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Real-time CO2 emissions estimate


Open data

 

The calculation of the real-time CO2 emissions estimate of the Finnish electricity system is based on real-time production and import/export data from Fingrid’s operation control system as well as specified emission coefficients.

The emission coefficients used for domestic electricity production are average emissions per form of production, which have been determined together with Statistics Finland and Finnish Energy. The forms of production used in the calculation are hydroelectric, nuclear, wind and solar power, combined heat and power (district heating and industry), and other production and power reserves. A separate CO2 emission coefficient has been specified for each form of production and for the import of electricity. These are used to estimate the CO2 emissions from both Finnish electricity production and the production of electricity consumed in Finland. The calculation does not take into account the greenhouse gases and other environmental impacts associated with the life cycle of production plants and infrastructure. In addition, EU emissions trading or guarantees of origin have not been taken into account in the calculation.

Hydroelectric, nuclear, wind and solar power are defined as emission-free in the calculation. The emission coefficients used to estimate the emissions of combined heat and power have been estimated from the electricity and heat production statistics of Statistics Finland. Emissions from separate production at combined heat and power plants have been included in the emission coefficients of combined heat and power in relation to the volumes of energy of the forms of production. Table 1 presents the emission coefficients per form of production used in the calculation.

The emission coefficients for the import of electricity have been defined on a country-specific basis, and they are standard coefficients based on historical production that are updated once a year. The coefficients are based on the emission coefficients reported by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The IEA has defined country-specific emission coefficients for Sweden, Norway, Russia and Estonia. Only the emission coefficient of the electricity production of the import country is taken into account in the import of electricity. In the definition, import increases the emissions associated with the electricity consumed in Finland. Both Finnish electricity production and electricity imported to Finland from neighbouring countries are taken into account when calculating the emissions related to the export of electricity. In the definition, export reduces the emissions associated with the electricity consumed in Finland.

The emissions from Finnish electricity production are obtained by adding up the product of the coefficient and production volume of each form of production and dividing this sum by the total electricity production in Finland (Formula I). The emissions from the electricity consumed in Finland are calculated by taking into account Finnish electricity production, the import of electricity into Finland and the export of electricity from Finland to other countries (Formula II).

COemissions from electricity production are part of EU emissions trading. More detailed statistics on the volume of greenhouse gases in Finland are published by, among others, Statistics Finland and the Energy Authority. There are several different ways to calculate real-time emissions. We welcome development ideas to improve Fingrid’s CO2 estimate. All production data used in the calculation is available through Fingrid’s Open Data service.

Table 1.

Emission coefficients updated

Emission coefficients (gCO2/kWh)

 

 

 

 

 

Hydro power

Nuclear power

Wind power

Solar power

District heating CHP*

Industrial CHP*

Other production**

Power reserve

3.7.2019

0

0

0

0

330

170

100

877

3.4.2020

0

0

0

0

340

180

114

814

3.6.2021

0

0

0

0

300

130

87

721

3.5.2022

0

0

0

0

280

140

68

810

16.1.2023

0

0

0

0

280

140

68/810

810

29.3.2023

0

0

0

0

279

144

75/902

902

8.3.2024

0

0

0

0

281

138

66/809

809


Source: Statistics Finland
*Calculated using Statistics Finland's electricity production statistics (Energy: 12.3.2.3 and 3.4.2)

**The emission coefficient for separate generation is used when production reaches 150 MW (Energy: 12.3.2.3)  

 

Table 2. Emission coefficients of the Finnish electricity system

Year Emission factor of electricity production in Finland (gCO2/kWh) Emission factor for electricity consumed in Finland (gCO2/kWh)
Method of average calculation Statistics Finland (Weighted)* Weighted*** Arithmetic Weighted*** Arithmetic
2018 114 104 101 120 119
2019 87 91 87 104 101
2020 68 76 74 73 72
2021 75 75 71 94 91
2022 66 57 55 63 60
2023 Not published yet 40 38 38 36

 

***Fingrid has started to use the weighted yearly average in annual reporting 2023 onwards instead of the previously reported arithmetic yearly average. The weighted yearly averages have been calculated and added to the table post the change for the previous years. These averages have been calculated by weighting the momentary emission factor values by the momentary values of corresponding total electricity consumption or generation.

Equation I. Emission factor of electricity production in Finland 

formula1.JPG

 

Equation II. Emission factor for electricity consumed in Finland

 

formula2.JPG