CO₂ Equivalents (CO2e) Calculator: Calculation of the reduction in CO₂ and CH₄ emissions and conversion to CO2e

Calculation model based on the results of an internal study by SwissBiogas.com #VALUE!

All example entries are in italic blue. Replace with your own values.

Common additive SBGx Rule of thumb ⓘ Molar gas vol.

Biogas volume produced from substrate in reactor per day [m³/day] 12,000 12,600 0 °C = [K]
Methane (CH₄) content in biogas from substrate [%] 58.00 61.00 Default pressu
ᵻ Optional: CH₄ content in biogas from digestate [%]; Default = 58.00 <No input req.> Actual price of an EU Allowance (EUA, climate/carbon credit) [€/mT] ⓘ Default tempe
ᵻ Optional: Price of an EU Allowance (EUA) [€/mT] ⓘ <No input req.> https://www.boerse.de/rohstoffe/Co2-Emissionsrechtepreis/XC000A0C4KJ2 Calculated mo
Atomic mass C
Note: The densities of the gases are calculated at a temperature of 25 °C and a pressure of 1 atm. Molar mass CH
For detailed explanations, verification and validation of the following formulae and calculations, see "Model illustrating the calculations of the differences in CO₂ and CH₄ emissions" below. Molar mass CO
CH₄ volume from substrate [m³/day] 6,960.00 7,686.00 = biogas_volumesubstr x CH₄_contentsubstr CO₂ equivalen
CH₄ volume from digestate = Δ_volCH₄_dig [m³/day] 348.00 = (biogas_volumeSBGx – biogas_volumeCA) x CH₄_contentdigest
CH₄ volume total [m³/day] 7,308.00 7,686.00 = CH₄_volumesubstr + CH₄_volumedigest Input complet
Δ_volCH₄_tot = –Δ_volCO₂_tot [m³/day] 378.00 = CH₄_volume_totSBGx – CH₄_volume_totCA CH₄_voldig = Δ
CO₂ mass of Δ_volCH₄_tot [kg/day] (378.00 m³/day) 679.96 = (CH₄_volume_totSBGx – CH₄_volume_totCA) x MCO₂ / Vm,CO₂ (M: Molar mass) CH₄_massdig [k
CH₄ mass of Δ_volCH₄_dig [kg/day] (348.00 m³/day) 228.19 = CH₄_volumedigest x MCH₄ / Vm,CH₄ (Vm: Molar vol.) Δ_volCH₄_tot = –Δ
CO₂ equivalents mass of Δ_volCH₄_dig [kg/day] 5,704.78 = CH₄_massdigest x fact_CO₂e(CH₄) (fact_CO₂e(CH₄) = 25) –Δ_massCO₂_tot

Conclusion: By using SBGx, the following daily emission changes are achieved (Measuring conditions: 25 °C, 1 atm): MCO₂ = 44.0095 g/mol; MCH₄ = 16.0425 g/mol; Vm, CO₂ = Vm, CH₄ = 24.4654 l/mol
A) 679.96 kg (378.00 m³) less CO₂ emissions and MCO₂ / Vm, CO₂ = ρCO₂ = 1.7988 kg/m³
B) 228.19 kg (348.00 m³) less CH₄ emissions, MCH₄ / Vm, CH₄ = ρCH₄ = 0.65572 kg/m³
resulting in a total of 6,384.74 kg less carbon dioxide equivalents per day released into the environment. https://www.omnicalculator.com/physics/gas-density
Less CO₂ mass released into environment 679.96 kg/day 248.19 mT/year
Less CH₄ mass released into environment 228.19 kg/day 83.29 mT/year
Less CO₂ equivalents for CH₄ mass released into env. 5,704.78 kg/day 2,082.24 mT/year CO₂ equivalent factor for CH₄ = fact_CO₂e(CH₄) = 25 update_trigge
Total mass difference of CO₂ equivalents 6,384.74 kg/day 2,330.43 mT/year Both number s
EUA value per year [€/year] 0.00 Digit grouping
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Model illustrating the calculations of the differences in CO₂ and CH₄ emissions fmt_dec_3
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SBGx Common additive (CA) fmt_dec_5
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reactor, substrate reactor, substrate outside, digestate
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residual gas po-
tential [m³/day]
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max. biogas volume produced in reactor [m³/day]

total of all gasified compounds [mol/day]

CH₄_volumedigest
***
biogas_volumeSBGx [m³/day]

(biogas_volumeSBG – biogas_volumeCA)
x
CH₄_contentdigest
biogas_volumeCA [m³/day]

=
CH₄_volumedigest

biogas_volumeSBGx
x
CH₄_contentSBGx CH₄_contentdigest
= biogas_volumeCA = MIN(CH₄_contentSBGx , CH₄_contentCA)
CH₄_volumeSBGx x = The lower of the two contents (default)
CH₄_contentCA
=
CH₄_volumeCA
* **
Different additives, otherwise same conditions: Same reactor type/volume, Environment ≙ Virtual reactor with 100 days retention time
same substrate mix/volume, same outside temperature, etc. Daily produced biogas = biogas_volumeSBGx – biogas_volumeCA

Basis:
A) Claim: Changes in the contents of the carbon compounds CH₄ and CO₂ in the biogas have no significant impact on the total content of the carbon-free compounds.
Changes in the CH₄ content correlate inversely with the CO₂ content.
Total content of carbon-free compounds stays ~ fix
Biogas = 100%

CO₂_content CH₄_content + X → CO₂_content – X

CH₄_content – Y → CO₂_content + Y
CH₄_content

Numerical example with a daily biogas volume of 10,000 m³: CH₄_content + 3%pt. (= CH₄_volume + 300 m³) → CO₂_content - 3%pt. (= CO₂_volume – 300 m³)
B) Biogas that is not produced during the retention time in the reactor, is produced from the digestate outside of the reactor and its CH₄ is released into the environment.
Note: CO₂ is always released into the environment, regardless of where it is produced (reactor/substrate or outside/digestate).

Calculation of the volume differences: * ** ***

A) CO₂ decrease: Δ_volCH₄_tot = –Δ_volCO₂_tot = biogas_volumeSBGx x CH₄_contentSBGx – biogas_volumeCA x CH₄_contentCA – CH₄_volumedigest

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B) CH₄ increase: CH₄_volumedigest = Δ_volCH₄_dig = (biogas_volumeSBGx – biogas_volumeCA) x MIN(CH₄_contentSBGx , CH₄_contentCA)
Note: For the CH₄ volume produced from the digestate (CH₄_volume digest), by default the lower CH₄ content (Minimum: "MIN(...)") for the two additives is applied.

Calculation of the mass differences:

A) CO₂ decrease: –Δ_massCO₂_tot = –Δ_volCO₂_tot / Vm,CO₂ x MCO₂ Vm: Molar volume (gas)
B) CH₄ increase: Δ_massCH₄_dig = Δ_volCH₄_dig / Vm,CH₄ x MCH₄ M: Molar mass
Note: Vm,CO₂ = Vm,CH₄ (≈ 24.465 l/mol at 25 °C and 1 atm) M / Vm = ρ: Density