Non-CO₂ Greenhouse Gases from Stationary Sources

Combustion of fuels at stationary sources results in emissions of five non-CO₂ GHGs: CH₄, N₂O, CO, NOx , and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs). However, global warming potentials have only been developed for CH₄ and N₂O, and therefore Workbook guidelines call for emissions estimates of these two gases alone. The mechanism of N₂O production is fairly well understood; emissions depend on the combustion temperature, with the highest N₂O emissions at a temperature of 1000 degrees Kelvin. For combustion temperatures below 800 or above 1200 degrees Kelvin, the N₂O emissions are negligible. Methane is a product of incomplete combustion and is emitted in relatively small quantities when combustion temperatures are low.

The Workbook provides two methodologies: a simple method that applies default emission factors to the total combustion of coal, petroleum, and natural gas, and a more complex method requiring data on fuel consumption by sector, combustion technology, and control technology. We employ the simple method, which does not extend to CH₄, and estimate emissions of N₂O in 1990 and 1995.

Data on combustion of coal, petroleum, and natural gas were taken from the State Energy Data Report of the Energy Information Administration, and combined with default emissions factors from the Workbook. As shown in the N₂O Emissions tables, in 1990 total N₂O emissions were 2469 MTCE, and rose slightly to 2568 MTCE in 1995.

1990 N₂O Emissions from Stationary Sources

Fuel Type	Higher Heating	Lower Heating	Emissions
	Value (10^12 Btu)	Value (10^12 Btu)	(MT)	(MTCE)
Coal	0.2	0.2	0.3	23.3
Petroleum	43.0	40.9	25.9	2192.8
Natural Gas	36.7	33.0	3.0	253.3
Total	79.9	74.1	29.2	2469.4

1995 N2O Emissions from Stationary Sources

Fuel Type	Higher Heating	Lower Heating	Emissions
	Value (10^12 Btu)	Value (10^12 Btu)	(MT)	(MTCE)
Coal	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Petroleum	40.7	38.7	24.5	2075.5
Natural Gas	71.3	64.2	5.8	492.1
Total	112.0	102.8	30.4	2567.6

Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases from Stationary Sources

1990 N2O Emissions from Stationary Sources

1995 N2O Emissions from Stationary Sources

Non-CO₂ Greenhouse Gases from Stationary Sources

1990 N₂O Emissions from Stationary Sources