Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID)

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Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database

eGRID2006 spreadsheet data
Latest release eGRID2006 Version 2.1 / 30 April 2007
Website http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/egrid/

The Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID) is a comprehensive source of data on the environmental characteristics of almost all electric power generated in the United States. eGRID is issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

As of April 2007, the two available editions of eGRID contain data for years 1996 through 2000 and 2004. eGRID is unique in that it links air emissions data with electric generation data.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

eGRID2006 Version 2.1 (the fifth edition of eGRID) was released by EPA on April 30, 2007. It contains data year 2004 information configured to reflect the electric power industry’s current structure as of October 1, 2006, including plant ownership and operators, parent company affiliations, company mergers, and grid configurations. E. H. Pechan & Associates, Inc. (Pechan) has developed this and the previous four editions of eGRID for EPA since 1997. Pechan prepared this edition of eGRID under an EPA contract with the Eastern Research Group.

The fourth edition of eGRID, eGRID2002 Version 2.01, was released in May 2003 and contains data for years 1996 through 2000; it can be downloaded from the eGRID website’s Archive page.

The first through third editions of eGRID contained data years 1996 through 1998. These editions are obsolete and are updated by the forth edition.

[edit] Data Summary

eGRID data include emissions, different types of emission rates, electricity generation, resource mix, and heat input. eGRID data also include plant identification, location, and structural information. The emissions information in eGRID includes carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and mercury (Hg). CO2 is a greenhouse gas (GHG) that contributes to global warming or climate change. NOx and SO2 contribute to unhealthy air quality and acid rain in many parts of the country. Hg is a toxic pollutant that can adversely affect exposed nervous systems. eGRID's resource mix information includes the following fossil fuel resources: coal, oil, gas, other fossil; nuclear resources; and the following renewable resources: hydroelectric (water), biomass (including renewable methane, landfill gas and digester gas), wind, solar, and geothermal.

Data in eGRID2006 are presented in two Excel workbooks. The first workbook contains data at the boiler, generator and plant levels. The second workbook presents aggregated data by State, electric generating company, parent company, power control area, eGRID subregion, NERC region, and the U.S. The eGRID2006 Technical Support Document and summary tables with regional maps are included in two PDF files. These four files are contained in a ZIP file that can be downloaded from eGRID’s website.

NERC Region Representational Map
eGRID Subregion Representational Map NERC Region Representational Map

The primary data sources used for eGRID include data reported by electric generators to EPA’s Clean Air Markets Division (pursuant to 40 CFR Part 70) and to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

[edit] Data Use

The eGRID data are specifically used for EPA tools such as Power Profiler, Climate Leaders' Greenhouse Gas Inventory Protocol, Portfolio Manager, and Personal Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculator.

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) also use eGRID data. For example, the Ozone Transport Commission’s (OTC) Emission Reduction Workbook, the World Resources Institute/World Business Council for Sustainable Development's Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol Initiative, the Rocky Mountain Institute's Community Energy Opportunity Finder, and the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Benchmarking Air Emissions use eGRID data.

For States and regions, eGRID data support policies and initiatives such as for electricity labelling and environmental disclosure, Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) attributes, and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). They also rely on eGRID data for emission inventories, the foremost climate registry (the California Climate Action Registry), and for policy decisions/impacts such as output-based emission standards. Some States also publish State specific eGRID data on the web.

[edit] See also


[edit] References

  1. ^ EPA - Clean Energy - EE Action Plan

[edit] External links