CLIMATE-KIC GHG MITIGATION ASSESSMENT :
“SME” PROJECT
Francisco Koch1, Jon Hughes2 and Martin Wattenbach3
1South Pole Advisory Technoparkstrasse 1 | 8005 Zurich | Switzerland2National Physical Laboratory | Hampton Rd | Teddington | Middlesex | UK | TW11 0LW3Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, GFZ German Research Centre For Geosciences,Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
Step 6
Leakage assessment
Step 5Calculate the estimated GHG Mitigation Impact
Step 4Describe the baseline scenario
Step 3Define the project unit and project boundary used for the assessment
Step 2.Indicate the main GHG sources that will be reduced by the project
Step 1Describe how the proposed project reduces GHG emissions (GHG mitigation story)
Inno
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Pathfinder projects
Step 1 and 2 only
GHG Mitigation Impact Assessment - stepwise procedure
• Defining a project type ?1. What does the KIC project result in?
• A new technology (equipment)?• A less carbon intensive product or produce (e.g.. food )?• A decision making tool (e.g. a low carbon urban planning tool)?• A low carbon financial solution that deploys existing Low C Technologies?
Project type
KIC PROJECTOutcome
New Technology
Low Carbon product
Low -C decision making tools
Deployment of Existisng Low C Technologies
No emissions reductions
Emissions reductions
1. ECF is a Berlin based company using a unique combination of Aquaculture and Hydroponics in an urban environment
2. Allows for an annual production 24 t of fish and 35 t vegtables on just 2000 m²
Case Study: Efficient City Farming
*
* source: http://www.tomatenfisch.igb-berlin.de/
Impact Assessment Framework
Step 1 + Step 2: Mitigation Approach of ECF + Targeted GHG
Reducing transport emissions (including chilled transport of fish by plain or ship and last mile by customer) CO2
Reducing emissions due to reduced fertilizer demand CO2, N2O Reducing emissions linked to pesticides as well fungicides by using
beneficial organisms CO2
Reducing emissions linked to grey water treatment by large scale water recycling CO2, N2O, CH4
Reducing electricity and heat related emissions by using a CHP system (~ 56 % lower emissions) CO2
Reducing on farm emissions by using CHP and fish CO2 emissions as greenhouse fertilizer CO2
Impact Assessment Framework
Step 3: System boundary for assessment
1. Tomatoes: The full life cycle of the production of tomatoes (cradle to grave).
2. Fish: Only emissions that are linked to transportation.
Impact Assessment Framework
Step 4: Baseline scenario:
1. Tomatoes:
Tomato demand in Berlin is met by imports from European Countries as well as domestic production in Germany. Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Italy as well as Germany produce 90 % of the tomatoes consumed in Berlin. Non-European imports are neglected.
2. Fish:
Consumed perch in Berlin is imported from Tanzania by plane. About 5 % of fish consumed in Germany is transported by plane with Nile perch being the most important (7182 t yr-1).
Impact Assessment Framework Application
Step 5: GHG mitigation potential assessment
1. Tomato production scenario:Growing tomato for Berlin consumers on 750 m² of an
ECF greenhouse and building a new farm every second year.
Emissions linked to the transportation and production of tomatoes. If we only consider tomatoes grown during the warm season ECF tomatoes produce 83 % and 77 % less emissions than tomatoes from Spain and Italy, respectively.
Impact Assessment Framework Application
Step 5: GHG mitigation potential assessment
2. Fish production scenario:Replacing Nile Perch produced in Tanzania by ECF fish.
Air-transport emissions of the most important fish impoters (only air transport).
Impact Assessment Framework Application
Step 5: GHG mitigation potential assessment
1. Replacing 16.5 t summer tomatoes by ECF crops shows a great potential for mitigating carbon dioxide emissions
2. Reducing Spanish tomato consumption shows the greatest potential for reducing CO2 emissions
3. Annual ECF tomato yield may save between 0.68 t CO2eq. and 7.14 t CO2eq.
Impact Assessment Framework Application
Step 6: Leakage assessment
Uncertainties: CO2 emissions for tomato production in Central European and South
European greenhouses are based on an estimate of Torrellas et al., 2013
This study excludes saved emissions due to home delivery This study excludes emission reduction due to reduced grey water This study assumes that the entire greenhouse area is used for tomato
production This study assumes that only fish from Tanzania is replaced by ECF fish Plane transport emissions do not include cooling of fish
Impact Assessment Framework Application
Step 7: Conclusions
Replacing fish from Tanzania with ECF fish has a great potential for reducing emissions linked to the consumption of Nile perch.
Growing tomato during warm seasons and using more adequate crops for could season is leading to lower CO2 emissions as well. However savings are much lower if compared to fish.
A more thorough life cycle analysis is required for a full impact assessment due to the complexity of the ECF system.
References: Tomato production:
- Torrellas, M., Antón, A., Montero, J.I., 2013. An environmental impact calculator for greenhouse production systems. J. Environ. Manage. 118, 186–195.
- BLE, 2013. 20,6 kg pro Kopf verzehrt: Tomaten sind der Deutschen liebstes Gemüse. Available at: http://www.ble.de/DE/08_Service/03_Pressemitteilungen/2013/130709_Tomate.html
- Theurl, M.C., 2008. CO2-Bilanz der Tomatenproduktion: Analyse acht verschiedener Produktionssysteme in Österreich, Spanien und Italien.
Fisch production:- Keller, 2010. Flugimporte von Lebensmitteln und Blumen nach Deutschland.
Available at: http://www.vzhh.de/docs/100187/Studie%20Flugimporte_Deutschland%202010.pdf
- Herminghaus. 2010. CO2-Emissionen beim Transport (Flugzeug, LKW, Bahn, Schiff). Available at: http://www.co2-emissionen-vergleichen.de/Lebensmittel/Transport/CO2-Transport-Lebensmittel.html
Impact Assessment Framework Application