Electric 1.1 Beta is a spreadsheet tool designed to calculate benchmarks emissions rates for GHG reduction projects. It is intended for use by GHG trading program administrators and project consolidators who wish to develop multiproject baselines applicable to multiple projects. The benchmarks are reported as carbon-equivalent GHG emissions (or energy consumed) per unit of output, for example kilograms of carbon per kilowatt-hour generated. Generally, the benchmarks are based on the performance of recently built plants in the country or region where the proposed project(s) will be located. Three types of benchmarks are produced: baseload build margin, load-following build margin, and operating margin. The first two benchmark emissions rates represent the expected performance of new plants in the business-as-usual scenario. The operating margin estimates the avoided emissions from all existing load-following plants due to influxes of power from intermittent sources such as wind farms. For the build margins, MBase:Electric produces benchmarks for varying levels of stringency (average, top 25%, top 10%, best plant), by fuel as well as sector-wide averages.

MBase:Electric 1.1 Beta is intended for use by GHG trading program administrators and project consolidators who wish to develop multiproject baselines applicable to multiple projects, as opposed to project-specific baselines for each proposed project. Project developers might use MBase:Electric 1.1 Beta to explore the implications of various benchmark scenarios on estimated GHG reductions. With estimated data on the annual output and fuel consumption (if any) of proposed GHG reduction projects, MBase:Electric 1.1 Beta will also calculate total annual GHG savings in addition to the benchmark emissions rates.

Contact Information

For more information about MBase:Electric, please contact Scott Murtishaw of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory