Inventory Management Systems Developing a National System for GHG Inventories

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Inventory Management SystemsDeveloping a
National System for GHG Inventories
Lisa Hanle U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency October 29, 2004 Panama City, Panama
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Overview

• What is a national inventory system
• Importance of developing a national inventory
  system
• Basic elements of a strong national inventory
  system
• Conclusions

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What is a National Inventory System?

• A national inventory system incorporates all the
  elements necessary to estimate GHG emissions and
  sinks, including institutional, legal and
  procedural arrangements

Inventory Planning
Inventory Management
Inventory Preparation
Higher-quality inventory that meets needs of
policy-makers, researchers and public
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Importance of Developing a National Inventory
System

• Ability to develop higher-quality inventory at
  more regular intervals (e.g., annually, every 2-4
  years, etc).
• Resources are focused on the most significant
  emission sources in the country
• Sources of data are identified, appropriately
  archived and regularly accessible
• Emission estimates are continually improved
  adhere to international guidance (e.g., IPCC Good
  Practice Guidance)
• The inventory and national inventory system can
  be a foundation for analysis of a range of energy
  and environmental issues

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Inventory Planning Institutional Arrangements

• Single national entity responsible for Inventory
  development
• Support appropriate training for Inventory staff

EXAMPLE
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Example U.S. National System

• Management Team (in EPA)
• Assemble Estimates
• General QA/QC
• Cross-Cutting Analyses (e.g., key sources)
• Prepare CRF Tables
• Conduct peer and public reviews
• Archives Inventory

Source Lead LULUCF
Source Lead Waste
Consultants, USDA, USFS Universities
Source Lead Ag
U.S. Inventory Management Team
Source Lead IP and Solvents
Source Lead Energy
Trade Associations, Consultants, U.S. Geological
Survey
Energy Dept., Universities, consultants
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Inventory Planning Procedural Arrangements

• Assign specific responsibilities data
  collection, emission calculation, uncertainty
  analysis, and QA/QC
• Develop a QA/QC Plan
• Establish process for inventory review (expert
  and/or public review)
• Incorporate methodological improvements
• Develop a timeline for work

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Example U.S. Inventory Cycle
Nov - Dec
January-February
April 15th
Mid October
Summer
June
Late December
March
Incorporate expert comment
Incorporate public comments
Gather data and prepare initial estimates
Prepare draft report
Kick-off Meeting
Expert and interagency review
Submit Inventory to UN
Release for public comment
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Inventory Planning Legal Arrangements

• Allow for the timely acquisition of all necessary
  data
• Where national statistical agencies, private
  companies or others are relied upon for activity
  data, have arrangements been made to ensure data
  is available in time for the inventory cycle?
• Identification of Ministry/person responsible for
  approving inventory prior to official submission

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Inventory Planning Identify Key Sources

• A key source has a significant influence on a
  countrys total inventory of direct GHG in terms
  of both level of emissions, the trend in
  emissions, or both. (see GPG, Chpt.7)
• A key source also may be determined through a
  qualitative assessment.
• A key source category is one that is prioritized
  within the national inventory system
• With limited resources, countries should focus on
  key sources to improve the quality of the GHG
  Inventory

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Key Source Analysis Example Level Assessment

• CO2 emissions from stationary combustion- coal A
  key source
• CH4 emissions from manure management Not a key
  source

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Key Source Analysis Example Trend Assessment

• Note N20 Emissions from adipic acid production a
  key source according to Trend, but not Level
  Assessment. Should still be treated as a key
  source.

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Inventory Preparation

• Develop emissions estimates (highest priority)
• Collect activity data and emission factors
  calculate emissions based on IPCC Good Practice
  Guidance
• Implement QA/QC Plan
• Basic checks should be completed on entire
  inventory (Tier 1) (see GPG Chpt. 8)
• More in-depth examination of specific sources
  (Tier 2)
• Prepare uncertainty estimates
• Developing qualitative and/or quantitative
  estimates also may be useful for prioritizing
  future activities
• Recalculate previous estimates, if necessary

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Examples of Tier 1 QC Checks

• Check a sample of input data for transcription
  errors
• Reproduce a sample of emissions calculations for
  complex models use simplified methods to judge
  relative accuracy
• Confirm that relationships/links in underlying
  databases are correct
• Are all data sources/references/assumptions
  documented
• Check for consistency in data between source
  categories
• Are animal population data used for enteric
  fermentation the same as those used for manure
  management?

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Examples of Tier 2 QC Checks

• Assess emissions trends and/or activity data
  trends if there are significant fluctuations can
  these be explained?
• Assess representativeness of emission factors for
  national circumstances
• If use IPCC default, does the default reflect
  your own national circumstances? If use a
  country-specific emission factor, how does it
  compare with IPCC default?
• Compare estimates derived with a top down
  method to estimates derived from a bottom up
  methodology.

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Inventory Preparation

• Documentation is key!! Everything must be
  documented, including
• All methods, emission factors and activity data
  should be documented sufficient to allow expert
  to reproduce official estimates
• References, including documentation of expert
  judgement
• QA/QC Plan
• Planned improvements
• Uncertainty analysis
• Recalculation

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Inventory Preparation Planned Improvements

• Inventory development is an evolutionary process.
  
• Future inventories build on existing structure,
  planned improvements should be based on
• Key source assessment key sources should be
  estimated using higher-tiered methods
• Issues arising during any technical review of
  inventory
• Opportunities for improvement
• Are better data sources available?
• Can a better method be used?
• Uncertainty analysis
• Can additional analysis be undertaken to reduce
  uncertainty in emissions estimates?

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Inventory Management
We need an archive!

• Archiving of all information used in inventory
  planning and preparation is essential
• Information related to emission factors, activity
  data, key sources, QA/QC, uncertainty, methods
  used, technical review comments and response to
  comments should be archived
• Archive may be electronic and/or hard copy
• Should be located in single location
• Need not be expensive Simple but necessary!

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Conclusions

• National inventory systems are a foundation for
  more complete and higher-quality inventories
• Inventory development is an evolutionary process
  continuously improve capabilities to develop
  emission estimates
• Resources focused on key sources
• Inventory process should be transparently
  documented, an expert should be able to reproduce
  estimates
• Goal Develop higher quality inventory on a more
  regular basis (e.g., every 2-4 years)

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Summary Building Blocks of a Strong Inventory
Development of a higher quality inventory on a
more regular basis
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Muchas Gracias!
CONTACT INFORMATION Lisa Hanle U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Hanle.Lisa_at_epa.gov
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• Extra Slides

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Example U.S. National Inventory System

• EPA has decentralized approach to preparing
  inventory
• Individual source leads manage each source
  category
• Determine methodology, data sources, improvements
• Inventory coordinator collects emission estimates
  from individual source leads
• Aggregates emissions, prepares NIR and CRF
  tables, archives each inventory submission

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Example U.S. National System

• Individual source leads manage each source
  category
• Develop most appropriate methods
• Based on IPCC Guidelines and Good Practice
  Guidance
• Collect best data
• Research and improvements
• Constant search for best way to account for
  source emissions