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Abstract China is undergoing an extensive hydropower development, but the magnitude of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions risk to reservoirs is not well known. Electricity generation from hydropower is a challenging issue when it comes to sustainable development. In this study, the data on Chinese hydropower reservoirs (n = 12) were collected from the literature and is used as in input to Greenhouse Gas Risk Assessment Tool (GRAT) to predict long-term GHG (CO 2 & CH 4) risk to the hydropower reservoirs and its associated lifecycle GHG emissions (GHG-LCA). The model predicted that till recently (i.e., year 2018) the hydropower reservoirs found under medium risk (i.e., 109 < CO 2 ≤ 628 and 3 < CH 4 ≤ 45 mg·m−2·d−1) which will reduce slowly over a period of 100 years. Out of 12 hydropower reservoirs studied, TGR presently under high risk of CH 4 (i.e., 47 mg·m−2·d−1) and medium CO 2 risk. Therefore, assessment is required to know the magnitude of CH 4 and its effect on regional climate so that mitigation measures could be taken in advance. The carbon emissions as CO 2 eq of the studied reservoirs are found as 134.69 ± 225.23 Gg yr−1, with a large share from CH 4 emission. The associated life cycle GHG emissions are also estimated as 0.06 ± 0.09 gCO 2 eq·kWh−1, which is higher than the global estimates (i.e. 0.015 gCO 2 eq·kWh−1). Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Electricity generation from hydropower is a challenging issue when it comes to sustainable development. • This study predict long-term GHG risk to the Chinese hydropower reservoirs and its associated life cycle emissions. • The carbon emissions as CO 2 eq of the studied reservoirs are found as 134.69 ± 225.23 Gg yr-1, with large share from CH 4 emission. • The associated life cycle GHG emissions are also estimated as 0.06±0.09 gCO 2 eq.kWh−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is considerable focus on oil sands transportation fuel production. However, most studies focus on greenhouse gas emissions; there is limited work on understanding the life cycle water footprint. This study is an effort to address this gap. The main objective of this study is to develop water demand coefficients of the complete life cycle of oil sands transportation fuel production. Water demand coefficients include consumption and withdrawals, which were estimated for different oil sands unit operations pathways for production in Alberta, Canada. The pathways include three key operations, bitumen extraction, upgrading, and refining. The water consumption coefficients for the complete life cycle range from 2.08 to 4.19 barrels of water (bbl W ) per barrel of refined oil (bbl BUR ) and 2.87–5.16 bbl W /bbl BUR for water withdrawals coefficients. The lower limit for water demand coefficients is found in refined and upgraded in situ steam assisted gravity drainage recovery and the higher amount in refined and upgraded surface mining recovery. A sensitivity analysis was conducted through Monte Carlo simulations to study the uncertainty of the water demand coefficients. The water consumption coefficient for oil sands extraction at a 90% probability was found to be 0.34–2.8 bbl W /bbl B, upgrading be 0.87 bbl W /bbl U , and refining to be 1.52 bbl W /bbl R . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite improvements, the residential sector is one of most energy-intensive sectors in the world and is the third largest consumer of energy across Canada, and in Alberta in particular. This study investigates opportunities to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the residential sector. A case study for Alberta is conducted. Energy modeling and scenario analyses are used to project future energy savings and greenhouse gas mitigation potential in the residential sector. Seventeen energy-saving options are identified in different residential subsectors, including space heating and cooling, water heating, appliances, and lighting. The long-term impacts (i.e., from 2013 to 2050) of these technologies in terms of energy savings and greenhouse gas mitigation potential are assessed using the Long-range Energy Alternative Planning model. For the evaluated options, more than 80% of GHG mitigation is achievable with negative GHG abatement cost. A GHG abatement cost curve is developed to assess the economic performance of various options. The results of the cost curve indicate that efficient lighting, efficient furnaces, and high efficiency appliances are the three areas in which the most GHG mitigation can be achieved at the lowest cost. The results provide invaluable insights to policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are currently at the crux of political, environmental, technological, and cultural discussions due to climate change. A drastic reduction of GHG emissions is needed in order to mitigate potentially catastrophic climate change impacts. Thus, thoroughly understanding emission sources is imperative. A disaggregated analysis of Canada’s future GHG emission projections has not yet been conducted. The objectives in this paper are to assess disaggregated GHG emissions in Canada for the years 2014, 2030, and 2050, and analyze the results through Sankey diagrams. Emissions are calculated using a bottom-up multi-regional accounting-based Long-range Energy Alternative Planning systems model. Each major economic sector in Canada is analyzed including the electricity generation, residential, commercial and institutional, industrial, transportation, and agriculture sectors. The emissions released in these sectors are traced to the resources and end-uses responsible. Results are presented for Canada and for provinces individually. GHG emissions contained in exported resources are evaluated. Results show that Canada’s business-as-usual GHG emissions will grow from 732 million tonnes in 2014 to 780 and 798 million tonnes in 2030 and 2050, respectively. Canada exports more emissions contained in resources than it emits. Per capita emissions intensity will fall by 14% between 2014 and 2050. Results are compared to climate targets and key areas of GHG mitigation potential are identified. Alberta’s oil and gas sector and Ontario’s transportation sector are the two single largest sectoral sources of emissions by 2050. This research can help policy makers, innovators, and the public better understand GHG emissions, which can lead to more effective GHG mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A life cycle assessment (LCA) is an extremely useful tool to assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with all the stages of a crude oil’s life from well-to-wheel (WTW). All of the WTW life cycle stages of crude oil consume energy and produce significant amounts of GHG emissions. The present study attempts to quantify the WTW life cycle GHG emissions for transportation fuels derived from five North American conventional crudes through the development of an LCA model called FUNNEL-GHG-CCO ( FUN damental E n gineering Principl E s-based Mode L for Estimation of G reen H ouse G ases in C onventional C rude O ils). This model estimates GHG emissions from all the life cycle stages from recovery of crude to the combustion of transportation fuels in vehicle engines. The contribution of recovery emissions in the total WTW GHG emissions ranges from 3.12% for Mars crude to 24.25% for California’s Kern County heavy oil. The transportation of crude oil and refined fuel contributes only 0.44–1.73% of the total WTW life cycle GHG emissions, depending on the transportation methods and total distance transported. The GHG emissions for refining were calculated from the amount of energy use in the refining of crude oil to produce transportation fuels. All the upstream GHG emissions were allocated to gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. Refining GHG emissions vary from 13.66–18.70 g-CO 2 eq/MJ-gasoline, 9.71–15.33 g-CO 2 eq/MJ-diesel, and 6.38–9.92 g-CO 2 eq/MJ-jet fuel derived from Alaska North Slope and California’s Kern County heavy oil, respectively. The total WTW life cycle GHG emissions range from 97.55 g-CO 2 eq/MJ-gasoline derived from Mars crude to 127.74 g-CO 2 eq/MJ-gasoline derived from California’s Kern County heavy oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Six alternative or low-carbon fuels are evaluated for the cement sector. • Average long-term marginal abatement costs range from −70 to 138 CAD/tCO 2 e. • Up to 21% of emissions to 2050 can be eliminated with negative abatement costs. • Energy prices are the primary factor driving scenario cost performance. Limiting global warming and the pursuit of a net-zero global society by 2050 emphasizes the need to transform the hard-to-abate industrial sectors. The cement sector is the second-largest source of global industrial emissions, accounting for 8% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. Fuel switching in the cement sector is a decarbonization pathway that has not been explored in detail; previous studies involving fuel switching in the sector either view it from an energy efficiency lens or focus on a single technology. In this study, a framework is developed to evaluate and directly compare six fuel switching options (including hydrogen, biomass, municipal solid waste, and natural gas) from 2020 to 2050. Capital costs, non-energy operating costs, energy costs, and carbon costs are used to calculate marginal abatement costs and emulate cost based-market decisions. The developed framework is used to conduct a case study for Canada, using the LEAP-Canada model. This study shows that cumulative energy-related greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by up to 21% between 2020 and 2050 with negative marginal abatement costs. Multiple fuel switching decarbonization pathways were established, reducing the likelihood that locality prevents meaningful emissions reduction and suggesting that, with low-carbon fuel and electricity policies, the sector can take significant steps towards emissions reduction. The developed framework can be applied to jurisdictions around the world for decision making, as nations move towards eliminating emissions from cement production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for hydrogen is likely to increase in the next decade to satisfy the projected growth of the bitumen upgrading industry in western Canada. This paper presents GHG (greenhouse gas) abatement costs and the GHG abatement potential in producing hydrogen from UCG (underground coal gasification) along with CCS (carbon capture and sequestration). Seven hydrogen production scenarios are considered to assess the competitiveness of implementing UCG compared to SMR (steam methane reforming). The analysis is completed through a LCA (life cycle assessment) of large-scale hydrogen production from UCG and SMR with and without CCS. Considering SMR technology without CCS as the base case, the GHG abatement costs of implementing the UCG-CCS technology is calculated to be in the range of 41–109 $CAD/tonne-CO 2 -eq depending on the transportation distance to the CCS site from the UCG-H 2 production plant. Life cycle GHG emissions are higher in UCG than in SMR. The GHG abatement costs for SMR-CCS-based scenarios are higher than for UCG-CCS-based scenarios; they range from 87 to 158 $CAD/tonne-CO 2 -eq in a similar manner to UCG-CCS. Consideration of revenues for selling the CO 2 captured for EOR (enhanced oil recovery) reduces the GHG abatement costs. An opportunity for revenue generation is realized in the UCG-CCS case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Life cycle assessment of utility-scale solar energy is performed. • Upstream production and assembly are the most emission-intensive life cycle stages. • Energy use during production and plant lifetime are the most sensitive parameters. • The system shows a net energy production with a net energy ratio up to 6.6. • The life cycle GHG emissions range from 98.3 to 149.3 g CO 2 eq /kWh. Grid-connected utility-scale solar PV has emerged as a potential pathway to ensure deep decarbonization of electricity in regions with fossil fuel-dominated energy mixes. Research on utility-scale solar PV projects mainly focuses on assessing technical or economic feasibility. Environmental performance assessments of large-scale solar applications are scarce. There is limited information on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy footprints of utility-scale solar energy systems. Earlier studies conducted on small-scale solar systems have limited application in the grid system. We developed a comprehensive bottom-up life cycle assessment model to evaluate the life cycle GHG emissions and energy profiles of utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) system with lithium-ion battery storage to provide a consistent electricity supply to the grid with peak load options. We conducted a case study for a fossil fuel-based energy jurisdiction, Alberta (a western province in Canada). The results of the energy assessment show that raw material extraction, production, and assembly of solar panels are the key drivers, accounting for 53% of the total consumption. Energy consumed during battery manufacturing is responsible for 28%. The system shows a net energy production with a mean net energy ratio as high as 6.6 for two-axis sun tracking orientation. The life cycle GHG emissions range from 98.3 to 149.3 g CO 2 eq /kWh with a mean value of 123.8 g CO 2 eq /kWh. The largest emissions contribution is due to the manufacturing of batteries, 54% of the total emissions. The solar PV system offers a mean energy payback time of 3.8 years (with a range of 3.3 to 4.2 years). The results are highly sensitive to the expected lifetime of the system, the panel's peak wattage, and process energy consumption at various life cycle stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]