Carbon Calculations over the Life Cycyle of Industrial Activities • Home

Carbon Calculations over the Life Cycle of Industrial Activities (CCaLC)

A project funded by the Carbon Trust, EPSRC and NERC
under the 'Carbon Vision Industry' Programme

CCaLC Announcement
NEW: Demo version of the CCaLC Carbon Footprinting Tool avaialable to download free of charge now - click here for more information

Project duration: 2007-2010

Funding: £1m

Project leader: Professor Adisa Azapagic, The University of Manchester

Project partners: View full list of project partners

The main aim of this project is to develop a life cycle methodology and decision-support tools for calculating and reducing the carbon footprints of different industrial sectors along complete supply chains.

The main deliverables of the project are:
A general life cycle methodology and decision-support tools for: Calculating environmental and economic impacts of life-cycle carbon inventories, including 'carbon added' and 'value added' along the whole supply chains Optimising environmental and economic objectives to identify a range of optimum low-carbon options A standard data acquisition methodology and databases for use in carbon inventory calculations A software package for calculating carbon inventories for different supply chains Case studies to examine different business, political and economic scenarios for carbon management and reduction, and estimate the environmental and economic implications of low-carbon materials, products, processes and services.

The main deliverables of the project are:

A general life cycle methodology and decision-support tools for:
- Calculating environmental and economic impacts of life-cycle carbon inventories, including 'carbon added' and 'value added' along the whole supply chains
- Optimising environmental and economic objectives to identify a range of optimum low-carbon options
A standard data acquisition methodology and databases for use in carbon inventory calculations
A software package for calculating carbon inventories for different supply chains
Case studies to examine different business, political and economic scenarios for carbon management and reduction, and estimate the environmental and economic implications of low-carbon materials, products, processes and services.

METHODOLOGY

The project uses a whole systems approach to develop a life cycle methodology for integrated environmental and economic analysis of carbon intensity of different industrial systems. This involves both environmental and economic aspects of carbon footprints and embodied carbon, enabling estimation of 'carbon added' and 'valued added' at each stage of the supply chain.

A general LCA database and modelling framework are being developed for use by industry as well as by policy makers. Although the emphasis of the project is on carbon-equivalent estimations, the methodological developments are not limited to carbon alone but also enable estimations of other environmental impacts. This is particularly important when assessing different options to ensure that carbon inventory is not reduced at the expense of other environmental impacts.

The methodology for estimating the economic impacts along the supply chains entails assigning values to the flows of materials and energy along the supply chain, both as a result of investment and operating costs. This will enable the identification of low and high-value adding activities and processes and their relation to environmental impacts. In addition, the project investigates the options for, and the associated costs of, carbon mitigation measures. Such an insight can be particularly useful to those companies becoming involved in emissions trading.

The methodology will also incorporate suitable optimisation techniques to enable identification of optimum material, product and technological options that would lead to a low-carbon economy. To enable this, a software platform is being developed, allowing simple as well as sophisticated modelling and estimations, depending on the end-user needs and application.

CASE STUDIES

To support the development of a systematic approach and general methodology, four sectors and related supply chains have been chosen as 'test beds' for the development of practical tools: Chemicals and related products; Food & Drink; Bio-feedstocks; and Biofuels. The case studies are being developed in collaboration with industrial partners.

Chemicals and related products
This case study focuses on the carbon footprints of various chemicals and related products. The work also includes calculation of value added along the supply chain and comparisons with carbon added. The main emphasis is on identifying low-carbon options that could be implemented in this supply chain. The products studied include basic chemicals, polymers, paints and packaging.

Bio-Feedstocks
This case study investigates the use of various bio-feedstocks (e.g. cereals, sugar, woody crops, waste) to produce chemicals. One of the questions being addressed from the carbon footprint and value added points of view is whether biorefineries should be geared toward producing platform chemicals that are precursors to high value added chemicals, or to producing raw materials that could be a starting feedstock for existing refineries or chemical plants. The case study covers the whole supply chains as far as possible, from growing or obtaining the biomass through its processing to producing chemicals.

Bio-Feedstocks

This case study investigates the use of various bio-feedstocks (e.g. cereals, sugar, woody crops, waste) to produce chemicals. One of the questions being addressed from the carbon footprint and value added points of view is whether biorefineries should be geared toward producing platform chemicals that are precursors to high value added chemicals, or to producing raw materials that could be a starting feedstock for existing refineries or chemical plants. The case study covers the whole supply chains as far as possible, from growing or obtaining the biomass through its processing to producing chemicals.

Food and Drink
For this case study, a macro-scale analysis of food and drink systems in the UK is being undertaken to identify the carbon 'hot spots'. Subsequently, both 'marginal' and 'disruptive' options that could be introduced to reduce the carbon footprints in this supply chain will be identified and investigated in more detail. The supply chain includes agricultural activities, raw material processing, food and drink manufacture, packaging, storage (refrigeration) and waste management. A number of food and drink products are being considered within this supply chain.

Food and Drink

For this case study, a macro-scale analysis of food and drink systems in the UK is being undertaken to identify the carbon 'hot spots'. Subsequently, both 'marginal' and 'disruptive' options that could be introduced to reduce the carbon footprints in this supply chain will be identified and investigated in more detail. The supply chain includes agricultural activities, raw material processing, food and drink manufacture, packaging, storage (refrigeration) and waste management. A number of food and drink products are being considered within this supply chain.

Biofuels
This case study investigates the supply chains associated with both bio-diesel and bio-ethanol, including different feedstocks and production routes. The case study will also include consideration of advanced biofuels, such as bio-butanol, which has several processing and handling advantages over ethanol and which is expected to come to the market in the near future as a gasoline bio-component. The use of biofuels in the other three supply chains addressed here will also be investigated.

Biofuels

This case study investigates the supply chains associated with both bio-diesel and bio-ethanol, including different feedstocks and production routes. The case study will also include consideration of advanced biofuels, such as bio-butanol, which has several processing and handling advantages over ethanol and which is expected to come to the market in the near future as a gasoline bio-component. The use of biofuels in the other three supply chains addressed here will also be investigated.