CO2 emissions from electricity generation by type of generation

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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

Emissions in grams of CO 2 per kilowatt hour (gCO 2 eq / kWh) in descending order from median .
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

  1. ↑ 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 .
  2. ↑ IPCC Working Group III - Mitigation of Climate Change, Annex II Metrics and Methodology). Pp. 14–31 , accessed on May 23, 2020 .