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Joint Crediting Mechanism Approved Methodology SA_AM001“Introduction of High Efficiency Electrolyzer in Chlor-Alkali Processing Plant”
A. Title of the methodology
Introduction of High Efficiency Electrolyzer in Chlor-Alkali Processing Plant, Version 01.0

B. Terms and definitions
Terms

Definitions

Electrolyzer

An equipment used for the electrolysis of alkali chloride
solution, composed of an anode chamber, anode, cathodechamber, cathode, and an ion exchange membrane.

Ion-exchange membrane

Method for the electrolysis of alkali chloride solution

method (IEM)

separates the cathode and anode chambers, in which acation exchange membrane possesses special properties that
permit only transmission of cations (positive ions) not ofanions (negative ions).

Bipolar electrolyzer

Electrolyzer in which the elements are connected in series
and the power supply is connected only to the end part ofthe electrolyzer.

C. Summary of the methodology
Items
GHG

emissionmeasures

Summary
reduction Installing ion-exchange membrane electrolyzer, which reduces
electricity resistance of the electrolyzer unit and achieves
electricity consumption reduction in the chlor-alkali process.
This methodology applies to the project that aims for savingenergy by introducing high efficiency electrolyzer for the target
factory, commercial facilities etc. in Saudi Arabia.

Calculation
emissions

ofreference Reference emissions are GHG emissions from using referenceelectrolyzer, calculated with power consumption of projectelectrolyzer, ratio of the initial guarantee of specific electricity1

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consumptions of reference/project electrolyzers and CO2
emission factor for electricity consumed. The initial guaranteeof the electrolyzer has to be satisfied at the new plant, whose
membranes, electrodes and other elements are in the condition
that has not used and shows the best performance.
Calculationofproject Project emissions are GHG emissions from using projectemissionselectrolyzer, calculated with electricity consumption of projectelectrolyzer and CO2 emission factor for electricity consumed.

Monitoring parametersElectricity consumption of project electrolyzer

The amount of fuel consumed and/or the amount ofelectricity generated by captive power, where applicable.

D. Eligibility criteria

This methodology is applicable to projects that satisfy all of the following criteria.
Criterion 1

Project electrolyzer employs an ion-exchange membrane technology inelectrolyzers in the manufacturing process of chlor-alkali and the electrolyzer isthe bipolar type.

Criterion 2

Specific electricity consumption (SEC) for project electrolyzer i under thestandard conditions, 32% NaOH and 90 degrees Celsius is less than threshold
SEC values set in the table below under the standard conditions, 32% NaOH
and 90 degrees Celsius;
CD (Current density) [kA/m2]

Threshold SEC value of theelectrolyzer [kWh(DC)/t-NaOH]

4.0 ≤ CD < 4.52,045

4.5 ≤ CD < 5.02,088

5.0 ≤ CD < 5.52,131

5.5 ≤ CD < 6.02,174

6.0 ≤ CD < 6.52,217

Project specific electricity consumption is derived from specifications based on
initial performance test by manufacturer.

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E. Emission Sources and GHG types
Reference emissions
Emission sources

GHG types
CO2Electricity consumption by reference electrolyzer

Project emissions
Emission sources

GHG types
CO2Electricity consumption by project electrolyzer

F. Establishment and calculation of reference emissions
F.1. Establishment of reference emissions
Reference emissions are calculated by multiplying electricity consumption of projectelectrolyzer and ratio of specific electricity consumption for reference/project electrolyzer, andCO2 emission factor for consumed electricity. The specific electricity consumption of referenceelectrolyzer is conservatively set as a default value in the following manner to ensure netemission reductions.
All electrolyzers in the chlor-alkali process in Japan employ ion-exchange membrane
technology, and the average of specific electricity consumptions of the electrolyzers is 2,379kWh (DC)/ton-NaOH (Japan Soda Industry Association, 2014).
The range of averaged specific electricity consumptions of the Bipolar type electrolyzers in EU
is from 2,191 kWh (DC)/t-NaOH to 2,236 kWh(DC)/t-NaOH based on the document “Best
Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document for the Production of Chlor-alkali, 2014” byassuming general AC/DC efficiency of 96% to 98%.
The operating SECs of the existing bipolar ion-exchange membrane plant in Saudi Arabia werecollected and averaged within the range of current density taking the same current density
ranges as those in the above mentioned document. Accordingly the averaged SEC is calculated
as 2,210 kWh (DC)/t-NaOH.
As a result, it is considered that the electrolyzer at the exiting bipolar ion-exchange membrane
plant in Saudi Arabia has comparable efficiency advantage as it has the efficiency level ofalmost equivalent to the performance of electrolyzers reported in the document published in3

JCM_SA_AM001_ver01.0
Sectoral scope: 03EU. Hence it is determined to be the reference electrolyzer.
In order to calculate reference emissions, SECs of an initial performance test for the referenceelectrolyzer was collected in order to make it comparable to the SECs of project electrolyzer
which are also based on an initial performance test.
Considering the fact that the initial performance test is conducted based on production plan ofchlor-alkali and it varies for each plant, as well as that SECs are positively correlated withcurrent density, the reference SECs are set into five range of current densities. The specificelectricity consumptions of the initial performance test value of the electrolyzert is determined
as 2,045, 2,088, 2,131, 2,174 and 2,217 kWh (DC)/ton-NaOH corresponding to the range ofcurrent densities of 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0 kA/m2 respectively.
F.2. Calculation of reference emissions

ࡾࡱ࢖ = ෍ ࡱ࡯ࡾࡱ,࢏,࢖ × ࡱࡲࢋ࢒ࢋࢉ࢏

REp:

Reference emissions during the period p [tCO2/p]

ECRE,i,p:EFelec:Electricity consumption of the reference electrolyzer iduring the period p [MWh/p]
CO2 emission factor for consumed electricity [tCO2/MWh]The ECRE,i,p is to be calculated by the following equation.

ࡱ࡯ࡾࡱ,࢏,࢖ = ࡱ࡯ࡼ࢐,࢏,࢖ ×
ECPJ,i,p:SECRE,i,:

SECPJ,i,:ࡿࡱ࡯ࡾࡱ,࢏
ࡿࡱ࡯ࡼ࢐,࢏

Electricity consumption of the project electrolyzer i during
the period p [MWh/p]
Specific electricity consumption of the referenceelectrolyzer i [kWh(DC)/t-NaOH]
Specific electricity consumption of the project electrolyzer
i [kWh(DC)/t-NaOH]

G. Calculation of project emissions

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ࡼࡱ࢖ = ෍ ࡱ࡯ࡼࡶ,࢏,࢖ × ࡱࡲࢋ࢒ࢋࢉܲ‫ܧ‬௣‫ܥܧ‬௉௃,௜,௣‫ܨܧ‬௘௟௘௖࢏:

Project emissions during the period p [tCO2/p]:

Electricity consumption of the project electrolyzer i during theperiod p [MWh/p]:CO2 emission factor for consumed electricity [tCO2/MWh]

H. Calculation of emissions reductions

ERpREpPEp:::

ࡱࡾ࢖ = ࡼࡱ࢖ − ࡾࡱ࢖Emission reduction during the period p [tCO2/p]
Reference emissions during the period p [tCO2/p]
Project emissions during the period p [tCO2/p]

I. Data and parameters fixed ex ante
The source of each data and parameter fixed ex ante is listed as below.
Parameter
SECRE,i,pDescription of data

SourceSpecific electricity consumption of theAdditional informationreference electrolyzer i [kWh (DC)/t-NaOH].

The default SEC values areThe default value is set by the following table.

derived from the initial
performance test value ofCD (CurrentDefault value ofexisting electrolyzer which isdensity) [kA/m2] of

SEC of theinstalled in the chlor-alkali

performanceelectrolyzer

processing plant in Saudi

guarantee by[kWh(DC)/t-NaOH]

Arabia.

manufacturer of theThe survey should prove theproject electolyzer

use of clear methodology.

4.0 ≤ CD < 4.5

2,045

The SECRE,i should be revised

4.5 ≤ CD < 5.0

2,088

if necessary from survey

5.0 ≤ CD < 5.52,131

result which is conducted by

5.5 ≤ CD < 6.0

2,174

the Joint Committee or

6.0 ≤ CD < 6.5

2,217

project participants.

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SECPJ,i,pSpecific electricity consumption of the projectSpecification of the projectelectrolyzer i [kWh(DC)/t-NaOH].

electrolyzer i prepared for theperformance test bymanufacturer

EFelecCO2 emission factor of electricity consumed.

[Grid electricity]

When the project equipment consumes onlyThegrid electricity or captive electricity, theavailable at the time of

project participant applies the CO2 emissionvalidation is applied and fixedfactor respectively.

for the monitoring period

mostrecentvalue

thereafter. The data is sourced
When the project equipment may consume

from the National Committee

both grid electricity and captive electricity, thefor the Clean Development

project participant applies the CO2 emission

Mechanism(SaudiArabia

factor with lower value.

DNACDM),

unlessforotherwise instructed by the[CO2 emission factor]

Joint Committee.

For grid electricity: The most recent value
available from the source stated in this table at [Captive electricity]
the time of validation

For the option a)Specification of the captive

For captive electricity, it is determined based

power

generation

systemon the following options:provided by the manufacturer(ηelec [%]).

a) Calculated from its power generation

CO2 emission factor of theefficiency (ηelec [%]) obtained fromfossil fuel type used in the

manufacturer’s specification

captive

The power generation efficiency based on

system (EFfuel [tCO2/GJ])

power

generation

lower heating value (LHV) of the captive
power generation system from theFor the option b)

manufacturer’s specification is applied;Generated‫ܨܧ‬௘௟௘௖ = 3.6 ×100× ‫ܨܧ‬௙௨௘௟ߟ௘௟௘௖b) Calculated from measured data

6andsupplied

electricity by thecaptivepowersystemgeneration(EGPJ,p [MWh/p]).
Fuel amount consumed by theJCM_SA_AM001_ver01.0
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The power generation efficiency calculated

captive

powergenerationfrom monitored data of the amount of fuelsystem(FCPJ,p[massinput for power generation (‫ܥܨ‬௉௃,௣ ) and thevolume/p]).

amount of electricity generated (‫ܩܧ‬௉௃,௣ )during the monitoring period p is applied. The[GJ/mass or volume]) andmeasurement is conducted with the monitoring

CO2 emission factor of theequipment to which calibration certificate isfuel (EFfuel [tCO2/GJ]) in

issued by an entity accredited underorder of preference:orNet calorific value (NCVfuelnational/international standards;‫ܨܧ‬௘௟௘௖ = ‫ܥܨ‬௉௃,௣ × ܰ‫ܸܥ‬௙௨௘௟ × ‫ܨܧ‬௙௨௘௟ ×

Where:1‫ܩܧ‬௉௃,௣

1) values provided by the fuelsupplier;2)

measurement

bytheܰ‫ܸܥ‬௙௨௘௟ : Net calorific value of consumed project participants;

3) regional or national default

fuel [GJ/mass or volume]

values;Note:

4)

In case the captive electricity generation

provided in table 1.2 and 1.4

system meets all of the following conditions,of Ch.1 Vol.2 of 2006 IPCC

the value in the following table may be

Guidelines on National GHG

applied to ‫ܨܧ‬௘௟௘௖ depending on the consumed

Inventories. Lower value isfuel type.
IPCC

default

valuesapplied.

The system is non-renewable generation
systemElectricity generation capacity of the[Captive electricity withsystem is less than or equal to 15 MW

diesel fuel]CDM approved small scale

fuel type‫ܨܧ‬௘௟௘௖

Dieselfuel

Natural gas0.8 *1

0.46 *2

methodology: AMS-I.A.
[Captive electricity withnatural gas]

*1 The most recent value at the time of2006 IPCC Guidelines onvalidation is applied.

National GHG Inventories for*2 The value is calculated with the equation in

the source of EF of natural

the option a) above. The lower value of default

gas.

effective CO2 emission factor for natural gas

CDM Methodological tool

(0.0543tCO2/GJ), and the most efficient value"Determining the baselineof default efficiency for off-grid gas turbine

efficiency of thermal or7JCM_SA_AM001_ver01.0
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systems (42%) are applied.

electric energy generation
systems version02.0" for thedefault efficiency for off-grid
power plants.

History of the document
Version01.0

Date18 October 2017

Contents revised
Decision by the Joint Committee
Initial approval.

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