What is the Advanced Life Cycle Assessment of Clean Liquid Fuels Micro-Certificate?
The Advanced Life Cycle Assessment of Clean Liquid Fuels Micro-Certificate is an 8-week online program designed to provide professionals with hands-on training in life cycle assessment (LCA) modelling, focusing on liquid fuels such as biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This certificate program immerses participants in the application of three key LCA tools—GHGenius, Fuel LCA, and the CA-GREET Model —allowing them to confidently calculate carbon intensities and greenhouse gas emissions across the life cycle of liquid fuels. Through practical exercises and model-based case studies, participants will acquire essential skills to meet regulatory standards and make informed decisions in the low carbon fuels industry.
Why choose the Advanced Life Cycle Assessment of Clean Liquid Fuels Micro-Certificate?
Gain hands-on experience with industry-standard LCA tools
This program offers a rare opportunity to train directly with GHGenius, Fuel LCA, and CA-GREET—the three most widely used life cycle assessment (LCA) models in Canada and the United States for evaluating the carbon intensity of liquid fuels. Through guided exercises, modelling demonstrations, and case studies, you’ll build applied skills to confidently conduct LCAs for biofuels, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Learn from experts in LCA and clean fuels
Delivered by professionals with deep expertise in life cycle assessment and low-carbon fuel policy, this program offers practical instruction rooted in real-world applications. You’ll explore how to interpret model outputs, prepare regulatory submissions, and navigate the compliance requirements of frameworks such as the BC Low Carbon Fuel Standard, Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulations, and the California LCFS.
Prepare for regulatory and sustainability leadership
With clean fuel regulations becoming increasingly data-driven, professionals need the ability to work with technical tools and provide defensible LCA results. This micro-certificate equips you to support emissions reporting, prepare carbon intensity applications, and contribute to organizational decision-making related to clean fuel strategies, sustainability initiatives, or compliance planning.
Advance or pivot your career in the clean energy economy
Whether you work in energy, transportation, government, or sustainability, or are transitioning into the clean fuels sector, this program will strengthen your qualifications. You’ll finish with a practical toolkit of applied modelling experience, helping you stand out in a growing field focused on decarbonization and clean fuel innovation.
Flexible learning that fits your schedule
The program is designed to meet the needs of working professionals. Offered fully online over 8 weeks, it features self-paced modules and interactive learning activities that allow you to engage with the material on your own time while connecting with peers and instructors in a supportive online environment.
What will you learn?
Course 1: Life Cycle Assessment and Clean Liquid Fuels
- Understand the basics of clean liquid fuels, their types, and their role in emission reduction.
- Learn foundational principles of life cycle assessment (LCA) for environmental impact analysis, with a focus on concepts relevant to liquid fuels.
- Learn how to acquire and prepare the facility and supply data needed for LCA modelling.
Course 2: Practical Applications of GHGenius in LCA of Liquid Fuels
- Gain proficiency in using GHGenius to analyze liquid fuel life cycles.
- Evaluate the carbon intensity of liquid fuels from the GHGenius model.
- Apply GHGenius results for compliance reporting and industry decision-making.
Course 3: Life Cycle Assessment of Liquid Fuels using the Fuel LCA Model
- Understand the purpose and structure of the Fuel LCA model for liquid fuels.
- Input data, navigate the model, and calculate carbon intensities for several liquid fuel pathways.
- Use the Fuel LCA Model results to meet Canadian regulatory requirements.
- Compare the Fuel LCA Model results with other models (GHGenius and CA-GREET) to support policy and industry decisions.
Course 4: Life Cycle Assessment with CA-GREET for Liquid Fuels
- Navigate the GREET model suite and understand their applications.
- Conduct comparative assessments of liquid fuel pathways using CA-GREET Tier 1 Calculators.
- Prepare a carbon intensity application under the California LCFS.
Who should enroll?
This advanced program is designed for professionals working in the clean fuels, environmental analysis, or regulatory compliance sectors who are looking to deepen their expertise in life cycle assessment (LCA) modelling for liquid fuels. It is best suited for individuals who already have experience using LCA models—such as GHGenius, Fuel LCA, and CA-GREET—and are seeking to apply these tools in regulatory and industry-specific contexts.
Ideal participants include:
- Professionals in the clean fuels or low carbon energy industry who want to enhance their ability to evaluate carbon intensities and environmental impacts using GHGenius, Fuel LCA, and the CA-GREET Model.
- Environmental consultants and analysts with prior LCA experience seeking to improve their proficiency in tools used in Canadian and U.S. regulatory frameworks.
- Regulatory specialists and policy advisors involved in Clean Fuel Regulations, Low Carbon Fuel Standards, or similar compliance programs who require a stronger command of technical modelling.
- Engineers, scientists, and technical staff responsible for generating or verifying LCA data and preparing carbon intensity applications for clean liquid fuel pathways.
- Academic researchers or applied scientists who use or interpret LCA data in their work and want to build a stronger practical foundation in regulatory-relevant modelling platforms.
Participants should already be familiar with the fundamentals of LCA and have prior exposure to one or more of the featured tools (GHGenius, Fuel LCA, CA-GREET). The program focuses on practical, hands-on learning through model-based exercises and case studies aligned with real-world applications.
Employment Opportunities
This practical, tool-based training supports roles that involve technical modelling, environmental impact evaluation, and sustainability reporting. Potential employment or consulting opportunities include:
- Clean Energy and Fuel Sector
Particularly the transportation fuels industry who are required under the BC-LCFS and Federal CFR to reduce the carbon intensity of the fuels they sell —including biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) suppliers. - Environmental Consulting Firms
Specialized consultants who perform LCAs, carbon intensity modelling, and regulatory reporting for clients in transportation, agriculture, forestry, and energy sectors. - Natural Resource and Industrial Sectors
Forestry, agricultural, and industrial operations seeking to model and reduce the life cycle emissions of bio-based feedstocks or fuel products, or aiming to qualify for low carbon fuel credits. - Government Agencies
Regulatory analysts, policy advisors, or technical specialists in ministries or agencies responsible for energy, environment, or transportation planning and climate policy development. - Non-Governmental and Industry Organizations
Analysts and program managers in environmental NGOs, industry associations, or non-profits focused on clean energy, emissions reduction, and sustainable resource management. - Academic, Research, and Technical Institutions
Applied researchers or program coordinators supporting LCA-based policy research, model development, or sustainability curriculum in higher education or technical organizations.