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Gareth Ellis, Cranfield University

Learn from the best…

Carbon Brainprint

Carbon BrainprintQuantifying the impact of university research on carbon footprint reduction

David Parsons and Julia ChattertonDepartment of Environmental Science and TechnologyCranfield University

carbonbrainprint@cranfield.ac.ukwww.carbonbrainprint.org.uk

Carbon Brainprint

What is a carbon brainprint?Why measure it?How do we measure it?How big is it?Where next?

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What is a carbon brainprint?

Universities help many organisations reduce their carbon footprint through research, education and consultancy

This contribution is the University’s carbon brainprint

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Why measure it?

Quantify the impact of research, innovation, education and knowledge transfer activities on cutting global GHG emissions

Provide further endorsement of the value of investing in universities to address the challenge of global warming

Not about offsetting university footprints5

How do we measure it?

A life cycle based approach drawing onPAS 2050:2008 Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services (BSI)Code of good practice for product greenhouse gas emissions and reduction claims (CTC 745) (The Carbon Trust)2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories

Not a footprint of a product or organisation

Retrospective and prospective

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ProcedureSystem

description

Boundaries

Data

Baseline emissionsand changes

Carbon brainprintRetrospective and prospective

Uncertainty analysis

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Case studies

1. Ceramic coatings for turbine blades (SAS)

2. Novel Offshore Vertical Axis wind turbines (SoE)

3. Improved delivery vehicle logistics (SoM)

4. Training for landfill gas inspectors (SAS)

5. Reduced fouling of oil refinery heat exchangers (University of Cambridge)

6. Intelligent management of building environments(University of Reading)

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Case study 1: Turbine blade coatings

Blades are air cooled and coated to prevent meltingR&D with Rolls-Royce for 17 yearsIncreased operating temperature by 70 °CIncreased efficiencyReduced emissions from RR-powered A330 and A340 by 1.0-1.6 kt CO2e/yearA total of 570 kt CO2e/year

Coated turbine blade

Picture: Rolls-Royce plc

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How big is the carbon brainprint?

Project Annual brainprint Period

Ceramic coatings for jet engine turbine blades

570 kt CO2e Retrospective

Improved vehicle logistics 14 kt CO2e Retrospective

Training for landfill gas inspectors 400 kt CO2e Retrospective

Novel offshore vertical axis wind turbines

1.7 kt CO2e for 1 GW installed

Prospective

Intelligent buildings for energy management

Potential 20% reduction in CO2e

Prospective

Optimising defouling of oil-refinery preheat trains

> 1 kt CO2e per refinery Prospective

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Where next?

Method is achievable

Relatively simple iflevel of detail is managed

there has been monitoring of outcomes of past work

Big results like to be in areas that areenergy intensive

directly emit potent GHGs (methane, nitrous oxide)

Want to involve other universities

Web site: www.carbonbrainprint.org.uk

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1. This work could apply to a wide range of Universities and Colleges

2. It quantifies the impact of R&D and education on Carbon emissions

3. It is innovative

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Your next steps – making the most of your EAUC Membership…

1. Now you’ve learned how to win… you need to enter! Want recognition for your sustainability excellence, enter the 2012 Green Gown Awards behaviour change category. Entries open in summer 2012Categories mentioned in this session were:• Research and development• Courses• Skills• Colleges

2. Learn more about previous winners and highly commended entries on the EAUC resource bank – here you’ll find lots of 2012 case studies and videos

Membership matters at www.eauc.org.uk