Energetics quantified the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) profile of propane compared to other energy sources in 13 specific applications of interest to the U.S. propane industry.
Client Need
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) needed credible data to support its efforts to ensure that propane is considered as an important near-term option for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. PERC specifically sought to understand the GHG emissions from the extraction, delivery, and consumption of propane compared to the emissions of competing fuels such as diesel, natural gas, gasoline, and electricity.
Solution
Energetics developed a customized methodology based on the ‘gold standard’ in lifecycle GHG emissions methodologies for liquid fuels—the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Model—and used it to calculate the lifecycle GHG emissions profiles for various fuels and applications.
Energetics' custom methodology used the GREET model to estimate upstream GHG emissions and used energy consumption rates, emissions factors, and equipment efficiencies for various energy options to estimate the GHG emissions associated with the use of each fuel.
The results provide a complete picture of total GHG emissions for propane, natural gas, electricity, gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, and ethanol in specific applications. We communicated the study findings to a broad audience in a published report and fact sheets.
Results
PERC is using the results of our study to inform policymakers, government agencies, industry, and consumers about how using propane can reduce GHG emissions. The study gives PERC credible, compelling evidence to support their efforts to promote propane as part of the climate change solution.