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GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES, VOL. 15, NO. 1, PAGES 169–181, 2001

Calculation of Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Review of Emission Factors and a New Approach Taking Fuel Quality into Consideration

Michael Hiete

Institute for Geoecology, Technical University of Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany


Ulrich Berner

Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Hannover, Hannover, Germany


Otto Richter

Institute for Geoecology, Technical University of Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany


Abstract

Anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions resulting from fossil fuel consumption play a major role in the current debate on climate change. Carbon dioxide emissions are calculated on the basis of a carbon dioxide emission factor (CEF) for each type of fuel. Published CEFs are reviewed in this paper. It was found that for nearly all CEFs, fuel quality is not adequately taken into account. This is especially true in the case of the CEFs for coal. Published CEFs are often based on generalized assumptions and inexact conversions. In particular, conversions from gross calorific value to net calorific value were examined. A new method for determining CEFs as a function of calorific value (for coal, peat, and natural gas) and specific gravity (for crude oil) is presented that permits CEFs to be calculated for specific fuel qualities. A review of proportions of fossil fuels that remain unoxidized owing to incomplete combustion or inclusion in petrochemical products, etc., (stored carbon) shows that these figures need to be updated and checked for their applicability on a global scale, since they are mostly based on U.S. data.

Received 17 January 2000; accepted 17 July 2000.

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Citation: Hiete, M., U. Berner, and O. Richter (2001), Calculation of Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Review of Emission Factors and a New Approach Taking Fuel Quality into Consideration, Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 15(1), 169–181.