20080630-IEA-Energy_Efficiency_Indicators_for_Public_Electricity_Production_from_Fossil_Fuels_23页_701kb

Summary of ENERGY EFFICIENCY INDICATORS FOR PUBLIC ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION FROM FOSSIL FUELS

Core Content

This document presents energy efficiency indicators for public electricity production from fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil) and provides an analysis of the potential energy and CO₂ savings achievable through efficiency improvements. It is part of the IEA's work to support the G8 Plan of Action and is based on IEA statistics and methodologies developed by experts.

Main Views

• Electricity Production and Fossil Fuel Use:
  Electricity production accounts for 32% of global fossil fuel use and 41% of energy-related CO₂ emissions. Improving energy efficiency in this sector is crucial for enhancing energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

• Efficiency Indicators:
  A set of indicators has been developed to assess the efficiency of electricity production from fossil fuels globally and for key countries and regions. These indicators provide insights into the efficiency of coal, natural gas, and oil separately, as well as combined fossil fuel efficiency.

• Global Efficiency Trends:
  The global average efficiency for electricity production from coal is 34%, natural gas is 40%, and oil is 37%. When all fossil fuels are considered together, the global average efficiency is 36%. OECD countries generally have higher efficiencies than non-OECD countries, with efficiency levels improving in most regions over the past decade.

• Fuel Mix Variations:
  The share of fossil fuel-based electricity production varies significantly across countries. OECD countries use fossil fuels for around 61% of their electricity production, while non-OECD countries use them for 72%. Coal dominates globally (63%), followed by natural gas (29%) and oil (9%).

• Efficiency Improvements:
  Efficiencies have increased since 1990, with OECD countries seeing an average increase of nearly 8 percentage points and non-OECD countries about 2 percentage points. The introduction of more efficient combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plants has been a key driver of this improvement.

• Energy Savings Potential:
  There is substantial potential for energy and CO₂ savings by improving efficiency. The technical fuel savings potential is between 21 EJ and 29 EJ annually, with a corresponding CO₂ reduction potential of 1.8 GtCO₂ to 2.5 GtCO₂. The largest savings come from improving coal-fired plant efficiency, which could save between 15 EJ and 21 EJ annually (1.4 GtCO₂ to 2.0 GtCO₂).

Key Information

Countries and Regions Analyzed

• OECD Countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.
• Non-OECD Countries: Brazil, China, India, Russia, South Africa.
• Regional Breakdown:
  • OECD countries account for just under half of the global energy savings potential.
  • Non-OECD countries contribute the remaining share.

Efficiency Methodology

• Efficiency is calculated using the formula:
  $$
  E = (P + H \times s) / I
  $$
  Where:

  • $P$ = electricity production
  • $H$ = useful heat output
  • $s$ = substitution factor (0.175 as the default value)
  • $I$ = fuel input

• The substitution factor accounts for the impact of heat extraction on electricity production efficiency. It is assumed to be between 0.15 and 0.2, with sensitivity analysis included in Annex A.

Efficiency by Fuel Type

Key Findings

• OECD Efficiency Leaders:
  Denmark leads with 43% coal efficiency, 44.9% natural gas efficiency, and 40.4% oil efficiency.
  Luxembourg has the highest natural gas efficiency at 54.9%.

• Non-OECD Efficiency Leaders:
  China has 32.4% coal efficiency, 38.9% natural gas efficiency, and 34.3% oil efficiency.
  India has the lowest coal efficiency at 27.3%.

• CHP Utilization:
  CHP (combined heat and power) systems are more efficient in terms of primary energy use but reduce electricity production efficiency. In some countries, such as Denmark, Poland, and the Slovak Republic, CHP accounts for a significant portion of fossil fuel-based electricity production.

• Savings Potential:

  • Coal: 15 EJ to 21 EJ of fuel savings annually, equivalent to 1.4 GtCO₂ to 2.0 GtCO₂.
  • Natural Gas: 5 EJ to 7 EJ of fuel savings annually, equivalent to 0.4 GtCO₂ to 0.6 GtCO₂.
  • Oil: 3 EJ to 4 EJ of fuel savings annually, equivalent to 0.3 GtCO₂ to 0.4 GtCO₂.
  • Total Savings: 21 EJ to 29 EJ of fuel savings annually, equivalent to 1.8 GtCO₂ to 2.5 GtCO₂.

• Sensitivity Analysis:
  The efficiency values are sensitive to the substitution factor $s$. The analysis includes sensitivity calculations for $s = 0.15$ and $s = 0.2$.

Conclusion

Improving the efficiency of fossil fuel-based electricity production offers significant economic and environmental benefits. OECD countries lead in efficiency, but non-OECD countries also have substantial potential for improvement. The most efficient use of fossil fuels in electricity production is achieved through advanced technologies and better operational practices, particularly in the case of natural gas and coal. The document emphasizes the importance of efficiency improvements in both developed and developing countries as a means of reducing fossil fuel dependence and mitigating climate change.