Eco-sheet
1 kWh generated using different energy sources
September 2008
By Sergio Ferreira, European Copper Institute
Email: saf@eurocopper.org
This eco-sheet has been produced by Leonardo ENERGY in the context of its project
'Efficiency and ecodesign'. It aims to quantify the environmental impact from generating
1kWh of electricity using different energy sources.
A well-diversified generation mix is essential to address challenges such as energy
security and economic efficiency, with some energy sources having a much higher
environmental burden than others.
The eco-sheet shows that there is no silver bullet solution. When looking at CO2
emissions only, it would be clear what options to take. However, this is not the only
environmental consideration. Not preferring any particular method of electricity
generation, the eco-sheet lists the main environmental impact categories (according to the
Apeldoorn declaration [Apeldoorn, 2003]) and benchmarks them against the electricity
generation mixes for the EU 25 and EU 15.
1 Product description and typical application
The product of this eco-sheet is a kWh of electricity, delivered to a customer. Electricity
is consumed in homes, office buildings, industry and transport for the purposes of
lighting, appliances, driving motors, heating buildings and powering electronics.
2 Scope of the LCA
The declared units for the LCA are the production, utilization and recycling phases. All
LCA data were taken from the GaBi4 database. The modelling and the inventory data
(specifically regarding data quality aspects) were performed in accordance with ISO
14040 series as far as applicable.
The modelling leading to the environmental burden of a kWh consumed takes into
account fuel extraction, transport and refining (where applicable), the construction of the
power plant and the losses in the electricity transmission and distribution system.
Inventories have been developed for the consumption of 1 kWh generated using 7
different technologies and energy sources:
- Coal
- Lignite
- Gas
- Hydro
- Nuclear
- Oil
- Wind
The average value of the losses in the electricity networks in Europe was used: 7,89%
[IEA Statistics].
These 7 generation technologies were also compared against the EU 25 and EU 15
electricity mixes, using the following data [IEA Statistics].
EU 25 EU 15
Losses 8.09% 6.32%
Hydro 11.01% 11.74%
Nuclear 32.19% 33.57%
Wind 1.91% 2.15%
Coal 21.14% 18.75%
Lignite 9.43% 7.68%
Oil 4.66% 4.85%
Gas 19.66% 21.25%
3 Results
3.1 Inventory
The table below compiles the results obtained from the LCA modelling of the 7 different
technologies and for the EU 25 and EU 15 generation mixes. The results are expressed on
the amounts of CO2, NOx and SO2 emissions, and the weights on the ‘Big 6’ Impact
Categories (Primary Energy Consumption, Acidification Potential, Eutrophication
Potential, Global Warming Potential, Ozone Layer Depletion Potential and
Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential [Apeldoorn, 2003]).
Further information on the environmental implications of electricity generation could be
achieved by looking at other impact categories as for example the eco-toxicity potential
or water use. However, these would refer to more local impacts and can be better
addressed by a Risk Assessment study on a case by case basis.
Parameters Unit EU 25 EU 15 Coal Lignite Gas Hydro Nuclear Oil Wind
Primary energy
consumption
(non-RES)
MJ 11.585 11.309 12.431 10.738 10.532 0.024 16.160 13.148 0.278
Primary energy
consumption
(RES)
MJ 0.695 0.736 0.010 0.015 0.005 5.030 0.025 0.015 6.590
Carbon dioxide kg 0.537 0.494 1.097 1.242 0.625 0.026 0.033 1.064 0.018
Nitrogen Oxides kg 9.62E-04 8.66E-04 2.62E-03 1.85E-03 5.98E-04 9.04E-06 5.63E-05 1.99E-03 3.55E-05
Sulphur dioxide kg 2.25E-03 1.95E-03 4.43E-03 1.01E-02 3.92E-04 2.22E-06 1.34E-04 5.01E-03 5.80E-05
Acidification
potential
kg SO2-eq 2.93E-03 2.56E-03 6.28E-03 1.14E-02 8.18E-04 8.62E-06 1.76E-04 6.41E-03 8.65E-05
Eutrophication
potential
kg Phosphate-
eq
1.54E-04 1.41E-04 3.93E-04 2.57E-04 1.44E-04 1.75E-06 1.32E-05 2.88E-04 1.66E-05
Global warming
pot. (100 yrs)
kg CO2-eq 0.57668 0.53065 1.21 1.2543 0.68384 0.026459 0.037747 1.0981 0.019891
Ozone layer
depletion pot.
kg R11-eq 1.38E-07 1.42E-07 1.18E-09 3.08E-09 9.42E-10 8.44E-11 4.26E-07 1.73E-09 2.95E-09
Photochemical
Ozone creation pot.
kg Ethene-eq 1.76E-04 1.56E-04 3.77E-04 5.81E-04 9.61E-05 7.80E-07 1.13E-05 3.86E-04 1.08E-05
Table 4 – Inventory results (including environmental impact categories CML 2001) per life generation source, EU25 and EU15 mixes,
as produced by the Eco-design Toolbox
3.2 Impact results
The following series of charts provides a simple graphic illustration of the results
obtained, comparing the production of 1 kWh from different sources.
0.000
0.200
0.400
0.600
0.800
1.000
1.200
1.400
EU25 EU15 Coal Lignite Gas Hydro Nuclear Oil Wind
CO2 (kg)
0.000
2.000
4.000
6.000
8.000
10.000
12.000
14.000
16.000
18.000
Primaryenergy(MJ)
EU 25 EU 15 Coal Lignite Gas Hydro Nuclear Oil Wind
Primary Energy Primary Energy - RES
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
EU25 EU15 Coal Lignit e Gas Hydro Nuclear Oil Wind
Global Warming Potential (kg CO2 eq)
0.00E+00
2.00E-03
4.00E-03
6.00E-03
8.00E-03
1.00E-02
1.20E-02
EU25 EU15 Coal Lignit e Gas Hydro Nuclear Oil Wind
Acidification Potential (kg SO2eq)
0.00E+00
5.00E-05
1.00E-04
1.50E-04
2.00E-04
2.50E-04
3.00E-04
3.50E-04
4.00E-04
EU25 EU15 Coal Lignite Gas Hydro Nuclear Oil Wind
Eutrophication Potential (kg Phosphate-eq)
0.00E+00
1.00E-04
2.00E-04
3.00E-04
4.00E-04
5.00E-04
6.00E-04
EU25 EU15 Coal Lignit e Gas Hydro Nuclear Oil Wind
Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential (kg
Ethene-eq)
0.00E+00
5.00E-08
1.00E-07
1.50E-07
2.00E-07
2.50E-07
3.00E-07
3.50E-07
4.00E-07
4.50E-07
EU25 EU15 Coal Lignit e Gas Hydro Nuclear Oil Wind
Ozone Layer Depletion Potential (kg R11-eq)
4 References
[GABI] The respective tools and models have been provided by PE Europe, Hauptstrasse
111-113, D-70771 Leinfelden-Echterdingen (Stuttgart), Germany, www.gabi-
software.com
[Toolbox, 2005] The original information of this environmental declaration sheet is taken
from the results of the GaBi 4 i-Report referring to the ecodesign toolbox 2005 (for
information, contact Sergio Ferreira, email saf@eurocopper.org )
[IEA Statistics] www.iea.org, 2004
[Apeldoorn, 2003] Improvement of LCA characterization factors and LCA practice for
metals
http://www.leidenuniv.nl/cml/ssp/projects/declaration_of_apeldoorn.pdf