Fuels and power supply data

Background

Calculating the environmental impact of a carried out transport service should include the resource consumption of inputs, primarily fuel and electricity consumption and the emissions generated by transport activity. The extent of resource use and emissions to include is determined by the system limits set for environmental assessment. According to various studies supportive and indirect activities of transport service constitutes a significant part of overall resource consumption and transport emissions . With a system boundary that includes support and indirect activities more environmental factors and resource use are added. This will generally make the estimation more extensive and complex. Below are given a comprehensive breakdown of the various relevant systems boundaries:

Figure 1. System boundaries of the transport system

System boundary A, including traffic and transport related activities regarding engine operation for the propulsion and equipment for climate control of goods, and losses in fuel tanks and batteries.

System boundary B, which includes the supply of energy from energy source to the tank, battery and electric motor (trains). System boundary B together with system boundary A is the minimum required transport system for performance comparisons between different modes of transport. System boundary C, traffic infrastructure operation and maintenance System boundary D, vehicle, vessel, load units production

The above system boundaries should not be seen as mutually inclusive or exclusive, but rather as a sub-sample that can be added or subtracted, depending on the environmental assessment aim. Altogether, there are some important rules which must be fulfilled when defining the system boundary:

A) Environmental performance assessment outcomes must include a description of system boundaries. B) Comparison of different transport solutions must be done with comparable and relevant systems boundaries C) Comparison of the same transport system over time must be done using the same system boundary.

Figure 2. Propulsion and fuel supply of the transport system

For comparison between transport systems the following aspects needs to be considered: 1) Electric motor; electric power for vehicle/vessel propulsion directly linked to electric distribution grid through pantograph is generated simultaneously with consumption at optimum production plant (production costs and market situation). 2) Plug-in electric motor; electric power for vehicle/vessel propulsion through accumulators (batteries) generated at demand or at optimum production plant and time (production costs and market situation). 3) Combustion engines; transport fuels for vehicle/vessel propulsion with combustion engine is being produced at demand or at optimum plant and time related to production costs and market demand. In all three cases of traffic the transport fuels for vehicle/vessel propulsion have been preceded by processes that enable the delivery of electricity or fuel, which means that the whole operational upstream processes must be included.

Data

For the last two years NTM has actively participated in the development of a new European CEN standard, prEN 16258:2012“Methodology for calculation and declaration of energy consumption and GHG emissions of transport services (freight and passengers)”.

The development phase is now finalized and during 2012 the CEN will vote on acceptance or non acceptance of the standard. The outcome of this voting is difficult to predict but a general feeling is that standard will be accepted.

The standard is presently in the process of being determined, ending by publishing the standard in the end of 2012. This will unfortunately delay the distribution of relevant and important basic fuel and power supply data developed in the process that is essential for assessment of well to wheel energy use and emissions of green house gases.

NTM therefore publish these key data as a set of preliminary information for our members. Log in for access of these data.

More methods and data from NTM:
Alternative fuels