# Processing and energy use

| **Module name**     | Processing and energy use |
| ------------------- | ------------------------- |
| **Module category** | Transformation            |
| **Version**         | 1.3                       |
| **Methodology ID**  | RBW-MOD-P\&ENG-V1.3       |
| **Release date**    | January 21st, 2026        |
| **Status**          | In use                    |

{% content-ref url="../glossary" %}
[glossary](https://docs.rainbowstandard.io/~/changes/215/glossary)
{% endcontent-ref %}

This is a **Transformation Module** and covers processing and energy use related to the project. A modular approach allows Project Developers to choose the relevant modules for their project, and shall be used with the necessary accompanying modules and methodology.

<table data-view="cards" data-full-width="false"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="files"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>How to use this module</strong></td><td></td><td></td><td><a href="../../methodologies/biomass-carbon-removal-and-storage-bicrs#efpqng3v3ute">#efpqng3v3ute</a></td><td><a href="https://1461901304-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FE1FUJsBoIj20nqp3CtMf%2Fuploads%2FlPIhSWPE9ApJHLQSoSAZ%2Fcarbon-storage-and-sequestration-1.png?alt=media&#x26;token=eac99d82-7778-45a4-b242-80449de1b37d">carbon-storage-and-sequestration-1.png</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>BiCRS Methodology</strong></td><td></td><td></td><td><a href="../methodologies/biomass-carbon-removal-and-storage-bicrs">biomass-carbon-removal-and-storage-bicrs</a></td><td><a href="https://1461901304-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FE1FUJsBoIj20nqp3CtMf%2Fuploads%2FN8DHA4xjxenFjWjM9DdP%2Fbiochar.png?alt=media&#x26;token=89b1bd87-abbf-4487-8ac1-67843fd30eb0">biochar.png</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Eligibility and scope <a href="#uikucys7r1rk" id="uikucys7r1rk"></a>

This module covers all processing stages and non-transport energy inputs. It is intended to cover all eligibility criteria and GHG quantification for **all processes that are not included in the other modules**: feedstock production, transport, infrastructure/machinery, and carbon storage. Specific **processes vary by project**, and may include but are not limited to:

* storing, drying, mixing, shredding and grinding of feedstock
* operation of pyrolysis/gasification/carbonation machinery
* direct emissions from off-gas released to the atmosphere (e.g. methane)
* purification, liquefication, and other post-processing of products
* use of electricity, gas, heat, water, or other material inputs
* waste treatment and management of non-valuable co-products

This module must be used with another Rainbow Methodology. Eligible technologies, certification requirements, and any other requirements shall be taken from the applicable methodology.&#x20;

## Principles & requirements

The principles and requirements specific to this module are detailed in the sections below.&#x20;

Other principles and requirements shall be taken from the accompanying modules and methodologies:

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="files"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Methodology</strong></td><td><ul><li>Additionality</li><li>No double counting</li><li>Environmental and social safeguards</li></ul></td><td></td><td><a href="../../readme#rainbow-methodologies">#rainbow-methodologies</a></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Other modules</strong></td><td><ul><li>Durability</li><li>Co-benefits</li><li>No double counting</li><li>Environmental and social safeguards</li><li>Leakage</li></ul></td><td></td><td><a href="../methodologies/biomass-carbon-removal-and-storage-bicrs/carbon-storage">carbon-storage</a></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

### Environmental and social safeguards

Project Developers shall prove that the **project does not contribute to substantial environmental and social harms.**

Projects must follow all European, national, and local environmental regulations related to, for example, syngas combustion national emission regulations.

**Feedstock sustainability risks** shall be taken from the [Biomass feedstock module](https://docs.rainbowstandard.io/~/changes/215/methodologies/biomass-carbon-removal-and-storage-bicrs/carbon-capture/biomass-feedstock).

{% hint style="warning" %}
**The only strict, disqualifying requirement in this module is that any pyrolysis gases produced during the process must be either captured or cleanly burned**, if the project is using pyrolysis/gasificatio&#x6E;**.** Waste heat and energy coproducts **should** be used onsite, and fossil fuel based energy **should** be minimized.
{% endhint %}

#### Environmental and social risk assessment

Project Developers shall fill in the [Rainbow Processing and energy use risk assessment](#risk-evaluation-template), to evaluate the identified environmental and social risks of projects. The identified risks include:

* Pests and pathogen growth from biomass feedstock storage
* Leachate and runoff from biomass feedstock storage
* Gaseous emissions from pyrolysis/gasification/combustion/carbonation
* Improper disposal of waste by-products (ash, tar, residue...) causing soil and water contamination
* Inefficient use of waste heat
* Worker exposure to particulate matter or other gaseous pollutants from pyrolysis
* Worker exposure to dust from biomass shredding/grinding, respiratory risks

Project Developers shall assign a likelihood and severity score of each risk, and provide an explanation of their choices. The VVB and Rainbow’s Certification team shall evaluate the assessment and may recommend changes to the assigned scores.

Any identified material risk (defined as issues with a risk score of moderate or higher) shall be subject to a [Risk Mitigation Plan](https://docs.rainbowstandard.io/~/changes/215/rainbow-standard-documents/rainbow-standard-rules/principles-and-requirements#environmental-and-social-risk-assessment), which outlines how Project Developers will mitigate, monitor, report, and if necessary, compensate for any environmental and/or social harms.

Additional proof may be required for certain high risk environmental and social problems.

The Project Developer, the Rainbow Certification Team, or the VVB may suggest additional risks to be considered for a specific project.

{% hint style="info" %}
Note that the **life-cycle GHG reduction calculations account for the climate change impacts of most environmental risks**. Nonetheless, Project Developers shall transparently describe any substantial and sensitive GHG emission risks in the risk evaluation template.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
All risk assessments must also address the [Minimum environmental and social risks ](https://docs.rainbowstandard.io/~/changes/215/rainbow-standard-documents/rainbow-standard-rules/principles-and-requirements#environmental-and-social-risk-assessment)defined in the Rainbow Standard Rules.
{% endhint %}

The processes covered in this module are highly dependent on the project type, so not all risks may be relevant to a given project. Project Developers may explain how a risk is not applicable to their project.

### Monitoring

Monitoring Plans for this module shall include, but are not limited to, tracking of the following information **for each Production Batch and/or each calendar year:**

* Amount and type of any input/emission that makes up more than 30% of project life-cycle GHG emissions
* Amount and type of any input/emission that makes up between 10-30% of project life-cycle GHG emissions **and** is expected to vary by more than 30% between Batches

Monitoring Plans shall include the following information for each monitored parameter:

* monitoring frequency
* emission sources and sinks
* data source
* measurement methods/procedures, and their accuracy and calibration
* quality assessment or quality control procedures
* responsible party for collecting and archiving data

## GHG quantification

The GHG reduction quantification instructions from all other modules used by the project must be used in conjunction with the present module in order to obtain full life-cycle GHG reduction quantifications. It is a **catch-all module** that includes all relevant processes that are not included in other modules.

The system boundary of this quantification section includes GHG emissions from at least the following mandatory activities, unless justified to be negligible or not applicable for the project technology:

* Electricity and fuel production
* Fuel combustion
* Direct emissions of off-gas/flue gas
* Water use
* Waste treatment

{% hint style="info" %}
According to the [Rainbow Standard Rules](https://docs.rainbowstandard.io/~/changes/215/modules/broken-reference), processes with the lowest contributions to impacts, which each account for less than 1% of total impacts, may be excluded from the GHG quantification, up until the cumulative excluded processes exceed:

* 2% of total induced emissions for avoidance credit calculation and
* 2% of gross removals for removals credit calculation.

These processes shall be transparently identified and justified.

For example, if a screening simulation shows that tap water use for wetting feedstock contributes to less than 1% of project GHGs, then tap water may be excluded from the calculations.
{% endhint %}

### Data sources <a href="#kpxsamb8logm" id="kpxsamb8logm"></a>

The required **primary data** for GHG reduction calculations from projects are presented in Table 1. These data shall be provided for each production batch and made publicly available.

*Table 1 Summary of primary data needed from projects and their source for initial project certification and validation. Asterisks (\*) indicate which data are required to be updated annually during verification (see Monitoring Plan section).*

<table><thead><tr><th>Parameter</th><th width="153">Unit</th><th>Source</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Technology operating conditions (e.g. pyrolysis/gasification target temperature and residence time), for each batch*</td><td>Varies</td><td>Operations records</td></tr><tr><td>Detailed process diagram with included/excluded processes</td><td>Flow chart</td><td>Internal process documents</td></tr><tr><td>Type of input/emission*</td><td>Text description</td><td>Internal process documents</td></tr><tr><td>Amount of input/emission*</td><td>kg, liter, kWh, MWh, GWh, m<span class="math">^3</span></td><td>Meter readings, bills, internal tracking documents, invoices, contracts, gas analyzers or sensors on pyrolysis equipment, calculated using conversions from other primary project data</td></tr></tbody></table>

The [ecoinvent database](#user-content-fn-1)[^1] version 3.12 (hereafter referred to as ecoinvent) shall be the main source of emission factors unless otherwise specified. Ecoinvent is preferred because it is traceable, reliable, and well-recognized. The ecoinvent processes selected are detailed in [Appendix](#appendix).

If the available emission factors do not accurately represent the project, a **different emission factor may be submitted by the Project Developer, and approved by the Rainbow Certification Team and the VVB**. Any emission factor must meet the data requirements outlined in the [Rainbow Standard Rules](https://docs.rainbowstandard.io/~/changes/215/modules/broken-reference), and come from traceable, transparent, unbiased, and reputable sources.

No other secondary data sources are used in this module.

### Energy types <a href="#ly65klblzpa9" id="ly65klblzpa9"></a>

Because energy is expected to be the most important input in this module, additional details are provided regarding how to model energy.

Projects may only use renewable electricity emission factors for their energy consumption if:

* the energy production is directly linked to the project site, and can prove that there is a physical link, or
* the project holds renewable energy certificates (REC) (e.g. guarantee of origin, GO) plus an energy contract or purchase agreement for the concerned energy. In other words, the project can prove the coupled use of the energy and its corresponding REC.

Use of only a REC is not sufficient and shall be counted as grid electricity.

Electricity grid emission factors shall be taken for the national grid (at the maximum granularity), and if possible, regional mixes shall be used.

GHG emissions from fuel use shall include both the upstream extraction and processing of fuel, plus the direct emissions from combustion.

### Project scenario <a href="#ly65klblzpa9" id="ly65klblzpa9"></a>

Based on the project's detailed process diagram, activities and inputs shall be selected for inclusion in the module and listed.

Project Developers shall choose a type of input/emission used among the options in [Appendix 1](#appendix). If the relevant input is not listed, it may be added/considered on a case by case basis, and approved by the Rainbow Certification Team and the VVB.

For each input, Project Developers shall provide the amount used and units per Production Batch and/or per calendar year.

{% hint style="info" %}
The table below provides an example of the type of data Project Developers may provide to use this module.
{% endhint %}

<table data-full-width="true"><thead><tr><th width="167">Input/emission</th><th width="101">Amount</th><th width="79">Units</th><th width="387">Description</th><th>Source</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Grid electricity</td><td>8</td><td>GWh</td><td>All electricity used onsite annually</td><td>Electricity bills</td></tr><tr><td>Diesel</td><td>5</td><td>liter</td><td>Shredding machine. 1 liter diesel per Production Batch, x5 Production Batches per year, calculated using machine fuel efficiency and number of hours used</td><td>Technical specifications (liter/hour), record of number of hours used</td></tr><tr><td>Methane emissions</td><td>20</td><td>kg</td><td>Emissions calculated from incomplete combustion of syngas</td><td>Equipment technical specifications (e.g. 99% efficiency guaranteed), records of amount of syngas produced</td></tr><tr><td>Bottom ash waste</td><td>50</td><td>kg</td><td>Management of ash residue from 1 year, landfilled</td><td>Invoice from waste management company</td></tr></tbody></table>

<details>

<summary>Calculations- Project emissions</summary>

$$\textbf{(Eq.1)}\ E\_{\text{Project processing}} = \sum (\text{Amount}\_i \times EF\_i)$$

Where,

* $$E\_{\text{Project processing}}$$ represents the total emissions from this module
* $$Amount\_i$$ represents the amount of the input/emission of type $$i$$, in the same units as the emission factor described below
* $$EF\_i$$ represents the emission factor for the input/emission of type $$i$$ in kg CO$$\_2$$eq per given unit from ecoinvent

</details>

### Uncertainty assessment <a href="#dk35zb8m2b1p" id="dk35zb8m2b1p"></a>

See general instructions for uncertainty assessment in the [Rainbow Standard Rules](https://docs.rainbowstandard.io/~/changes/215/modules/broken-reference). The outcome of the assessment shall be used to determine the percent of RCCs to eliminate with the [**discount factor**](#user-content-fn-2)[^2].

Uncertainty may come from project data, but this is estimated to be negligible, since it is required to come from a direct measurement.

This translates to **no minimum expected discount factor** based on this module.

## Appendix

The table below presents a non-exhaustive selection of Ecoinvent activities that may be used in the GHG reduction calculations for this module. Additional activities may be used for any project, if the following selection does not cover all relevant activities.

*Table A1 List of ecoinvent 3.12 processes used in the GHG reduction quantification model, all processes are from the cutoff database*

<table data-full-width="false"><thead><tr><th width="223">Input</th><th>Ecoinvent activity name</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>grid electricity</td><td><ul><li>market for electricity, low voltage</li><li>market for electricity, medium voltage</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>onsite solar electricity</td><td>electricity production, photovoltaic, 570kWp open ground installation, multi-Si</td></tr><tr><td>diesel fuel material</td><td><ul><li>market for diesel, low-sulfur</li><li>market for diesel</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>diesel burning</td><td><ul><li>diesel, burned in agricultural machinery</li><li>diesel, burned in diesel-electric generating set, 18.5kW</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>natural gas burning</td><td>natural gas, burned in gas turbine</td></tr><tr><td>heat, from steam</td><td>market for heat, from steam, in chemical industry</td></tr><tr><td>heat, from munipal incineration</td><td>heat, from municipal waste incineration to generic market for heat, district or industrial, other than natural gas</td></tr><tr><td>heat, from biomethane burning</td><td>market for heat, central or small-scale, biomethane</td></tr><tr><td>heat, from straw burning in a furnace</td><td>heat production, straw, at furnace 300kW</td></tr><tr><td>heat, from natural gas</td><td><ul><li>market for heat, district or industrial, natural gas</li><li>market for heat, central or small-scale, natural gas</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>water</td><td><ul><li>market for tap water</li><li>market for water, decarbonised</li><li>market for water, deionised</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>non-hazardous landfill</td><td><ul><li>market for process-specific burdens, slag landfill</li><li>market for process-specific burdens, sanitary landfill</li><li>market for process-specific burdens, inert material landfill</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td>hazardous waste treatment</td><td><ul><li>market for hazardous waste, for incineration</li><li>market for hazardous waste, for underground deposit</li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Risk evaluation template

:point\_right: Download the template [here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ykTGQqYffuVB8C603hT4qPeecdXKfDoZT97WYAuE5y4/edit?usp=sharing)

{% embed url="<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ykTGQqYffuVB8C603hT4qPeecdXKfDoZT97WYAuE5y4/edit?usp=sharing>" fullWidth="true" %}

## Version history

<table><thead><tr><th width="233">Change</th><th>Justification</th><th>Date</th><th>Version changed</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Restructure sections: added Baseline Scope, renamed Eligible technologies to Eligibility and scope, renamed Eligibility criteria to Principles &#x26; requirements, moved Monitoring Plan to Principles &#x26; requirements</td><td>Align with Standard Rules V7 structure</td><td>January 21st, 2026</td><td>V1.2 to V1.3</td></tr><tr><td>Change GHG quantification from ecoinvent v3.11 to v3.12</td><td>Using more recent version of database</td><td>January 21st, 2026</td><td>V1.2 to V1.3</td></tr><tr><td>Change from BiCRS module to general module, remove BiCRS specific content</td><td>Make module more widely usable, e.g. for enhanced rock weathering and mineralization</td><td>September 10, 2025</td><td>V1.1 to V1.2</td></tr><tr><td>Change GHG quantification from ecoinvent v3.10 to v3.11</td><td>Using more recent version of database</td><td>June 5th, 2025</td><td>V1.0 to V1.1</td></tr><tr><td>First release of module</td><td>-</td><td>December 4th, 2024</td><td>V1</td></tr></tbody></table>

[^1]: Wernet, G., Bauer, C., Steubing, B., Reinhard, J., Moreno-Ruiz, E., Weidema, B., 2016. The ecoinvent database version 3 (part I): overview and methodology. Int J Life Cycle Assess 21, 1218–1230. <https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-016-1087-8>

[^2]: A percentage of verified Rainbow Carbon Credits eliminated from each project and never issued. This acts as a safeguard against uncertainty in GHG reduction quantifications and overestimated carbon removal/avoidance.
