Does anyone have experience in reporting biogenic emissions section of the SBTi’s corporate target submission form. We’ve helped a client complete this section but SBTi keep coming back asking additional questions. We have put the biogenic emissions in as exclusions in table 7.1 and 7.2 but SBTi now want us to include them despite these being ‘out of scope’ under GHGP.
I’m struggling to see why you would move to biofuels if you cannot benefit from the reduced combustion emissions from these fuels. Any help/advice appreciated
Hi Paul,
I calculated PCF based (and later verified) on GHG P and ISO 14067 for a biofuel. This required accounting for both carbon removals during biomass growth and biogenic emissions. Depending on the type and quantity of emitted GHGs (e.g., low CH₄, etc.), these largely balance out each other. I later blanced removal and biogenic emissions for CCF seperately and took “net CCF” for decarbonization pathway. Then biofuels can be used.
BR
Hi Paul!
It’s important to distinguish between 2 separate things here:
“Out of Scope” Emissions from Biofuels according to GHGP
You will always need to report “in scope” and “out of scope” emissions from biofuels separately, according to GHGP.
“In Scope” biofuel emissions include only N2O and CH4.
“Out of Scope” biofuel emissions include only the biogenic carbon (CO2) emissions from burning of biofuels.
This is important because it is considered that the “out of scope” portion of the CO" is equal to carbon previously sequestered by the very same plant. Hence the burning of biofuels will be “CO2-neutral”. The only emissions that are left, are those of N2O and CH4.
Out of scope (i.e. biogenic CO2) emissions from biofuels are always reported separately in your CCF and will not be included in your total balance (hence “out of scope”).
Gross and Net biofuel emissions according to SBTi
During your SBT submission, you will also need to report both, “out of scope” and “in scope” emissions from biofuels (e.g. in table 7.1). This is to account for all emissions.
If you would like to exclude these emissions from your target, this would need to be included in table 9.1, where you define the minimum boundary of your target. Here, you can exclude a portion (%) of your Scope 1 emissions (e.g. those that come from biofuels).
However, I would not advise to exclude those - the use of biofuels is still a very good reduction measure and you can indeed benefit from the reduced combustion emissions, since the “out of scope” (i.e. CO2) part will always be equalled out with the removals, hence your net CO2 emissions will be “0” from biofuels, and you’re only left with the “in scope” part of CH4 and N2O, which is much lower than those of e.g. natural gas combustion.
Hope this was helpful!
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Thanks for this reply Luca. Complete and I fully agree with it.
Best,
Steven