GHGs

Question 1

Which is worst methane or carbon dioxide

Answer 1

Source 1:
34 times stronger than CO2 at trapping heat over a 100-year period and 86 times stronger over 20 years

Source 2:
In the first two decades after its release, methane is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide. … While methane doesn’t linger as long in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, it is initially far more devastating to the climate because of how effectively it absorbs heat.

Question 2

Natural gas vs. Coal

Answer 2

Natural gas emits 50 to 60 percent less carbon dioxide (CO2) when combusted in a new, efficient natural gas power plant compared with emissions from a typical new coal plant [1]. Considering only tailpipe emissions, natural gas also emits 15 to 20 percent less heat-trapping gases than gasoline when burned in today’s typical vehicle [2].

Question 3

What is the methane leakage tolerance of natural gas?

Answer 3

Industry:
One recent study found that methane losses must be kept below 3.2 percent for natural gas power plants to have lower life cycle emissions than new coal plants over short time frames of 20 years or fewer

Question 4

Benefits of Natural Gas in vehicles

Answer 4

Less Nitrogren
Burning natural gas does produce nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are precursors to smog, but at lower levels than gasoline and diesel used for motor vehicles.

Prevent methane leakage, tolerance is 1-1.6%
And if burning natural gas in vehicles is to deliver even marginal benefits, methane losses must be kept below 1 percent and 1.6 percent compared with diesel fuel and gasoline, respectively. Technologies are available to reduce much of the leaking methane, but deploying such technology would require new policies and investments [7].

Question 5

Canada Case study of what contributed to GHGs?

Answer 5

Use of fossil fuels was responsible for 81% of Canada’s total GHG emissions in 2016 [1]. Of these fuels, natural gas (NG) accounted for 35% of Canada’s primary energy production [2]. The displacement of fossil fuels by renewables, such as biofuels, can help mitigate emissions of GHGs to the atmosphere (e.g. [3]). With about 42% of Canada’s total land forested [4], use of forest biomass can reduce the risk of climate change impacts while also contributing to development of the emerging bioeconomy, of which bioenergy is a component.

Question 6

GHG benefits of RNG based on California Air Resources Board’s carbon intensities

Answer 6

Based on the California Air Resources Board’s carbon intensities, RNG can reduce GHG emissions by 40 to 125% or more, depending on the renewable feedstock used to produce it.