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RNG LCFS Pathway CI

CARB LCFS · 17 CCR §95488 · CA-GREET 3.0 · 2026 benchmarks

LCFS Tier 2 pathway CI scoring
Computes CARB LCFS pathway Carbon Intensity in gCO₂e/MJ for an RNG project (dairy, landfill, WWTP, food waste) under §95488. Pathway CI = Processing + Slip + Transport − Avoided_baseline − Coproducts. Dairy RNG typically reaches −250 to −400 due to avoided baseline lagoon methane. Subtracted from 2026 benchmark (gasoline 84.52, diesel 85.38) to yield LCFS credits in t CO₂e/yr and revenue. CRITICAL 2024 AMENDMENT: avoided-methane crediting is being phased out — see chips for cert-date impact.

Project Scope

MMBtu/yr

Carbon Sources (t CH₄/yr)

t CH₄/yr
Dairy 200–500 typical (per 1000 cows). LFG very small (counterfactual already flared). WWTP modest. Food waste varies.
t CH₄/yr
gCO₂e/MJ
Digestate as fertilizer credit (small for screening; site-specific).

Energy & Transport

MWh/yr
gCO₂e/kWh
CA 2025 ≈ 250; US avg ≈ 380; coal-heavy 700+; CARB EER table varies.
mi
kWh/MMBtu/100mi
kWh/MMBtu

LCFS Parameters

gCO₂e/MJ
2026 per 17 CCR §95484: gasoline 84.52 / diesel 85.38.
—
CARB AR4 legacy = 25; AR5 = 28/30; AR6 = 29.8. Default = 25 for backward-compat.
yr
Pre-2025-Jul cert: 30 yr (3×10); 2025–2029 cert: 20 yr (2×10); post-2029 break-ground: until 2040.
$/credit
2025 ~$55–75; 2020 peak $200; CARB quarterly auctions.

Engineering Basis

  • Pathway CI = Processing + Slip + Transport − Avoided_baseline − Co-product
  • Avoided baseline (negative term): counterfactual lagoon/landfill methane that would have escaped — major driver of negative dairy CI.
  • 2026 benchmarks (17 CCR §95484): gasoline 84.52, diesel 85.38 gCO₂e/MJ.
  • CARB GWP_CH4 = 25 (AR4 legacy convention for existing Tier 2 certifications); 2024+ amendments migrating to AR5 (28/30) with CA-GREET 4.0.
  • 2024 amendment phase-out: avoided-methane crediting limited to 30 yr (pre-2025-Jul cert) → 20 yr (2025–2029) → until 2040 (post-2029 break-ground).
  • Tier 2 certification: site-specific operational data (3+ mo audited) + CA-GREET 3.0/4.0 model + third-party verification (§95491) + annual revalidation.
  • Standards: 17 CCR §95480–95503, CA-GREET 3.0/4.0, DOE GREET, IPCC AR4/AR5/AR6.

Learn the Theory

Understand LCFS pathway selection, carbon intensity calculation, feedstock assignment, and economic drivers for RNG investment

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