Alternative fuels, such as ethanol, biodeisel, and other biofuels, usually have a lower carbon intensity than fossil fuels. Carbon intensity is the total life cycle greenhouse gas emissions from the production, transport, storage, dispensing and use of a fuel. It is expressed as the amount of carbon per unit energy (technically, grams of CO2 equivalent per megajoule of fuel energy or CO2e/MJ). For example, gasoline has a carbon intensity value of 95.86 gCO2e/MJ, while the values for biodiesel from waste oil and Brazilian sugarcane ethanol are 15.84 gCO2e/MJ and 27.4 gCO2e/MJ, respectively.
Life cycle analysis of alternative transportation fuels is becoming increasingly important, mostly due to new regulations designed to lower the greenhouse gas impact of transportation. California and the European Union have new legislation in place that aims to increase the percentage of low carbon fuels, and we expect federal legislation to follow.
In California, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard is a regulation that will reduce the life cycle carbon intensity of transportation fuel by 10% by 2020. The purpose of the regulation is to incentivize the development of lower carbon fuel for California’s transportation system. Any fuel with 10% less carbon than conventional transportation fuel can generate credits, which must be purchased by fuel producers that are non-compliant with the LCFS.
EcoShift has specialized LCA consulting services that focus on life cycle analysis of alternative fuels. Since EcoShift is familiar with the various design improvements in the acquisition and processing of fuels, and follows the ISO 14040 life cycle analysis guidelines, we can help you analyze the carbon intensity of your fuel and identify areas to improve the physical pathway used to produce your biofuel. If your company is developing new alternative fuels for which default values have not been computed, you will be required to demonstrate that these fuels reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. Our life cycle analysis services can help you analyze the carbon intensity of your fuel manufacturing process. See our Life Cycle Analysis for Biofuels services brochure for more information.
