ALPACA project will look to develop a framework and a toolset for the whole life carbon management and measuring across varies DNO business processes and activities in order to drive a lower carbon and more resource-efficient model for power distribution industry. Specifically, the outputs of the work will include:
- Whole Life Carbon (WLC) Management Framework with a supplementing process map and an action plan.
- WLC Measuring tool.
- A sustainability procurement protocol with integrated carbon weighting component.
- A formal procedure to capture carbon footprint of the material, equipment and activities we procure.
Benefits
Being able to conduct whole life carbon assessments will put all studies on the same basis and provide consistency among results enabling meaningful comparison at different levels: per asset category, per life cycle stage as well as for the entire projects throughout their life. Collection of carbon outputs in a structured fashion will subsequently facilitate benchmarking that will set the bar for carbon performance in the power industry, and ensure relevant targets for the whole life carbon performance are in place for built assets.
Ultimately, we envisage a carbon management framework and measuring tool within design, delivery and utilisation processes will help to join up value chain, create a strong innovation culture, challenge the current status quo and thereby maximise reduction in both carbon and cost.
Learnings
Outcomes
- A whole life carbon measuring tool was developed and tested internally by NGED.
- Accompanying material such as a Supplier Carbon Calculator and Procurement questionnaires were developed to enable data input and engagement with suppliers.
- A DNO-wide database was developed and shared with the ENA Carbon Working Group for consideration and use by all distribution networks.
- The final deliverable (whole life carbon measuring tool) is now at TRL 7.The ALPACA project created very detailed carbon emissions databases for various DNOs material/activities.
The project recommended that the database and carbon calculation be integrated into the internal asset management system.
Lessons Learnt
Carbon Accounting and Management in Infrastructure
A Literature review was conducted to gather information on carbon accounting, guidance, legislation, and existing tools. PAS 2080 Carbon Management in Infrastructure was identified as a suitable framework for whole-life carbon management in a DNO context, which was also aligned with capital carbon assessment approach UK energy transmission had used. Literature review revealed a number of the standard carbon emission factor datasets that can be used to populate carbon accounting tools or a suitable methodology to provide figures on carbon emissions for organisations, products, supply chain and other assets. However, none of them can be used solely and some compilation of available datasets and additional calculations for specific processes, products and assets used within a DNO will be required to ensure accurate calculation of the whole life carbon management tool. Full detail is available here: www.nationalgrid.co.uk/downloads-view-reciteme/626428
Internal and External Stakeholder Engagement
A report on the ambition and requirements for whole life project carbon reporting, as well as process flow and key data requirements was created. Internal stakeholder engagement highlighted the complexities of project data transfer and close interaction between design and major projects teams. Reporting through three key project stages – planning, detailed design and as built – have been defined key for successful carbon measuring and management. Internal discussed has also identified key roles and responsibilities for whole life carbon reporting. External stakeholder engagement activities through the ENA Environment Committee established a need to align the ALPACA approach with ongoing work performed by the UK Reduction of Capital Carbon in Infrastructure: Transmission (ROCCIT) and confirmed that PAS 2080 is a suitable framework to follow in a DNO context.
Whole Life Carbon Framework
A report was created on the structure and calculation methodology behind the reporting tool, as well as how whole life carbon reporting can be integrated into existing processes. The framework document follows a PAS2080 structure and outlines calculation equations for capital carbon, materials, transporting assets and materials to site, transporting labour to site, plant use, operation carbon, maintenance, repair, replacement, energy use and other operational processes. The framework highlights main carbon emission databases used in the whole-live carbon reporting tool and includes a project process map that was developed during stakeholder engagement activities.
Full detail is available here: www.nationalgrid.co.uk/downloads-view-reciteme/626248
NGED Supplier Carbon Calculator
A tool was created to assess and manage carbon emissions from purchased goods and services. Procurement questionnaires to be embedded into Invitation To Tender (ITT) documentation were developed. During the discussion regarding sustainable procurement protocol it was highlighted that different suppliers (especially depending on their size and resource availability) may be at different level of their net-zero preparedness. Therefore, it was agreed to adopt tiered approach with the following defined tiers: SMEs and large organisations. Large organisations (to be defined by DNOs individually) would face more strict commitment requirements initially but all requirements should align at a later stage.
Whole Life Carbon Assessment Tool
This was created to calculate the carbon footprint of NGED projects. The tool is underpinned by four carbon emission databases for materials, labour, plant, and operations. ALPACA whole life carbon tool is based on carbon emission factors assigned to each individual standard work elements as defined in CROWN (NGED’s internal asset management system) and therefore, provides the highest granularity level. To be able to populate material, labour, plant use and operation carbon databases a list of assumptions have been made and needs to be reviewed and potentially updated when ‘real’ data from suppliers become available. Assumptions are available on request. The best source of capital carbon data (especially associated with electrical equipment) are environmental product declarations (EPDs), which were limited at the time of database development. Regular review of new EPDs should be part of the whole life carbon tool update. ALPACA whole life carbon tool excludes end of life stage (C1 to C4 as per PAS 2080) as most of the assets have a lifespan in excess of 60 years and it is challenging to accurately estimate the future decommissioning impacts.
