuel pathways for biodiesel, bioethanol, and hydrogen from alkaline electrolysis and from steam methane reforming without carbon capture and storage

Date: July 27, 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this pre-publication is to present a preliminary version of three predefined fuel pathways that have been developed for: biodiesel, bioethanol, and hydrogen from alkaline electrolysis and from steam methane reforming (SMR) without carbon capture and storage (CCS). The predefined fuel pathways are a new feature that is planned to be included in the Fuel Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Model (the Model) for the next formal publication expected in June 2024.

This pre-publication is also intended to increase transparency regarding future changes to the Model and provide an opportunity for stakeholders to provide feedback.

Pre-publications are not to be used for compliance with the Clean Fuel Regulations, or other programs or regulations, unless otherwise specified.

The values presented in the pre-publications may differ from the values that will be included in the next official publication of the Model according to comments received and changes implemented. Consequently, the carbon intensities obtained from these values may differ depending on the version of the Model in which they are integrated and used.

Description

The predefined fuel pathways are based on the existing version of the fuel pathways but are pre-populated with parameters representative of technologies and processes used in Canada. They will give users access to a more transparent life cycle modelling (cradle-to-combustion) of low carbon intensity (CI) fuels produced in Canada. The predefined fuel pathways allow for easy calculation of a CI representative of a Canadian context for a given fuel pathway without specific facility or supply chain data. They can fulfill different needs, such as policy analysis, environmental performance optimization and benchmarking of fuels, scientific research, or be used as a set of default values by Government of Canada programs requiring a CI assessment.

The predefined fuel pathways are modifiable, allowing the user to replace the predefined parameters with the values of their choice. This work is guided through the use of formatted spreadsheets (data workbooks) that provide the calculation procedures for the modelling of the various life cycle stages of the fuel pathways, including different options for the allocation approach. The data workbooks also provide a description of data sources and assumptions for the predefined parameters determined by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Users can refer to the data workbooks for instructions on how to modify the predefined fuel pathways in the Model.

The predefined fuel pathways to be included in the next formal publication of the Model are presented in Annex A of this document:

• Predefined biodiesel pathway,
• Predefined bioethanol pathway, and
• Predefined hydrogen pathway from alkaline electrolysis and from steam methane reforming without carbon capture and storage

The predefined fuel pathways module and data workbooks can be downloaded from the folder “2023.07 New predefined fuel pathways for biodiesel, bioethanol, and hydrogen from alkaline electrolysis and from steam methane reforming without carbon capture and storage” of the ECCC Data Catalogue. Users can calculate the CI of the predefined fuel pathways by uploading a module into openLCA. Instructions on how to access the module and upload it into the Model Database can be found below.

Considerations

The development of predefined fuel pathways was done in accordance with the general principles and the goal and scope described in chapters 1 and 2 of the Fuel LCA Model Methodology (the Methodology), including modelling choices for system boundaries, excluded processes, and cut-off criteria. For co-products allocation, the predefined fuel pathways offer users more options than what is currently described in the Methodology, as data workbooks can be used to test allocation approaches not previously available. 

Regarding data quality requirements (as described in section 2.4 of the Methodology), time and effort were invested by ECCC to collect data corresponding to the “high data quality” level that requires regionally specific and recent data, based on measurements, published by official and verified sources, and collected from more than 50% of sites in the region under study. When this level of quality was not achievable, data corresponding to the “acceptable data quality” level was used. This data was based on measurements published in scientific publications or from industry organizations. As a last resort, low level quality data was used for parameters with smaller contributions. This was based on expert estimates from qualified individuals or derived from recognized tools (e.g., GHGenius and GREET models). In all cases, ECCC has tried to consider the most recent and reliable sources of data when developing the predefined fuel pathways. ECCC is planning to add a new chapter to the next version of the Methodology to provide additional information about the assumptions, data sources, and calculations procedures that were used in the development of the predefined fuel pathways.

The predefined fuel pathways could be pre-published again before the next formal update of the Model to include additional options and features, such as carbon capture and storage and system expansion (i.e., avoid product allocation).

In order to ensure consistency with the existing fuel pathways in the Model and to facilitate the work for users already familiar with these pathways, the predefined fuel pathways use the same structure and modelling approach. However, the data workbooks should not be used by users to model their fuel pathways under the Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR).

For more information on the CI determination of fuels and energy sources under the CFR, please consult the Clean Fuel Regulations website or reach out to the CFR team at cfsncp@ec.gc.ca

Instructions on how to upload the module into openLCA

The module, available in the folder "2023.07 New predefined fuel pathways for biodiesel, bioethanol, and hydrogen from alkaline electrolysis and from steam methane reforming without carbon capture and storage" of the ECCC Data Catalogue, can be imported into the Model Database. To import the module into the Model Database, please refer to Annex B.

How to submit comments on this pre-publication

Stakeholders are invited to review this pre-publication and provide comments to ECCC within 30 days following the pre-publication at modeleacvcarburant-fuellcamodel@ec.gc.ca.

Please indicate the following in the subject line:  Comments - Pre-publication Predefined Fuel Pathways

Comments submitted will be considered for the development of the next formal version of the Model.

Annex A – Description of the predefined fuel pathways

Predefined biodiesel pathway

The data workbook for the predefined biodiesel pathway is available in the folder "2023.07 New predefined fuel pathways for biodiesel, bioethanol, and hydrogen from alkaline electrolysis and from steam methane reforming without carbon capture and storage" of the ECCC Data Catalogue.

The data workbook and the database of the predefined biodiesel pathway provide details on the calculation procedures, the methodology and the data sources that ECCC used to develop this pathway.

The predefined biodiesel pathway covers feedstock production and transportation, biodiesel production, distribution, and combustion of 1 MJ (High Heating Value (HHV)) of biodiesel. The predefined pathway assumes that only pure biodiesel is produced, distributed, and combusted. However, the percentage of diesel by volume in the final fuel mixture can be set by the user at the fuel distribution stage to model different blends, such as B5 (5% V/V) or B20 (20% V/V).

Biodiesel can be produced from the following feedstocks: canola, camelina, soybean, animal fats, and yellow grease. The data workbook includes two different tabs to distinguish between the biodiesel produced from oilseeds (canola, camelina and soybean) and from other feedstocks (animal fats and yellow grease). Data for oil extraction and other feedstocks production is taken from scientific or industry association publications. Data for biodiesel production is based on Canadian production data from the Complementary Environmental Performance Reports (CEPR) that has been compiled by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) as part of NRCan's ecoENERGY for Biofuels Program. The CEPR data represents averages from the years 2009 to 2017. Users can modify the modelling of several life cycle stages, including: the oil and animal fats extraction process, the main inputs and outputs of the biodiesel production plant, and the distribution scenario of the final fuel. Users can also allocate the emissions between the fuel or feedstock and the co-products based on either energy or mass allocation. The biodiesel distribution scenario assumes transport of the fuel by truck and train with the default distance assumptions used in the Model. The combustion emissions of carbon dioxide and methane associated with the biodiesel portion of the fuel are considered biogenic, while the emissions from the diesel portion are accounted as fossil.

Predefined bioethanol pathway

The data workbook for the predefined bioethanol pathway is available in the folder "2023.07 New predefined fuel pathways for biodiesel, bioethanol, and hydrogen from alkaline electrolysis and from steam methane reforming without carbon capture and storage" of the ECCC Data Catalogue.

The data workbook and the database of the predefined bioethanol pathway provide details on the calculation procedures, the methodology, and the data sources that ECCC used to develop these pathways.

The predefined bioethanol pathway covers feedstock production and transportation, bioethanol production, distribution, and combustion of 1 MJ (HHV) of denatured bioethanol (blended with gasoline (1.5%V/V)). The predefined pathway assumes that only denatured bioethanol is produced, distributed, and combusted, but the percentage of gasoline by volume in the final fuel mixture can be set by the user at the fuel distribution stage to model different blends, such as E10, E15 or E85.

Bioethanol can be produced from the following feedstocks: corn, wheat durum, and wheat non-durum. Users can modify the modelling of several life cycle stages, including the transport of grain, the main inputs and outputs at the bioethanol production plant, and the distribution scenario of the finished fuel. The modelling of bioethanol production is based on Canadian production data from the CEPR that has been compiled by NRCan as part of NRCan's ecoENERGY for Biofuels Program. The CEPR data represents averages from the years 2009 to 2017 and is representative of the dry milling process of grains. At the bioethanol plant, users can allocate the emissions between the fuel and the co-products based on either energy or mass allocation. The bioethanol distribution scenario assumes transport of the fuel by truck and train with the default distance assumptions used in the Model. Combustion emissions of carbon dioxide and methane associated with the bioethanol portion of the fuel are considered biogenic, while the emissions from the gasoline portion are accounted as fossil.

Predefined hydrogen pathway from alkaline electrolysis and from steam methane reforming without carbon capture and storage

The data workbook for the hydrogen predefined pathway is available in the folder "2023.07 New predefined fuel pathways for biodiesel, bioethanol, and hydrogen from alkaline electrolysis and from steam methane reforming without carbon capture and storage" of the ECCC Data Catalogue.

The data workbook and the database of the predefined hydrogen pathway provide details on calculation procedures, the methodology and the data sources that ECCC used to develop the modelling of hydrogen from alkaline electrolysis and from SMR without CCS.

The predefined hydrogen pathway covers feedstock production and transportation, hydrogen production, distribution, and combustion of 1 MJ (HHV) of hydrogen.

The data workbook includes two different tabs to distinguish between two production technologies: hydrogen production from electrolysis using an alkaline process and hydrogen production from SMR using fossil-based natural gas.

Data for hydrogen production from alkaline electrolysis and SMR is taken from technical publications from research centres. Users can modify the modelling of several life cycle stages, including the main inputs and outputs of the hydrogen production plant, the mix of low carbon electricity used in the electrolysis process, and the distribution scenario of the finished fuel. The predefined pathway assumes that the hydrogen is liquefied after production, but compression, transport, and distribution of gaseous hydrogen can be also modelled by the user. Predefined parameters for hydrogen liquefaction and dispensing are taken from scientific and technical publications. The hydrogen distribution scenario assumes transport of the fuel by truck only with the default distance assumption used in the Model. The combustion emissions for the distributed hydrogen are equal to zero.

Annex B – Instructions on how to import the module into the Model Database in openLCA

The following steps describe the process to incorporate the module into the Model database in openLCA. The module will incorporate the predefined fuel pathways in the Model Database. Before following the module import steps, ensure that the Model Database is open (double click on the database).

To import the Model Database in openLCA, please consult chapter 3 of the Fuel LCA Model User Manual.

 Steps to import the module in the Model Database

1. Right-click the opened Model Database, and click “Import”
2. Select the file type in the import wizard: In the “Other” folder, select “Linked Data (JSON-LD)”; Press Next
3. Click the “Browse” button to select the folder where the module is saved
   1. Note: when the dialog box opens, you must select the folder where the module is saved. The module itself will not show up in this window
   2. Click “Select Folder” once you select the folder where the module is saved
4. In the openLCA import dialog box, select the zip file of the module, which will appear in the box on the right side of the window
   1. Click “Next”
5. Select “Overwrite all existing data sets”
6. Click “Finish”