CO2 emission accounting for the non-energy use of fossil fuels in Italy: A comparison between NEAT model and the IPCC approaches

S. La Motta, D. Santino, P. Ancona and M. Weiss

Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 2005, vol. 45, issue 3, 310-330

Abstract: In this article, we apply the Non-energy Use Emission Accounting Tables (NEAT) model as an independent mass balance approach to Italy in order to estimate total non-energy use and related CO2 emissions for the year 1990 and the period 1995–1997. The model results are compared with official data according to the IPCC Reference Approach (IPCC-RA) and the IPCC Sectoral Approach (IPCC-SA) of the Italian National Inventory Report. The NEAT results for total non-energy use range between 25.0 and 27.6Mt CO2 equivalents and are therefore clearly below the values used in the IPCC-RA (31.3–32.8Mt CO2 equivalents). Our research revealed inconsistencies in the IPCC-RA regarding feedstock consumption (i) of steam crackers in 1990 and (ii) for ammonia production in the period of 1995–1997. The CO2 emissions as determined with NEAT correspond well with official IPCC-SA values for most individual industrial processes. However, the total industrial process emissions are underestimated in the IPCC-SA because CO2 released from methanol and carbon black production is not taken into account. Moreover, we calculate with NEAT 14–61% higher CO2 emissions from ‘solvent and other product use’ than the IPCC-SA. These deviations are caused to some extent by the fact that the IPCC-SA does not account for CO2 emissions from the consumption of lubricants. In total, we therefore conclude that emissions from the non-energy use of fossil fuels are currently underestimated in the IPCC-SA. Further research is recommended (i) to improve the general accuracy of emission estimates for ‘solvent and other product use’ in the IPCC-SA and (ii) to introduce a definition for non-energy use, which allocates feedstock consumption consistently to either energy use or non-energy use in the IPCC-SA and the IPCC-RA of the Italian National Inventory Report.

Keywords: Non-energy use; CO2 emissions; NEAT; National Inventory Report (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:recore:v:45:y:2005:i:3:p:310-330

DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2005.05.007

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