Case Study on

Accuracy of GHG
Accurate GHG impacts
Calculation.
Product: Bio-Ethanol

Take control of environmental impacts calculations Qualitatively

Sunil Kumar, HEAD, SIPL Private Limited

Sunil Kumar, Head, SIPL Pvt Ltd
~ 60% of GHG impacts are attributed to
Electricity & Transportation. This is true
across verticals. The figure may go up to
80% for certain products.
Modelling blocks of Bio-Ethanol Production Process
Background Data
Site Data
How sugarcane is
produced & transported

Sugarcane
How Fertilizer is
produced & transported
Water, Fertilizer
Total GHG
How chemicals/water Bio- load
are produced &
Chemicals Ethanol depends on
transported both these
blocks
How electricity is
produced & distributed
Electricity

How diesel is produced

& transported
Transport
 Influencers to accuracy of GHG impacts
1. Has GHG process of Bio-ethanol manufacturing been
modelled on site data?

2. Has a separate process for electricity production been

created?

3. Has a separate process for Diesel/ Chemicals/ water

production been created?
4. Has a separate process for sugarcane/molasses etc..
production been created?
Accuracy/ Robustness of LCA study has been compromised if
answer to any one of the above is ‘NO’ and
Accuracy is also compromised when European / US processes
available in the software used to model LCA
Accuracy / Robustness of GHG Study
Compromised

or in other words

GREENWASHING has been done

How??
 GHG impact of 1kWh of electricity: Indian Data vs European & US

Electricity, high voltage {US}| market group for | Alloc Def, U 0.65

Electricity, high voltage {RER}| market group for | Alloc Def, U 0.47

Electricity, high voltage {India}| Market | Alloc Def, U 0.90

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Kg CO2 equiv.

Difference in impacts is as high as ~ 50%

 GHG impact of 1Kg of diesel: Indian Data vs European & US

Diesel, low-sulfur {CH}| production | Alloc Def, U 0.41

Diesel, low-sulfur {RoW}| production | Alloc Def, U 0.59

Diesel, at refinery/ India U 0.50

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

Kg CO2 equiv.

Difference in impacts is as high as ~ 20%

 The difference occurs because
• Electricity production mix is
different
• Transportation distance and
means are different
• Input materials are different
• Production processes have
Technological differences …………
 So Advisable to
Keep a tab on data on which your LCA/GHG is being
modelled and major influencers like Electricity and
Transportation Processes
Because
Greenwashing, in this era, when Consumers
have access to quality information, is risky. And
when they eventually figure out that you are
involved in greenwashing, the damage to the
business reputation is far worse than the short-
term gain of being environmentally friendly.
How can we help you?

Call: +91 9911921666

Email: sunil@sipl-sustainability.com