Global Bioenergy Watch

Carbon intensity calculator

Lifecycle carbon intensity for every biofuel pathway — ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, SAF, renewable gas, hydrogen, methanol, LPG and pellets — with electricity, natural gas, propane, diesel, hydrogen and transport emissions, benchmarked against the major regulatory programs.

Fuel pathway and grid

Fuel pathway

Hydrotreating with SMR hydrogen and naphtha co-products.Electricity grid

386 gCO2e per kWhAnnual production

gallons per year · 6,482,500,000 MJ

Process energy sources

Grid electricity (kWh/MJ)

Uses the grid factor selected aboveRenewable / PPA electricity (kWh/MJ)

Embodied emissions of wind, solar and hydro generationNatural gas (MJ/MJ)

Combustion plus upstream production and pipeline methanePropane / LPG (MJ/MJ)

Combustion plus upstream, common for dryers and rural sitesDiesel (equipment and on-site) (MJ/MJ)

Harvesters, loaders, generators, yard trucksGasoline (MJ/MJ)

Light equipment and fleetHeavy fuel oil (MJ/MJ)

Boilers and marine haulageCoal (MJ/MJ)

Process heat or captive powerBiomass residue (on-site) (MJ/MJ)

Biogenic CO2 excluded; handling, CH4 and N2O onlyPurchased steam (gas boiler) (MJ/MJ)

Steam bought over the fenceHydrogen (fossil SMR) (MJ/MJ)

Hydroprocessing hydrogen from steam methane reformingHydrogen (renewable) (MJ/MJ)

Electrolytic hydrogen on renewable power

Other emission terms (gCO2e/MJ)

Feedstock production

Cultivation, fertiliser N2O, collection, renderingLand use change

Direct and indirect land use changeFeedstock transport

Truck, rail, barge and ocean legs to the plantChemicals and fugitives

Methanol, catalysts, enzymes, process CH4 and N2OFuel distribution

Storage, blending, pipeline or truck delivery, dispensingEnd use emissions

Tailpipe CH4 and N2O plus any fossil carbon in the fuelCo-product and avoided emissions

Enter as a negative number

Carbon intensity

16.33

gCO2e per MJ of renewable diesel (hefa) — used cooking oil

Gross emissions: 18.3 g/MJ
Credits applied: -2.0 g/MJ
Annual energy: 6,483 TJ
Annual footprint: 105,833 t CO2e

Contribution by emission source

gCO2e/MJ

Feedstock transport3.50
Truck, rail, barge and ocean legs to the plant
Chemicals and fugitives1.00
Methanol, catalysts, enzymes, process CH4 and N2O
Fuel distribution2.00
Storage, blending, pipeline or truck delivery, dispensing
End use emissions1.20
Tailpipe CH4 and N2O plus any fossil carbon in the fuel
Co-product and avoided emissions-2.00
Enter as a negative number
Grid electricity2.32
0.006 kWh/MJ × 386.0 gCO2e/kWh
Natural gas4.11
0.06 MJ/MJ × 68.5 gCO2e/MJ
Hydrogen (fossil SMR)4.20
0.05 MJ/MJ × 84.0 gCO2e/MJ

Regulatory program comparison

Program	Benchmark	EER	GHG saving	Gap (g/MJ)	Annual credits (t)	Status
California LCFS California, United States	79.51	1.0	79.5%	63.18	409,590	Generates credits
Oregon Clean Fuels Program Oregon, United States	100.45	1.0	83.7%	84.12	545,334	Generates credits
Washington Clean Fuel Standard Washington, United States	100.45	1.0	83.7%	84.12	545,334	Generates credits
Canada Clean Fuel Regulations Canada	93.00	1.0	82.4%	76.67	497,039	Generates credits
EU RED III European Union	94.00	1.0	82.6%	77.67	—	Meets 65% threshold
UK RTFO United Kingdom	94.10	1.0	82.7%	77.77	504,170	Meets 65% threshold
US Renewable Fuel Standard United States	91.87	1.0	82.2%	75.54	—	Meets 50% threshold
Brazil RenovaBio Brazil	86.60	1.0	81.1%	70.27	455,551	Generates credits
ICAO CORSIA International aviation	—	1.0	—	—	—	Fuel not covered
FuelEU Maritime European Union shipping	91.16	1.0	82.1%	74.83	—	Generates credits

California LCFS: Credits equal (benchmark × EER − CI) × fuel energy. Benchmarks tighten every year.
Oregon Clean Fuels Program: 2015 baseline carbon intensities; the annual compliance standard steps down from them.
Washington Clean Fuel Standard: 2017 baseline carbon intensities with an annual step-down schedule.
Canada Clean Fuel Regulations: Compliance credits are created against the liquid-fossil baseline CI.
EU RED III: Fossil comparator 94 gCO2e/MJ; 65% saving for installations started after 2021.
UK RTFO: Renewable transport fuel certificates; 65% saving required for new plants.
US Renewable Fuel Standard: 2005 petroleum baselines. 20% saving for renewable fuel, 50% advanced and biomass-based diesel, 60% cellulosic.
Brazil RenovaBio: CBIO decarbonisation credits are issued on the gap to the fossil reference.
ICAO CORSIA: Baseline 89 gCO2e/MJ for jet fuel; eligible fuels must save at least 10%.
FuelEU Maritime: 2020 fleet reference intensity 91.16 gCO2e/MJ; a declining % reduction applies each period.

Method and limitations

Pathway defaults are indicative averages compiled from public GREET and CA-GREET documentation, CARB LCFS certified pathway summaries, EU RED II and III Annex V typical values and equivalent program guidance. Every line item is editable, so you can replace a default with plant-specific data. Program benchmarks are the published comparator or baseline carbon intensities; annual compliance standards step down from them.

Results are indicative and pathway-specific. They are not a certified CI score: regulatory pathway certification requires site-specific data, verification and approval by the administering agency.