FACTSHEET
AMS.III.AK - Methodology for “Biodiesel Production and Use for Transport
Applications”
Developer ”
Developed by Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the category of “Indicative
simplified baseline and monitoring methodologies for selected small-scale CDM project
activity”
Location
http://cdm.unfccc.int/methodologies/DB/OK9Z4CJL0UYU0XCQPDFEET7FRI3WW9/view.
html
Methodology
This methodology comprises project activities for the cultivation of oilseeds and sourcing
of waste oil/fat to be used in the production of biodiesel for use in transportation
applications. This methodology is applicable under these conditions:
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Oil crops are cultivated on areas which are classified as degraded
or degrading
as per the “Tool for the identification of degraded or degrading lands for
consideration in implementing CDM A/R project activities”1 or on areas included in
the project boundary of one or several registered A/R CDM project activities.
Plantations established on peatlands are not eligible;
Export of produced biodiesel is not allowed;
The biodiesel is used in blends with diesel of up to 20% by volume;
The biodiesel and its blends are end-used in a captive fleet of vehicles;
The alcohol used for esterification is methanol of fossil fuel origin.
The project boundary is defined by the:
 Geographical area of the oil seeds cultivation,
 Itinerary for transportation of the feedstock sources,
 Processing of oil-seeds and biodiesel production,
 Sites where the waste water and solid waste are treated,
 Areas where biodiesel is blended and sold to the final users.
The vehicles/transportation applications of the final users where the biodiesel or blends
thereof are consumed are also included in the project boundary.
The additionality2 of the project activity shall be demonstrated and assessed using the
1
More information is available at:
https://cdm.unfccc.int/methodologies/ARmethodologies/tools/ar-am-tool-13-v1.pdf
2 The concept of “additionality” under the CDM refers to the project has to prove that the emission reductions are additional to
any that would occur in the absence of the certified project activity (CDM Rule book: http://cdmrulebook.org/84)
latest version of the”Tool for the demonstration and assessment of additionality”3.”
Baseline Emissions
Baseline emissions from displaced petrodiesel are calculated based on the quantity of
biodiesel eligible for crediting and the CO2 emissions factor for petrodiesel.
Project Emissions
Project activity emissions are the emissions related to the cultivation of oil seeds and
production and distribution of biodiesel. The following sources of project emissions shall
be considered:
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Emissions associated with the cultivation of land to produce the oil seeds used for
production of biodiesel/plant oil;
Emissions due to transportation of feedstock sources from their originating sites to
the biodiesel production facility;
Emissions from energy use for biodiesel production;
Emissions from fossil fuel carbon in the biodiesel due to the use of methanol from
fossil origin in the trans-esterification process;
Where applicable CH4 emissions due to stockpiling, land filling of solid waste
generated by the project or from the waste water generated in the biodiesel
production facility.
Leakage
The leakage should be considered as per the relevant provisions of “ACM0017: Production
of biodiesel for use as fuel”4. However, it may be disregarded under these conditions:
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If the use of the waste oil/fat by the project activity does not result in increased
fossil consumption elsewhere, the leakage from the displacement of existing uses of
waste oil/fat is to be neglected.
If the leakage due to the avoided production of petrodiesel (including production of
crude oil and refining of crude oil) is disregarded.
Inputs
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3
Net calorific value of diesel (NCVPD)
Net calorific value of other fossil fuel types (NCV)
CO2 emission factor of fossil fuel types (EFCO2)
More information about “Tool for the demonstration and assessment of additionality” is available at:
http://cdm.unfccc.int/methodologies/PAmethodologies/tools/am-tool-01-v6.0.0.pdf
4 More information is available at:
http://cdm.unfccc.int/methodologies/DB/Z6UFHXTRQJ2PSZ1EOD21IT8FEF4AE7/view.html
Parameters Monitored
Relevant parameters listed below shall be monitored.
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Total area in which oil seed type k is cultivated for use in the project plant (Ak)
Production of biodiesel in the project plant (PBD)
Quantity of biodiesel that is either produced with other alcohols than methanol from
fossil origin or that is produced using other oil seeds or waste oil(s)/fat(s) than
those eligible under this methodology according to the applicability conditions
(PBD,on-site)
Quantity of biodiesel consumed at the project biodiesel production plant and/or the
oil production plant(s) (PBD,on-site)
Consumption of (blended) biodiesel from the project plant by the captive
consumer(s) (CBBD,)
Net calorific value of biodiesel produced (NCVBD)
Fraction of blending (fPJ)
Amount of biodiesel from oilseed types produced and consumed (FPBD)
Amount of oilseed meal (press-cake) obtained from oilseed types (MOM)
Amount of glycerin associated with the production of biodiesel from oilseed types
(MG)
Quantity of feedstock from oilseed types transported from the cultivation area to the
processing/producing facility and biodiesel from production plant to blending site
or site of its consumption (Q)
Average truck capacity for transportation (CT)
Average distance for feedstock transportation for oilseed types (DAF)
CO2 emission factor for grid electricity supplied to the project plant (EFCO2,ELEC)
Consumption of fossil fuel types for biodiesel production from crops or from waste
oil/fat (FCPP)
Mass of MEOH consumed in the biodiesel plant, including spills and evaporation
(MCMeOH)
Pollutants/Gases Analyzed
CO2
Evaluation
No independent evaluation has been undertaken of this methodology. However as a CDM
based methodology the following strengths and weaknesses apply.
Strengths
This methodology allows
Weaknesses
This methodology is considerably
estimating accurately the emission
reduction of biodiesel production
and use for transport applications.
It does an ex-ante appraisal, which
has to be validated in the future
with ex-post estimation in order to
get the Certified Emissions
Reductions (CER) (Emissions
reduction estimations may result
in the acquisition of CER).
data-intensive due to the
requirement for verification of
progress during the lifetime of the
project and the need to undertake exante and ex-post analyses. These data
may also not be readily available in
developing countries.
Costly data collection which
frequently exceeds what CDM credits
pay. (Punte, 2011)
Strict guidelines for data collection,
estimation of leakages and a clear
procedure make this methodology
accurate.5
Guidelines are available online.
References
CDM – Executive Board, Transportation Energy Efficiency Activities using Retrofit
Technologies, AMS-III.AA./Version 01, Sectoral Scope: 07, EB 47.
Punte, S., Replogle, M., Mejia, A., 2011. Transport Emissions Evaluation Models for Projects
(TEEMP). Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions as Catalysts for Environmentally
Sustainable Transport. Seoul, South Korea.
http://www.transport2012.org/bridging/ressources/documents/2/1362,4.-TEEMPOverview-Seoul-12Apr2011-f.pdf
5
Each CDM project has to be verified during the lifetime of the project comparing the real emissions with the corresponding
forecasted emissions.