Step-by-Step Guide to Calculate Scope 1 Emissions: Multiple Examples and Formulas Included

As we continue to learn and understand the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it’s essential to know how to calculate emissions accurately. In this blog post, we’ll dive into calculating Scope 1 emissions, which are emissions directly released from the combustion of fuels or from industrial processes.

Step-by-step procedure for calculating Scope 1 emissions:

1. Identify the sources of emissions: The first step is to identify all the sources of emissions within your organization. This includes all the fuel combustion sources, such as boilers, generators, vehicles, etc. Additionally, it includes any industrial processes that release emissions.

2. Determine the fuel consumption: Once you have identified all the sources of emissions, determine the quantity of fuel consumed by each source. This could include the amount of fuel used in boilers or the amount of gasoline used by the fleet of vehicles.

3. Calculate emissions from combustion sources: Using the fuel consumption data, calculate the emissions from each combustion source. There are several methods for doing this, but the most common method is to use emission factors provided by regulatory agencies or industry standards.

The formula for calculating emissions from combustion sources is:

Emissions = Fuel consumption x Emission factor

For example, if a boiler consumes 1,000 litres of fuel oil and the emission factor for fuel oil is 2.5 kg CO2 per litre, then the emissions from the boiler would be:

Emissions = 1,000 liters x 2.5 kg CO2/liter = 2,500 kg CO2

4. Calculate emissions from industrial processes: For industrial processes that release emissions, the calculation method can vary based on the type of process. The most common method is to use process-specific emission factors or to measure emissions directly using monitoring equipment.

The formula for calculating emissions from industrial processes is:

Emissions = Activity level x Emission factor

For example, if an organization uses a chemical process that emits 50 kg of CO2 per unit of product produced and the organization produces 1,000 units, then the emissions from the industrial process would be:

Emissions = 1,000 units x 50 kg CO2/unit = 50,000 kg CO2

Sum up emissions from all sources: Once you have calculated the emissions from each source, sum up all the emissions to get the total Scope 1 emissions.

Example of calculating Scope 1 emissions:

Let’s take an example of a manufacturing company that uses natural gas to power its boilers and vehicles. The organization has two boilers that consume 500,000 cubic feet of natural gas annually, and its fleet of 10 vehicles uses 100,000 gallons of gasoline.

Step 1: Identify the sources of emissions – Boilers and vehicles

Step 2: Determine the fuel consumption – 500,000 cubic feet of natural gas and 100,000 gallons of gasoline

Step 3: Calculate emissions from combustion sources

Boilers emissions: Emissions = Fuel consumption x Emission factor

• Emissions factor for natural gas: 53.06 kg CO2/MMBTU
• The organization’s boilers consume 500,000 cubic feet of natural gas, which is equivalent to 5.0 MMBTU.
• Emissions from boilers = 5.0 MMBTU x 53.06 kg CO2/MMBTU = 265.3 metric tons of CO2
• Vehicles emissions: Emissions = Fuel consumption x Emission factor
• Emissions factor for gasoline: 8.91 kg CO2/gallon
• The organization’s vehicles consume 100,000 gallons of gasoline.
• Emissions from vehicles = 100,000 gallons x 8.91 kg CO2/gallon = 891 metric tons of CO2

Step 4: Calculate emissions from industrial processes

In this example, let's assume that the manufacturing company produces 10,000 units of a product that emits 2 kg of CO2 per unit.

• Emissions from industrial processes = Activity level x Emission factor
• Emissions from industrial processes = 10,000 units x 2 kg CO2/unit = 20,000 kg CO2

Step 5: Sum up emissions from all sources

• Total Scope 1 emissions = Emissions from boilers + Emissions from vehicles + Emissions from industrial processes

Total Scope 1 emissions = 265.3 metric tons of CO2 + 891 metric tons of CO2 + 20 metric tons of CO2 = 1,176.3 metric tons of CO2

Conclusion:

Calculating Scope 1 emissions are crucial for organizations to track their emissions and identify opportunities to reduce their carbon footprint. By following the step-by-step procedure, organizations can accurately calculate their Scope 1 emissions. Remember to identify all sources of emissions, determine fuel consumption, use emission factors, calculate emissions from industrial processes, and sum up all the emissions from different sources. This will help organizations to take the necessary steps to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a healthier planet.

Author: Hello, my name is Hari Vandana Konda and I am an IT and cloud sustainability enthusiast with a passion for maximizing the impact of technology in our world. I am a certified professional in Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Oracle. In addition, I am also a certified FinOps Practitioner which has given me a unique perspective on managing cloud costs and optimizing the overall financial health of organizations. My expertise in these cloud platforms, combined with my passion for sustainability, makes me an ideal author for discussions surrounding the intersection of technology and the environment.