BSEN40810 GHG Accounting

Academic Year 2023/2024

This module introduces the principles, methods and application of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) inventory methods for assessing organisations in line with International Standards (ISO 14064 family).
ISO 14064-1:2018(E): Greenhouse gases — Part 1: Specification with guidance at the organisation level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals
ISO 14064-2:2019(E): Greenhouse gases — Part 2: Specification with guidance at the project level for quantification, monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emission reductions or removal enhancements
ISO 14064-3:2019(E): Greenhouse gases — Part 3: Specification with guidance for the verification and validation of greenhouse gas statements
The module will be based on the standard requirements and guidelines for quantification of the GHG inventory for organisations, including goal and scope setting, GHG inventory analysis, deterministic and probabilistic model development, generating results and interpretation, reporting and review. The standard accounting methods used will be further developed to include probabilistic analysis when calculating the GHG emissions from an organisation. This will involve understanding the use of different distributions, fitting distribution to discrete and continuous datasets, probabilistic modelling, and Monte Carlo simulation to predict robust estimates of outputs and uncertainty. In addition, all students will complete an industry-standard GHG inventory project for a small-scale organisation or sub-section of a larger organisation (i.e., max ca. 15 people employed or throughput of <€0.5M), which will be completed throughout the module.

Show/hide contentOpenClose All

Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

1. Prepare a goal and scope statement for a GHG inventory of an organisation or process;
2. Organise and manipulate data sources to build a database for GHG inventory in order to undertake a GHG emission analysis of an organisation or process;
3. Quantify the uncertainty associated with the GHG inventory;
4. Communicate GHG inventory/emission findings using ISO standard written reporting and a video presentation.

Indicative Module Content:

Introduction to ISO 14064 family and integration between parts 1, 2 and 3 of ISO 14064; the goal and scope; strategies for data collation; calculation of CO2-e values for all GHGs to express climate change implications; the difference between deterministic and probabilistic model development; Monte Carlo simulation to capture the uncertainties in the inventory data; interpretation of results; and example applications.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Tutorial

12
Laboratories

24
Specified Learning Activities

50
Autonomous Student Learning

66
Online Learning

24
Total

200
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
• Problem-based assignments that build to a completed GHG inventory and GHG emission assessment project
• Directed reading
• Online lectures
• Online computer practicals to progress through the mathematical (probabilistic) model development
• Online tutorials to review issues and prepare assignments 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Strongly recommended: BSEN30360 Life Cycle Assessment

Learning Recommendations:
• Experience using Excel or similar spreadsheet software
• Some knowledge of system modelling
• Search strategies
• Some knowledge of construction materials, agriculture, food, and energy systems


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: Report 2 on Data inventory, including all assumptions made Week 6 n/a Graded Yes

20
Assignment: Self-explanatory Spreadsheet submission: A probabilistic model (following simulated outputs) Week 9 n/a Graded Yes

30
Assignment: Report 3 on GHG inventory assessment in ISO format reporting on results and interpretation Week 12 n/a Graded Yes

30
Assignment: Report 1 on Aims, objectives, goal and scope (LCA format), including system boundary and functional unit Week 3 n/a Graded Yes

20

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will complete elements of the project throughout the Trimester and receive feedback on each component (post-assessment). In addition, feedback will be given during tutorials (online).

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Spring
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 10:00 - 11:50
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
Spring