Greenhouse Gas Balances of
Biomass and Bioenergy Systems


Methodological Instruction


Before initiating the GHG analysis/LCA process, three main principles must be followed to ensure that the study is accurate and meaningful. First, if a difference is to be measured, then two measurements are needed; the ‘new’ and the ‘old’. For example both biodiesel and regular fossil diesel must be measured in order to note the different energy and GHG balances between them. Secondly, all the measurements must be made using standard methods. For example, the method and approach used to identify CO2 emissions from the production cycles of biodiesel and regular fossil diesel should be the same, to allow comparison. Thirdly, all the calculations, and any assumptions, must be transparent, so the reader can see clearly what has been considered and how.

The LCA methodological approach can be adapted to examine key comparable issues, such as fossil fuel depletion and contribution to global climate change. Energy and Greenhouse Gas Accounting is undertaken using these adapted LCA practices.


Energy and Greenhouse Gas Analysis requires:

  1. Goal and Scope definition; establishing “functional unit”
  2. Defining primary energy; quantifying relevant inputs and outputs
  3. Defining GHG emissions
  4. Drawing the System Boundary
  5. Defining the Reference System; avoided or displaced activities
  6. Allocation Process; allocate primary energy/GHG implications between main products, co-products, and by-products.

Refer to Pages 10-15 of the BIOMITRE Technical Manual for more general information and Pages 16-47 of the Technical Manual for more detailed instructions on conducting a LCA study.

A literature review of General Methodological Approaches from the BIOMITRE project confirms the basic nature and deficiencies of the main existing methodologies for evaluating GHG balances and emissions-saving cost-effectiveness of prominent biomass energy technologies relevant to the EU. Refer to the report, “Evaluating Greenhouse Gas Balances and Mitigation Costs of Bioenergy Systems -- A Review of Methodologies”


Other Sources providing Methodological Instruction


IPCC Guidelines for conducting National/Regional Inventory.
The IPCC has completed three assessment reports, developed methodology guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories, special reports and technical papers.
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IPCC: Good Practice Guidance and Uncertainty Management in National Greenhouse Gas Inventories:
This report provides good practice guidance to assist countries in producing inventories that are neither over nor underestimates so far as can be judged, and in which uncertainties are reduced as far as practicable.
To this end, it supports the development of inventories that are transparent, documented, consistent over time, complete, comparable, assessed for uncertainties, subject to quality control and quality assurance, and efficient in the use of resources.
This report does not revise or replace the Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, but provides a reference that complements and is consistent with those guidelines. This report was accepted by the IPCC Plenary at its 16th session held in Montreal, 1-8 May, 2000.



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The Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories The Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines contain three volumes, each of which provides assistance, including methodological assistance, to analysts in the preparation of national GHG inventories.

The series consists of three volumes:

The Reporting Instructions (Volume 1) provides step-by-step directions for assembling, documenting and transmitting completed national inventory data consistently, regardless of the method used to produce the estimates.

The Workbook (Volume 2) contains suggestions about planning and getting started on a national inventory for participants who do not have a national inventory available already and are not experienced in producing such inventories. It also contains step-by-step instructions for calculating emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), as well as some other trace gases, from six major emission source categories. It is intended to help experts in as many countries as possible to start developing inventories.

The Reference Manual (Volume 3) provides a compendium of information on methods for estimation of emissions for a broader range of greenhouse gases and a complete list of source types for each. It summarises a range of possible methods for many source types. It also provides summaries of the scientific basis for the inventory methods recommended and gives extensive references to the technical literature.



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Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Land Use Change and Forestry Inventory. On a global scale the most important land-use changes and management practices that result in CO2 emissions and uptake are:

  • changes in forest and other woody biomass stocks
  • forest and grassland conversion
  • abandonment of managed lands

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IPCC Good Practice Guidance and Uncertainty Management in National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.
This report provides good practice guidance to:

  • assist countries in producing inventories that are as accurate as possible
  • support development of inventories that are transparent, documented, consistent, complete, comparable...

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IPCC Good Practice Guidance for Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry.
GPG-LULUCF provides guidance related to the specific features of the LULUCF sector on consistent representation of land areas, sampling for area estimates and for estimating emissions and removals, verification, and guidance on how to complement the Convention reporting for the LULUCF sector to meet the supplementary requirements under the Kyoto Protocol.