Getting started with basic emissions measurement for CBAM reporting
For CBAM reporting, you need to measure and report both direct and indirect emissions associated with your production processes.
Here's a breakdown of what to focus on and how to start:
1. Types of emissions to measure:
- Direct emissions:
- CO2 emissions from fuel combustion
- Process emissions (e.g., CO2 released during chemical reactions in production)
- Any other greenhouse gases directly emitted (e.g., N2O, PFCs if applicable)
- Indirect emissions:
- Primarily from electricity consumption
2. Where to start?
Identify emission sources:
- List all fuel-consuming equipment (e.g., boilers, furnaces)
- Identify processes that emit CO2 (e.g., calcination in cement production)
- Note all electricity-consuming equipment
- Fuel consumption (e.g., natural gas, coal, oil) in physical units or energy units
- Production volumes for each CBAM good
- Electricity consumption in kWh or MWh
3. Basic calculation approach:
For fuel combustion: Emissions = Fuel amount × Emission factor (Emission factors are available from sources like the IPCC or national databases)
For process emissions: Emissions = Production amount × Emission factor (Emission factors are specific to each production process)
For electricity: Indirect emissions = Electricity consumed × Grid emission factor (Grid emission factors are usually available from your electricity provider or national authority)
4. Data to collect:
- Monthly or annual fuel consumption by fuel type
- Monthly or annual electricity consumption
- Production volumes for each product type
- Raw material inputs for process emissions calculations
- Any existing emissions data from environmental reports or permits
5. Next steps:
- Develop a simple spreadsheet to track this data monthly
- Use the collected data to fill out the CBAM template
- Document your calculation methods and data sources
- Consider investing in energy management software for more accurate tracking e) As you become more familiar with the process, look into more advanced measurement methods or professional assistance
Remember, it's okay to start with estimates based on your best available data. The important thing is to begin the process and improve your data collection and calculation methods over time.
If you're unsure about specific calculations, the CBAM guidance documents provide detailed methodologies for each sector. Alternatively, reach out to Emitwise as we can help!