Understanding Scope Emissions
Scope Emissions are direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sources owned or controlled by the organization.
Understanding this concept is important because they directly result from an organization's activities. Moreover, Scope Emissions can account for a significant portion of an organization's total carbon footprint.
What Is Scope 1 Emission?
Emissions from human activity come in many forms. Like respiration, greenhouse gases can release carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere through natural processes. Still, they can also come from manufactured sources, like burning fossil fuels.
Regarding climate change, the most important thing to know is not just the level of emissions but also their Scope. Scope refers to where the emissions come from and how they are released into the atmosphere.
There are three scopes of emissions: Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3.
Scope 1 emissions are those direct emissions that come from sources owned or controlled by the company or organization.
For example, if a company runs a power plant, the emissions from that power plant would be Scope 1 emissions.
This emission type is the easiest to control because the company directly controls its sources.
Four Categories of Scope 1 Emissions
There are four categories of Scope 1 emissions: stationary combustion, mobile combustion, fugitive emissions, and process emissions.
Stationary Combustion
Stationary combustion is burning fossil fuels to generate energy at a stationary source, like a power plant. It includes emissions from boilers, furnaces, and engines.
The emissions from stationary combustion, meaning they don't move around.
Mobile Combustion
Mobile combustion is burning fossil fuels to generate energy in vehicles like cars, trucks, and planes. It includes emissions from tailpipes and engines.
The emissions from mobile sources move around.
Fugitive Emissions
Fugitive emissions are unintentional emissions that escape from a system, process, or product into the atmosphere. They can come from many sources, but leaks in pipelines and storage tanks are the most common.
Process Emissions
These emissions result from a chemical reaction while producing a good or service. It comes from industrial processes like cement, glass, and steel production.
Calculating Scope 1 Emissions
To calculate Scope 1 emissions, it is necessary to know the fuel consumed and the emission factor for that fuel.
The emission factor measures how much pollution is produced for a given amount of fuel burned. For example, the emission factor for natural gas is 0.036 kilograms of carbon dioxide per megajoule (kg CO2/MJ).
This means that 0.036 kilograms of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere for every megajoule of natural gas burned.
Multiply the amount of fuel consumed by the fuel’s emission factor to determine the Scope 1 emissions.
For example, if a power plant burns 10,000 megajoules of natural gas per hour and the emission factor for natural gas is 0.036 kg CO2/MJ, then the power plant would produce 360 kilograms of carbon dioxide per hour.
Why Scope Emissions Matter
Knowing and understanding scope emissions is important because of various reasons.
The most important reason is that it helps manage and control the carbon footprint. By being aware of this, companies and organizations can invest in reducing Scope 1 emissions.
For example, they may purchase cleaner-burning fuels or install equipment that captures fugitive emissions.
Another reason is that it helps distinguish between direct and indirect emissions. Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions because they come from sources owned or controlled by the company.
This is important because companies have more control over direct emissions than indirect ones.
For example, a company can directly control how much fuel its power plant burns, but it cannot directly control how much electricity the power plant buys from the grid.
Lastly, Scope 1 emissions are important because they are the starting point for calculating a company's or organization's carbon footprint.
A company's carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases it emits into the atmosphere.
How to Manage Carbon Footprint
Now that Scope 1 emissions have been explained, it is important to know how to manage them. These are some steps a company can take to reduce its carbon footprint.
Reduce the Amount of Fuel Consumed
One of the most obvious ways to reduce Scope 1 emissions is to reduce the amount of fuel consumed. Companies can invest in energy-efficient equipment or use cleaner-burning fuels.
For example, a power plant may install more efficient boilers or switch from coal to natural gas.
Install Equipment to Capture Emissions
Another way to reduce Scope 1 emissions is to install equipment that captures or controls emissions. This includes devices like scrubbers and filters.
For example, a power plant may install a scrubber to remove sulfur dioxide from its exhaust gases.
Improve Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is another way to reduce Scope 1 emissions. This can be done by upgrading equipment, improving insulation, and installing energy-efficient lighting.
For example, a power plant may install more efficient turbines or invest in better insulation for its boiler.
The Bottom Line
Scope 1 emissions come from sources owned or controlled by the company. These emissions are important because they are the starting point for calculating a company's carbon footprint.
Understanding Scope 1 emissions help companies and organizations manage and control their carbon footprints.
There are four categories of Scope 1 emissions: stationary combustion, mobile combustion, fugitive emissions, and process emissions.
Companies can reduce Scope 1 emissions by reducing fuel consumption, installing equipment to capture emissions, and improving energy efficiency.
FAQs
1. What is Scope 1 Emission?
Scope 1 Emission is an emission resulting from a company's or organization's direct activities.
2. What are the four categories of Scope 1 emissions?
Scope 1 emissions are stationary combustion, mobile combustion, fugitive emissions, and process emissions.
3. Why do Scope Emissions matter?
Scope Emissions matter because they help to manage and control the carbon footprint. Additionally, Scope Emissions help distinguish between direct and indirect emissions.
4. How are Scope 1 emissions calculated?
To calculate Scope 1 emissions, multiply the amount of fuel consumed by the emission factor for that fuel.
5. How can companies reduce Scope 1 emissions?
Companies can reduce Scope 1 emissions by reducing fuel consumption, installing equipment to capture emissions, and improving energy efficiency.
