Stationary combustion

Definition

Stationary fuel burners are generally appliances that burn solid, liquid or gaseous fuels. This is usually done as part of power generation, to produce steam or heat for processing products.

The following table provides an overview of the most common stationary combustion sources and fuels:

Accounting for stationary combustion

To calculate the emissions from stationary combustion, the amount of fuel consumed for each stationary combustion source is multiplied by the fuel characteristics of the fuel type used (emission factor).

There are two methods for determining the amount of stationary combustion source:

• On-site measurements: The mass or volumetric flow rate of the fuel at the feed point of the combustion source. This data can be recorded using measuring devices such as scales or flow meters.
• Purchase records: The mass or volume of fuel entering the system. This data can be based on fuel receipts, purchase records or data provided directly by the energy supplier.

There are three different methods for determining fuel characteristics (emission factors):

• Measured carbon content: The total carbon content of the fuel can be determined by chemical analysis. As fuel gauges and readings are prone to error, calibration and testing should be carried out to ensure the accuracy of the values.
• Actual calorific value of the fuel: The calorific value of a fuel is a measure of the amount of heat released when the fuel is burned. It is often found on utility bills, which show the amount of fuel purchased in terms of energy. For example, most natural gas consumption data is reported in heat units and volume units. To ensure consistent reporting, all energy values should be reported as gross calorific value, with the high calorific value indicated.
• Standard calorific values: If it is not possible to obtain specific data for the fuel used, standard calorific values are used to calculate emissions.

Data collection

The activity data required for this calculation includes the amount of fuel consumed for each of the stationary combustion sources and the fuel characteristics of each fuel type used. The latter is required for the selection of a suitable emission factor.

To determine the fuel consumption, you should collect data on the amount of fuel consumed for combustion purposes. Two calculation methods are suitable for this:

• On-site measurement: the mass or volume flow of fuel at the feed point into one or more combustion units. This data can be collected using measuring devices such as scales or flow meters.
• Purchase records: The mass or volume of fuel entering the system. This data can be obtained from invoices provided directly by the energy supplier and/or the customer's online portal.

Accounting for stationary combustion in the Climate Hub

In the Climate Hub, you will already find some ready-made stationary combustion sources for which standard heating values are stored. You can enter the quantity of the combustion source used here. The Climate Hub then calculates the emissions for you. If you would like to specify additional combustion sources or use your own emission factors, you can do so using the plus symbol at the bottom left. You can find a detailed description here. 

Guidelines for quality control

• When using meters to collect activity data, compare the measured fuel data with the purchase documentation to ensure the accuracy of the meters.
• Ensure that consistent emission factors and GWPs are used across all facilities.
• Perform an internal review to ensure that units have been correctly converted and emissions have been accurately quantified.
• If no default emission factors are used, compare the actual heating values with the available default values.
• Update the IMP to reflect any changes to the monitoring equipment or procedures that could potentially affect the quality of the emissions data.

Further information can be found in the Scope 1 & 2 GHG Inventory Guidance of the GHG Protocol in chapter Scope 1 Stationary Combustion Emissions from page 14.