Greenhouse Gas Calculation

1. Introduction

Background
In September 2009 the RSB convened a Greenhouse Gas Expert Group to advise its members on a strategy for the RSB to include a GHG methodology and threshold in the RSB Standard. The Greenhouse Gas Expert Group meets through teleconference calls is coordinated by Victoria Junquera, RSB Manager, Science and Technology. Please do not hesitate to contact the RSB Secretariat at info@rsb.org if you have any question or comment regarding GHG or the work of the Expert Group.

It was decided in the November 2009 Steering Board meeting that the RSB must accomplish the following goals with respect to Principle 3, Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

Develop RSB GHG lifecycle methodology based on, and starting from, the EMPA SQCB methodology, i.e.: identify required changes, additions, etc. to EMPA SCQB methodology.

Conduct lifecycle GHG calculations for approximately 10 standard biofuel pathways (i.e., using default values from Ecoinvent) plus diesel and gasoline, using the RSB methodology. The 10 biofuel pathways chosen are the most relevant ones from a current production perspective (“Study 1″)

For approximately 4 biofuel case studies (pilots), conduct lifecycle GHG calculations with actual data and assess the technical and economical feasibility of attaining 10/40/70% GHG lifecycle emission reductions of the biofuel (“Study 2″).

Status Update
All three goals were accomplished with the advice from the GHG EG by the end of May 2010. The RSB Secretariat submitted the following documents to the RSB Chambers and the RSB Steering Board at the end of May 2010: RSB GHG lifecycle methodology DRAFT Study 1 report Study 2 report These documents were discussed in the Chamber calls that took place between June 3-9. The documents will be discussed in the upcoming June 2010 Steering Board meeting, where the path forward on GHG emissions will be set. Thank you very much from the RSB Secretariat for your efforts this first half of 2010. We have obtained very valuable feedback and information from you and are extremely thankful for your participation in the conference calls and your dedication to the RSB. We sincerely hope to be able to continue to work with all of you in the second half of this year and continue on our path towards addressing this important issue in the RSB Standard.

2. Next GHG EG teleconference call

3. Documents circulated by RSB

4. GHG Archives

From June 2007 through July 2008 the RSB convened a GHG Working Group with participants from academia, industry, governments, NGOs and international organisations to develop guidelines for the calculation of GHG emissions during the life cycle of a biofuel.  During this time 7 working group teleconference calls were held, which made a number of recommendations to the RSB.   In May 2009, the RSB transitioned to a new membership-based governance system during which the GHG working group was dissolved.  Archived minutes these teleconference calls and the associated backgrounder documents can be found by following the links below, listed by principal discussion topics.