Quantification protocol for direct reductions in greenhouse gas emissions arising from changes in forest harvesting practices : specified gas emitters regulation

2011·5.8 MB·English

by  Alberta. Alberta Environment

DirectReductionsfromForestHarvestPracticeChanges June2011
Disclaimer:
Theinformationprovidedinthis documentisintendedasguidance onlyandis subjecttoperiodic
revisions. Thisdocumentisnotasubstituteforthelaw. PleaseconsulttheSpecifiedGasEmitters
Regulation andapplicablelegislationforallpurposes ofinterpretingandapplyingthelaw. Inthe
eventthatthereisadiscrepancybetweenthisdocumentandtheSpecifiedGasEmitters
Regulation orotherlegislation,theSpecifiedGasEmittersRegulation andotherlegislation
prevail.
All QuantificationProtocols approvedundertheSpecifiedGasEmittersRegulation aresubjectto
periodicreviewasdeemednecessarybytheDepartment, andwillbere-examinedataminimum
ofevery5 yearsfromtheoriginalpublicationdatetoensuremethodologies andsciencecontinue
toreflectbest-availableknowledgeandbestpractices. Anyupdatestoprotocolsoccurringas a
resultofthe 5-yearand/orotherreviewsthatarenotduetolegalrequirementswill applyatthe
endofthefirstcreditdurationperiodforapplicableprojectextensionsandforallnewprojects
comingforward.
Where a project condition differs from approved government methodologies, or the project
developer is unclear on protocol interpretation relative to their specific project, the project
developer must contact Alberta Environmentto discuss an appropriate interpretation and receive
approval foranymethodologychangespriortoundertakingtheproject.
Anycomments, questions, orsuggestionsregardingthecontentofthisdocumentmaybedirected
to:
AlbertaEnvironment
Climate Change Secretariat
12'^^Floor, 10025- 106 Street
Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 1G4
E-mail: [email protected]
Date ofPublication:
ISBN: 978-0-7785-9532-8 (Printed)
ISBN: 978-0-7785-9533-5 (On-line)
Copyright inthispublication, regardless offormat, belongsto HerMajestythe Queenin
right ofthe Province ofAlberta. Reproduction ofthis publication, inwhole or inpart,
regardless ofpurpose, requires the priorwrittenpermission ofAlbertaEnvironment.
© HerMajesty the Queen inrightofthe Province ofAlberta, 2011
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DirectReductionsfromForestHarvestPracticeChanges June201
Table ofContents
1.0 OffsetProjectDescription 7
1.1 Protocol Scope 9
1.2 Protocol Applicability 11
1.3 Protocol Flexibility 12
1.4 Glossary ofTerms 13
2.0 Baseline Condition 15
2.1 IdentificationofBaseline Sources and Sinks 19
3.0 ProjectCondition 23
3.1 IdentificationofProject Sources and Sinks 29
4.0 Quantification 33
4. QuantificationMethodology 40
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4.2 Baseline ConditionQuantification 41
4.3 In-BlockProjectConditionQuantification 46
4.4 SatelliteYardProjectConditionQuantification 48
4.5 Mill YardProjectCondition Quantification 50
5.0 DataManagement 59
5.1 ProjectDocumentation 59
5.2 RecordKeeping 60
5.3 QualityAssurance/Quality Control Considerations 61
5.4 Liability 61
6.0 References 62
AppendixA-Example ofBaseline andProjectConditionHarvests 63
AppendixB -QuantificationforFlexibilityMechanisms 67
Appendix C-IncreasedTree UtilizationDescription 79
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DirectReductionsfromForestHarvestPracticeChanges June2011
List ofTables
Table 1: Components oftheBaseline Condition 10
Table 2: RelevantGreenhouse Gases 11
Table 3: Baseline Sources and Sinks 21
Table 4: ProjectCondition Sources and Sinks 31
Table 5a: ComparisonofSources/Sinks. Baseline Condition 34
Table 5b: Comparison ofSources/Sinks. In-blockProjectCondition 35
Table 5c: ComparisonofSources/Sinks. Satellite yardProjectCondition 36
Table 5d: ComparisonofSources/Sinks. MillyardProject Condition 38
Table 6: QuantificationMethodology 52
Table Al: QuantificationMethodology forFlexibilityMechanism 77
List ofFigures
Figure 1. Baseline andProjectConditionprocess flows 8
Figure 2: ProcessFlowDiagram fortheBaseline Condition 18
Figure 3: Baseline Sources and Sinks 20
Figure 4a: ProcessFlowDiagramforthe in-blockProject Condition 25
Figure 4b: ProcessFlowDiagram forthe satelliteyardProjectCondition 26
Figure 4c: Process FlowDiagramforthe millyardProjectCondition 27
Figure 5: Project Conditions Sources and Sinks 30
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DirectReductionsfromForestHarvestPracticeChanges June 2011
Alberta EnvironmentRelated Publications
Climate Change andEmissions ManagementAct
SpecifiedGasEmitters Regulation
SpecifiedGasReportingRegulation
Alberta’s 2008 Climate Change Strategy
Technical Guidance forCompletingAnnual Compliance Reports
Technical Guidance forCompletingBaseline Emissions IntensityApplications
Additional Guidance forCo-generationFacilities
Technical Guidance forLandfill Operators
Technical Guidance forOffsetProjectDevelopers
Technical Guidance forOffsetProtocol Developers
QuantificationProtocols (http://environment.alberta.ca/02275.html)
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DirectReductionsfromForestHarvestPracticeChanges June201
1.0 Offset Project Description
This quantificationprotocol describestheprocess forquantifying annual greenhouse gas
emissionreductions/removals arising fromachange in forestharvestingpractice from
fulltreeharvestingwithtree lengthhauling andchipping in awoodroom atthe mill to
chippingusingportable chippers. Emissionsreductions are achievedby improving
harvestandtransportationefficiency aswell asreducing the amount ofharvest debris
disposal when comparedtothebaseline condition (AppendixA).
Portable chippingtechnologymaybe deployedinthree locations: in-block, at satellite
yards, oratthe mill. Allportable chipping applications mustbe tracked inthe project
condition, but only in-blockchippingwillresultinareduction in greenhouse gas
emissions. Use ofportable chippingtechnologyin a satelliteyard oratthe mill does not
resultinincreasedharvestefficiencyorreductions inharvestdebris disposal comparedto
thebaseline condition.
Figure 1 belowshows aprocess flowdiagram forthebaseline andthreeproject
conditionsbeing quantifiedinthisprotocol.
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DirectReductionsfromForestHarvestPracticeChanges June2011
B1/P1 B2/P2W B3/P3Open
Harvest A. Cutblockan4, AccessandRoad ProjectCondition
Planning RoadLayout Building (SatelliteYard)
B4/P4Transport PI9WholeTree
Harvesting
Transport
B23/P23Fuel J Equipment
extractionand B24/P24'-'^^^.. P20WholeTree
TransportofFuel
processing HandlingSatellite
B5/P5TreeFalling Yard
P21 SatelliteYard
cleanup
ProjectCondition B6/P6WholeTree
(In-Block) Skidding
PI3Chipping
(SatelliteYard) Incidentalor
Pi3Chipping salvaged
(in-block) B9/P9Debris B7/P7Processor wood
Disposal Delimber
P11 MillFurnish
I T Transport
(Chips)
P18Debris B10/P10Site B8/P8WholeTree
j|
ReturntoBlock i] Reclamation Loading
ProjectCondition
(MillYard)
P11TrMailnlspFourrntish’ GBe1n5e/rPa1t5e FurBn1i1s/hPT1r1anMsilplort
(Chips) electricity (WholeTree) PI2WholeTree
fromhogfuer HandlingatMill
B12/P12Whole
B16/P16Process TreeHandlingat
HogFuel Mill PI3Chipping
(MillYard)
B17/P17
B13Chipping
TransportHog (woodroom) P22Chiphandling
FueltoMill (MillYard)
B14/P14Millyard
cleanup
*Linkagetobiomasstoenergyprotocol
SameasChanged Differswith Uniqueto Uniqueto
Practice Practice BaselineCondition ChangedPractice
Figure 1. BaselineandProjectCondition process flows.ProjectCondition process flow
depends on thelocation ofthe changed harvestpractice(in-block,satelliteyard, millyard).
Wood is obtainedfrom a controlledharvestorfrom uncontrolledsources (incidentalor
salvagedwood).
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DirectReductionsfromForestHarvestPracticeChanges June2011
1.1 Protocol Scope
Thisprotocol quantifies directreductions ingreenhouse gas emissions associated with
reducedenergy consumptionneededto supply annual mill furnish, andreductions in
harvestdebris disposal. This includes allharvests withinthe planning unit (Forest
ManagementAgreement (FMA) area) and scheduledharvests onprivate lands and all
incidental mill furnishincluding salvage wood^ suppliedby others (e.g., softwood quota
holders andindustrial oil andgas development) operating withintheplanning area. Mill
furnishtransportation andcleanup emissions are also within scope. Incidental woodthat
is suppliedforchippingresulting fromupstream activities, including accessroadbuilding
andharvestingbythirdparties operatingwithinthe forestmanagement area, are related
butare outsidethe scope ofthisprotocol. Harvestingthat is outside the scope would
includeharvest ofnontarget species, and/orincidentalharvest oftarget species where
theyare aminorcomponentofthe stand. However, oncewoodistransportedto the
satellite ormill yard, all subsequent emissions (controlledemissions) from chipping, mill
furnishtransportation andcleanup are within scope andmustbe quantified. Where
transportation distancesto a satelliteyardforincidental orsalvagedwoodincrease
relativetobaseline, the increaseddistancemustbe quantifiedandincludedintheproject
condition(Figure 1,PI9).
Baseline Condition forTimberHarvesting Practices
Thebaseline condition fortimberharvesting is fulltreeharvest andtree lengthhaulingto
amill site forprocessing. Baseline emissions arethe sumofall controlled emissions
relatedto supplyingmill furnishincludingharvesting, transportation (hauling), chipping,
harvestdebris disposal, andemissions fromwoodhandling andcleanup.
Thisprotocoluses acombination ofthreebaseline approaches to quantifyemission
sources as showninTable 1 below.
More informationonestablishing andquantifyingtheprojectbaseline isprovidedin
Section2.0below.
^ Salvagewoodrepresentsasmallportionoftotalannualmillfiimishandisincludedforinventory
completeness. Theamount,species,quality,andlocationofsalvagedwoodarehighlyvariable. Where
salvagewoodisreportedasproductionforannualtimberdepletionaccounting,itmustbeincludedinthe
projectandtreatedinthesamemannerasincidentalwood. Allactivitiesthatoccurpriortochipping(e.g.,
accessroadconstruction,harvesting,andtransportationtothesatelliteormillyard)arerelatedbutare
outsidethecontroloftheprojectdeveloperandareexcluded. Salvagewoodthatisnotincludedinthe
annualallowablecutisexcludedfromthisprotocol.
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DirectReductionsfromForestHarvestPracticeChanges June2011
Table 1: Components oftheBaseline Condition.
Component Type Static/ Units*
Dynamic
Harvesting Comparison Dynamic Emissions/unitharvest
B3,B4,B5,B6,B7,B8,B10 based C02eIvcL
Transportation Projection Dynamic Dieselfuelemissions/Litre
Bll based C02e/L
WoodRoomChipping Historic Dynamic Emissions/unitchipped
B13 based C02eIvci
Debrisdisposal Projection Dynamic Emissions/unitdebris
B9,B15 based C02e/kg
Handling&cleanup Historicor Dynamic Emissions/unitharvest
B12,B14 Comparison C02e/m^
based
* Carbondioxide equivalent(C02e) includes CO2, CH4 andN2O emissions.
Project Condition for TimberHarvestingPractices
Theproject condition(portable chipping) canbe conductedinthree locations as shownin
Figure 1 above. Portable chipping istypicallydone in-block, butalso maybeundertaken
in a satelliteyardorinthe millyard. Satellite andmillyardportable chippingistypically
usedtoprocess incidental orsalvagewoodthatisnotassociatedwith acontrolledharvest
withinthe scope ofthisprotocol.
1. In-blockportable chipping istheprimarypractice inwhichentiretrees,
including large limbs andtreesbelownominalmerchantability standards are
chipped. Thispracticeresults inincreasedtransportationefficiency, increased
utilization (recovery ofchipsperunit areaharvested), andareductionin
harvesting debrisrequiring disposal.
2. Satelliteyard portable chipping isprimarilyusedforprocessingincidental
deciduous volume cutin coniferous orconiferous-leadingmixedwood
cutblocks. Inthese cases, utilizationmore closely approximatesthebaseline
conditionas aspenlogs mustbehauledbytruckto the satelliteyard.
3. Millyard portable chipping isusedprimarily forprocessing wood salvaged
from industrial oil andgas development. Like satelliteyardchipping itresults in
reducedutilization due to the requirementtohaul aspen logsto the mill yard.
The use ofportable chippingtechnology in satellite andmillyardsresults in anincrease
in greenhouse gas emissionsresulting fromareplacement ofcentralizedwoodroom
chippingusing electricity generated frombiomass, natural gas orcoal withportable
chippers, whichuse diesel. These emissions are included forcompleteness andmustbe
quantified. Reductions in emissions due to increasedtree utilization are also notrealized
with satellite yard ormill yardportable chipping where the amount and disposal of
harvest debris is unchanged from the baseline condition. More information onproject
emissions quantification andcalculations are provided in Section 3.0 below.
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