GREET Model

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) developed the GREET® (Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Technologies) model suite to evaluate the environmental impacts of fuels, products, technologies, and energy systems throughout their entire life cycle. Developed by Argonne National Laboratory, GREET is one of the most widely used tools for analyzing the energy, emissions, and resource requirements associated with transportation and energy pathways.

GREET enables users to quantify:

• Total energy consumption (renewable and non-renewable)

• Fossil fuel use, including petroleum, natural gas, and coal

• Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

• Regulated air pollutant emissions

• Water consumption

By evaluating impacts across all stages of a supply chain—from resource extraction and production to transportation, use, and end-of-life management—GREET provides a comprehensive framework for life cycle assessment (LCA) and sustainability analysis.

Available GREET Models

R&D GREET

The Research and Development (R&D) GREET model is designed to evaluate emerging transportation and energy technologies. It supports research, development, demonstration, and deployment efforts by providing detailed assessments of energy use and environmental performance. R&D GREET is available as both a Microsoft Excel model and a .NET-based application.

Additional GREET Models

Specialized GREET models have been developed to support specific regulatory, policy, and industry applications:

• 40B SAF-GREET

• 45V H₂-GREET

• 45Z CF-GREET

• CA-GREET 4.0

• ICAO-GREET

History and Development

Argonne National Laboratory began developing the GREET model in 1994, with the first public release issued in 1995. Since then, GREET has become a cornerstone of DOE research and analysis efforts, supporting the evaluation of technologies and strategies that improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and advance sustainable energy systems.

Applications and Use Cases

GREET models are tailored to specific applications and are used by researchers, industry stakeholders, policymakers, and regulatory agencies to support:

• Technology evaluation and benchmarking

• Research and development planning

• Sustainability and environmental assessments

• Regulatory and policy analysis

• Fuel and energy pathway comparisons

Because different versions of GREET are designed for different purposes, users should ensure they select the model appropriate for their intended application. Regulatory programs and tax credit initiatives may require specific GREET versions that differ from the annually updated R&D GREET model.

For example, the annual R&D GREET release is intended to support research and stakeholder engagement, while regulatory programs may adopt customized GREET versions for compliance and reporting requirements.

Additional Resources

For documentation, model downloads, training materials, and technical guidance, users are encouraged to explore the full suite of GREET resources available through Argonne National Laboratory