Program Structure
The overall program length is 8 weeks (including 1 week break). The required study hours per week are 7-8. The program will be offered 2 times a year (Oct-Dec and Feb-Apr) and can be taken in smaller sections (course-by-course) if students cannot commit to the entire 8-week program in one offering.
Courses
- Course 1: Introduction to LCA of Clean Fuels (3 weeks)
- October 14 – November 1, 2024
- Course 2: Introduction to LCA within Clean Fuel Policy, Part 1 (2 weeks)
- November 11 – 29, 2024
- Course 3: Introduction to LCA within Clean Fuel Policy, Part 2 (2 weeks)
- December 1 – 20, 2024
Courses must be taken in sequential order, as they build on one another, but may be taken in different offerings within a two-year time frame to receive the micro-certificate.
Timeline to Completion
Participants have the flexibility to set their own timeline to completion, within a maximum of two years.
Course Learning Outcomes
Course 1: Introduction to LCA of Clean Fuels
- Explain the origins of LCA and its use in fuel policy
- Apply the phases of LCA under the ISO 14040 standard
- Recognize and explain the fundamentals and key parameters of an LCA
- Argument the food vs. fuel debate
- Develop a process flow diagram for a product or service lifecycle
- Explain data requirements under ISO 14040
- Perform a basic lifecycle inventory and allocate emissions in multi-product systems
- Explain the origins of GWP and how to use them in an LCA
- Determine the carbon intensity of a fuel
- Interpret a fuel carbon intensity
Course 2: Introduction to LCA within Clean Fuel Policy, Part 1
- Explain the clean fuel regulation landscape in North America
- Apply LCA is used within the clean fuel policy
- Explain the LCA requirements under the Canadian clean fuel regulations
- Perform a carbon intensity calculation under the Clean Fuel Regulation
- Explain the functionality of and how to navigate openLCA and the Fuel LCA Model
- Perform a lifecycle analysis of a fuel in the Fuel LCA Model
Course 3: Introduction to LCA within Clean Fuel Policy, Part 2
- Perform a carbon intensity calculation under the BC-LCFS
- Explain the capabilities of GHGenius and how to navigate the model
- Perform a lifecycle analysis of a fuel in GHGenius
- Determine the value of GHG reductions under clean fuel programs
- Perform a techno-economic assessment of fuels to support business decisions
- Identify areas within a fuel’s lifecycle that have the biggest impact on the carbon intensity
