CO2 emissions from electricity generation by type of generation
This article describes the CO2 emissions from electricity generation by type of generation .
General
Measuring greenhouse gas emissions from power generation means calculating the global warming potential of any source of electrical energy by examining its life cycle . For each source, the results are presented using units of global warming potential per unit of electrical energy generated. The scales used are the unit of global warming potential, carbon dioxide equivalent (CO 2 eq), and the unit of electrical energy, kilowatt hour (kWh). The aim of these assessments is to cover the entire life cycle of each source: from the mining of materials and fuels, to the construction and operation of production facilities, to waste disposal.
In 2014, based on hundreds of scientific articles , the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change analyzed and summarized research on the greenhouse gas emissions of each source, using the carbon dioxide equivalent as a common unit.
For each technology, the efficiency gains and thus the reduction since the time of publication in 2014 were not taken into account. For example, total life cycle emissions from wind power can be reduced since publication. Likewise, based on the period over which the studies were conducted, emissions from second generation nuclear reactors are being studied, while third generation reactors are currently under construction in Europe, the United States and China.
2014 IPCC study on CO 2 emissions from various power sources
technology | Min. | Median | Max. |
---|---|---|---|
Technologies currently available | |||
coal | 740 | 820 | 910 |
Biomass combined with coal | 620 | 740 | 890 |
natural gas | 410 | 490 | 650 |
Biomass alone | 130 | 230 | 420 |
Large scale solar module | 18th | 48 | 180 |
Solar module on roofs | 26th | 41 | 60 |
Geothermal energy | 6.0 | 38 | 79 |
Concentrated solar energy | 8.8 | 27 | 63 |
Hydropower | 1.0 | 24 | 2200 |
Wind turbine at sea | 8.0 | 12 | 35 |
Atomic energy | 3.7 | 12 | 110 |
Onshore wind energy | 7.0 | 11 | 56 |
Technologies in development | |||
Coal with CO 2 sequestration | 190 | 220 | 250 |
Coal with CO 2 sequestration and gasification | 170 | 200 | 230 |
Gas in a combined cycle with CO 2 sequestration | 94 | 170 | 340 |
Coal with CO 2 sequestration and oxygen combustion | 100 | 160 | 200 |
Tidal energy | 5.6 | 17th | 28 |
credentials
- ↑ IPCC Working Group III - Mitigation of Climate Change, Annex III: Technology - specific cost and performance parameters _ Table A.III.2 (Emissions of selected electricity supply technologies (gCO 2eq / kWh). Accessed December 14, 2018 .
- ↑ IPCC Working Group III - Mitigation of Climate Change, Annex II Metrics and Methodology). Pp. 14–31 , accessed on May 23, 2020 .