Tools for CEDM

Global Fossil Fuel Fugitive Methane And Ethane Emissions Inventory

This inventory provides global fossil fuel fugitive methane (CH4) and ethane (C2H6) emissions estimates including uncertainties using best available knowledge of emissions factors and fuel production data at the country and regional level. The inventory can be used as Bayesian a priori estimates in top-down modeling to further reduce emissions uncertainty constrained by global atmospheric CH4 and C2H6 measurements.

Click here for more information on the global fossil fuel fugitive methane and ethane emissions inventory.


PowerOptInvest Utility Investment Decision Model (Beta Version)

PowerOptInvest is an investment decision model that determines the least cost investment and operating strategies for electric power generation facilities. The Utility Investment Data Tool is software that is used to enter data into PowerOptInvest.

Update: Software no longer hosted. Please contact nicholasinstitute@duke.edu for more info


Marginal Emissions Factors Repository (MEFR)

The downloadable excel spreadsheet below provides the marginal emissions factors estimated as part of the work published in:

Siler-Evans. K., Azevedo, I.L., Morgan, M.G., (2012). Marginal emissions factors for the US  electricity system. Environmental Science & Technology, 46 (9), pp. 4742–4748 [link].

Marginal emissions factors (MEFs) from 2006 through 2011 were estimated by Kyle Siler-Evans using data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Continuous Emissions Monitoring System(CEMS).

Click here to download the marginal emissions factors spreadsheet.

Click here for more information on the Marginal Emissions Factors Repository tool.


Electricity Marginal Factors Estimates

This tool provides estimates of marginal and average emissions/damage factors in the United States, calculated based on publicly-available data from the US Environmental Protection Agency. Estimates are available for different geographical areas (NERC and eGRID subregions) from 2006 to the present.

Click here to access the Electricity Marginal Factors Estimates App


Informing the Public about Low-Carbon Technologies

This tool consists of two distinct sets of material, a combination of which allow the user to become more informed on available Low-Carbon Technologies and explore the outcomes of energy generation policy decisions on environmental conditions. The initial segment of materials presented is designed to convey basic information on available generation technologies and their relative impacts. The second segment is an Excel-based interactive computer tool that allows users to “build their own power plant combination” to supply additional capacity needed in Pennsylvania over the next 25 years, assuming a congressionally-mandated carbon constraint.

Click here for more information on the Informing the Public about Low-Carbon Technologies tool.


Impact of Nuclear Shutdowns

This model allows exploration of international policies related to nuclear power, and the economic and environmental consequences which could result from a reevaluation of those policies. Some of the consequences considered include reliability of the electricity supply, electricity costs, air pollution levels, carbon emission levels, and impact on fossil fuel reliance.

Click here for more information on the Impact of Nuclear Shutdowns model.


Water Quality Reuse Classification

This water quality reuse classification tool is designed to facilitate decision making regarding human water uses. The focus of the tool is to assist utilities, industries, and governments in determining whether a process effluent is of acceptable quality for the influent of another process. By ranking water quality required for various types of reuse in a tabular format, utility managers, industrial operators, and government officials can propose application effluents as potential influents for other activities and evaluate the feasibility of specific couplings.

Click here for more information on the Water Quality Reuse Classification tool.


Climate Change Decisions

This is a website designed to help guide wise decision making about climate change adaptation, with a focus on natural resource contexts. On the site you will find information to help guide good processes for tough decisions about climate adaptation concepts. The ultimate goal of the website is to provide information and examples to show how structured decision making can help guide the thinking and actions of decision makers who deal with climate change adaptation decisions.

Click here for more information on the Climate Change Decisions tool.


Comparing Residential Electricity Consumption in the U.S. and in Europe

This is an embedded interactive chart which allows the user to choose among a variety of parameters related to Residential Electricity Consumption and display them on a time-calibrated chart.

Click here for more information on the Comparing Residental Electricity Consumption in the U.S. and in Europe tool.


MegaJoule: online energy information-sharing resource with an emphasis on numbers

Megajoule provides an open platform with information on estimates of current and future costs and performance of energy technologies.

Click here for more information on MegaJoule.


Integrated Environmental Control Model, IECM

IECM is a computer-modeling program that performs a systematic cost and performance analyses of emission control equipment at coal-fired power plants. It is intended for use by engineers, policy makers, and researchers for preliminary design and analysis of electricity generation options. The IECM allows the user to configure the plant to be modeled from a variety of pollutant control technologies.

You can learn more about this tool and download it here.


Integrated Air Quality Models

A new tool on “Integrated Air Quality Models can be used at the following link:

Click here for more information about this tool.


A Guide to Global Internet Energy Usage

Featuring the latest facts and figures around our online consumption and the Internet’s ever-growing carbon footprint, this guide aims to raise awareness so people can make more energy-conscious consumer choices.

Learn more here