Challenge Registry: Emissions Estimation Resource Page
Emission Factors and Global Warming Potentials
Below are the links to the web versions of references and sources that are maintained and updated on a regular basis by the respective parties that should enable you to locate the most current relevant factor for your use. This is meant to assist you in locating pertinent information and is not meant to be a complete and exhaustive list. If you are aware of a source or reference that could be listed, please contact us so that we may add it to assist others.
Canada - Energy-related emissions factors can be drawn from Canada's National Greenhouse Gas Inventory.
For the National Inventory Report 1990-2006, we have provided a link to the appropriate table where possible. http://www.ec.gc.ca/pdb/ghg/inventory_report/2006_report/a12_eng.cfm
The main web entry page is http://www.ec.gc.ca/pdb/ghg/ghg_home_e.cfm
Provincial/Territorial Greenhouse Gas Emission Tables, 1990 - 2006
ANNEX 9: ELECTRICITY INTENSITY TABLES
Emissions Factors for Fuel Combustion Energy Sources
Transportation related emissions factors can be drawn from the Energy Use Data Handbook, where possible we have provided a link to the online tables.
The main web entry page is http://oee1.nrcan.gc.ca/corporate/statistics/neud/dpa/handbook_tran_ca.cfm?attr=0
Passenger Transportation GHG Emissions by Energy Source and Transportation Mode
Transportation GHG Emissions by Energy Source and Transportation Mode
Freight Transportation GHG Emissions by Energy Source and Transportation Mode
United States
United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) development of the national greenhouse gas inventory
U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Global/International
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC)
Global Warming Potentials
http://unfccc.int/ghg_emissions_data/information_on_data_sources/global_warming_potentials/items/3825.php
Approved Baseline and Monitoring Methodologies
http://cdm.unfccc.int/methodologies/PAmethodologies/approved.html?searchon=1&searchmode=advanced
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/index.htm
Emission Factor Database (EFDB)
http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/EFDB/main.php
World Resources Institute
GHG Calculation Tools
http://www.ghgprotocol.org/templates/GHG5/layout.asp?type=p&MenuId=OTAx
Other links that may be of assistance:
Additional Resources
Please note that to convert tonnes of each GHG to tonnes of CO2 equivalents (e) the tonne of each specific gas emitted must be multiplied by it's global warming potential. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) global warming potentials for CO2, CH4 and N2O are as follows:
| Gas | Chemical formula | Global warming potential |
| Carbon dioxide | CO2 | 1 |
| Methane | CH4 | 21 |
| Nitrous oxide | N2O | 310 |
Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Reporting Instructions, 1997.
As an example, if your source emits 22 tonnes of CO2 and 0.05 tonnes of CH4 and 0.01 tonnes of N2O:
Tonnes (t) in CO2 equivalents = (t CO2 X 1) + (t CH4 X 21) + (t N2O X 310)
= (22 X 1) + (0.05 X 21) + (0.01 X 310)
= 22.0 + 1.05 + 3.10
= 26.15 tonnes CO2 eq.
For further information on global warming potentials see CAN/CSA-ISO 14064-1: Specification with guidance at the organization level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals, Annex C.
Conversion Factors
| Energy | |||
| 1 GigaJoule (GJ) | = | 1,000 | MegaJoules (MJ) |
| = | 1,000,000,000 | Joules (J) | |
| = | 277.8 | kilowatt-hours (kWh) | |
| = | 948,170 | British Thermal Units (BTU) | |
| = | 9.48 | Therms | |
| 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) | = | 1,000 | Watt-hours (Wh) |
| = | 3.6 | MJ | |
| = | 0.0036 | GJ | |
| = | 3,413.4 | BTU | |
| = | 0.03413 | Therms | |
| 1 British Thermal Unit | = | 0.001 | kBTU |
| (BTU) | = | 1,055 | J |
| = | 0.00105 | MJ | |
| = | 0.000293 | kWh | |
| = | 0.00001 | Therms | |
| 1 kg of steam delivers 2,220 BTUs OR 1 lb of steam delivers 1,000 BTUs | |||
| Common Factors | |||
| 1 Pound (lb.) | = | 0.454 | kilograms (kg) |
| 1 tonne | = | 1,000 | kilograms (kg) |
| 1 m3 | = | 1,000 | litres (L) |
| 1 Imperial Gallon | = | 4.547 | litres (L) |
| (Imp. gal.) | |||
| 1 U.S. Gallon | = | 3.785 | litres (L) |
| (US gal.) | |||
| 1 Cubic foot (ft3) | = | 0.028317 | cubic metres (m3) |
| 1 Tera | = | 1,000,000,000,000 | |
| 1 Giga | = | 1,000,000,000 | |
| 1 Mega | = | 1,000,000 | |
Source: Canada's Emissions Outlook: Update, Energy Policy Branch, Natural Resources Canada.
Energy Contents
| Energy Type | Energy Content | ||
| Electricity | |||
| - Hydro | 3.6 | MJ/kWh | |
| Natural Gas | 38.09 | MJ/m3 | |
| Crude Oil | |||
| - Light | 38.51 | MJ/litre | |
| - Heavy | 41.73 | MJ/litre | |
| - Pentanes Plus | 35.17 | MJ/litre | |
| Ethane (liquid) | 18.36 | GJ/m3 | |
| Butanes (liquid) | 28.62 | GJ/m3 | |
| Propane (liquid) | 25-53 | GJ/m3 | |
| Coal | |||
| - Anthracite | 27.70 | GJ/tonne | |
| - Bituminous | 27.70 | GJ/tonne | |
| - Sub-bituminous | 18.80 | GJ/tonne | |
| - Lignite | 14.40 | GJ/tonne | |
| - Average domestic use | 22.20 | GJ/tonne | |
| Petroleum Products | |||
| - Aviation Gasoline | 33.62 | GJ/m3 | |
| - Motor Gasoline | 34.66 | GJ/m3 | |
| - Petrochemical Feedstocks | 35.17 | GJ/m3 | |
| - Naphtha Specialties | 35.17 | GJ/m3 | |
| - Aviation Turbo Fuel | 35.93 | GJ/m3 | |
| - Kerosene | 37.68 | GJ/m3 | |
| - Diesel | 38.68 | GJ/m3 | |
| - Light Fuel Oil | 38.68 | GJ/m3 | |
| - Lubes and Greases | 39.16 | GJ/m3 | |
| - Heavy Fuel Oil | 41.73 | GJ/m3 | |
| - Still Gas | 41.73 | GJ/m3 | |
| - Asphalt | 44.46 | GJ/m3 | |
| - Petroleum | 42.38 | GJ/m3 | |
| - Other Products | 39.82 | GJ/m3 | |
Source:Canada's Emissions Outlook: Update, Energy Policy Branch, Natural Resources Canada.