We present and apply a simple bottom-up model for estimating non-energy use of fossil fuels and resulting CO₂ (carbon dioxide) emissions. We apply this model for the year 2000: (1) to the world as a whole, (2) to the aggregate of Annex I countries and non-Annex I countries, and (3) to the ten non-Annex I countries with the highest consumption of fossil fuels for non-energy purposes. We find that worldwide non-energy use is equivalent to 1,670 ± 120 Mt (megatonnes) CO₂ and leads to 700 ± 90 Mt CO₂ emissions. Around 75% of non-energy use emissions is related to industrial processes. The remainder is attributed to the emission source categories of solvent and other product use, agriculture, and waste. Annex I countries account for 51% (360 ± 50 Mt CO₂) and non-Annex I countries for 49% (340 ± 70 Mt CO₂) of worldwide non-energy use emissions. Among non-Annex I countries, China is by far the largest emitter of non-energy use emissions (122 ± 18 Mt CO₂). Our research deepens the understanding of non-energy use and related CO₂ emissions in countries for which detailed emission inventories do not yet exist. Despite existing model uncertainties, we recommend NEAT-SIMP to inventory experts for preparing correct and complete non-energy use emission estimates for any country in the world.

Non-energy use of fossil fuels accounts for 7% of the Total Primary Energy Supply (TPES) of Germany and represents an important potential source of CO₂ (carbon dioxide) emissions. To gain a better understanding of emissions associated with non-energy use in Germany, we conduct a bottom-up carbon flow analysis with the Non-energy use Emission Accounting Tables (NEAT) model for the period of 1990-2003. We calculate average yearly non-energy use emissions to be 25 ± 2 megatonnes (Mt) CO₂, of which 77% are related to industrial processes, 17% to solvent and other product use, 2% to fertilizer use in agriculture, and 4% to wastewater treatment. The comparison of NEAT estimates and official data reveals gaps and errors in the German greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory. This research highlights the difficulties associated with non-energy use emissions accounting not only in Germany but in other countries as well. To ensure correct calculation of non-energy use emissions, we recommend that inventory experts (i) obtain detailed insight into the system boundaries of non-energy use data as stated in national energy statistics, (ii) allocate non-energy use emissions accordingly to the relevant emission source categories (i.e., energy, industrial processes, solvent and other product use, agriculture, or waste), (iii) ensure completeness of emission estimates, and (iv) be cautious with the use of default emission factors as given by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

We prepared energy and carbon balances for 68 petrochemical processes in the petrochemical industry for Western Europe, the Netherlands and the world. We analysed the process energy use in relation to the heat effects of the chemical reactions and quantified in this way the sum of all energy inputs into the processes that do not end up in the useful products of the process, but are lost as waste heat to the environment. We showed that both process energy use and heat effects of reaction contribute significantly to the overall energy loss of the processes studied and recommend addressing reaction effects explicitly in energy-efficiency studies. We estimated the energy loss in Western Europe in the year 2000 at 1620 PJ of final energy and 1936 PJ of primary energy, resulting in a total of 127 Mt CO₂. The losses identified can be regarded as good approximations of the theoretical energy-saving potentials of the processes analysed. The processes with large energy losses in relative (per tonne of product) and absolute (in PJ per year) terms are recommended for more detailed analysis taking into account further thermodynamic, economic, and practical considerations to identify technical and economic energy-saving potentials.

A preliminary bottom-up analysis of the energy use in the chemical industry has been performed, using a model containing datasets on production processes for 52 of the most important bulk chemicals as well as production volumes for these chemicals. The processes analysed are shown to cover between 70% and 100% of the total energy use in the chemical sector. Energy use and the heat effects of the reactions taking place are separately quantified. The processes are also compared with energetically-ideal processes following the stoichometric reactions. The comparison shows that there is significant room for process improvements, both in the direction of more selective processes and in the direction of further energy-savings.

We studied energy efficiency trends in the Dutch manufacturing industry between 1995 and 2003 using indicators based on publicly available physical production and specific energy consumption data. We estimated annual primary energy efficiency improvements in this period at 1.3% on average, with the individual sub-sectors ranging between -0.1% and 1.5%. Energy efficiency developments with respect to electricity, fuels/heat and non-energy use have been monitored separately and are shown to differ significantly (for the sum of the sectors studied: 1.9% for electricity, 2.6% for fuels/heat and -0.1% for non-energy use). We combined our results with those from a previous, similar study for 1980-1995 and show that over the full time period, efficiency improvements of 1% per year have been achieved on average. Based on comparison with other sources and a detailed uncertainty analysis, we conclude that we developed a reliable top-down monitoring framework for studying energy efficiency trends of the manufacturing industry that can also be applied in other countries where similar data are available. We also showed that substantial differences exist between energy consumption data available from energy statistics and according to the Long Term Agreement monitoring reports, stressing the need for ongoing independent checks of available energy consumption data to avoid problems in future evaluations of energy efficiency policies.

This article develops indicators to monitor energy efficiency developments in the food and tobacco industry based on physical production data at the firm level provided by the statistics office of the Netherlands in a confidential basis. We measure energy efficiency by using an energy efficiency indicator which is the aggregate specific energy consumption. Our results show that the food and tobacco industry has improved their energy efficiency indicator in primary terms by about 1% per year (uncertainty range between 0.9 and 1.3). In terms of final energy, there has been a decrease on the indicator for final demand of fuels of about 1.8% p.a. while there has been no improvement in the indicator for final demand of electricity. The development in energy efficiency is coherent with the reported implementation rate of energy conservation projects. We conclude that the type and the quality of the data compiled by Statistics Netherlands for the food sector is sufficient to develop indicators as required by energy and climate policy.

To contribute to a more accurate accounting of CO₂ emissions originating from the non-energy use of fossil fuels, the non-energy use emission accounting tables (NEAT) model has been developed. The model tracks the final fate of the carbon embodied in this non-energy use by means of a carbon flow analysis for the relevant sectors. The model generates estimates for total non-energy use, carbon storage in synthetic organic chemicals and CO₂ emissions resulting from non-energy use that are independent from energy statistics. This paper describes the basic methodology of the NEAT model. It is shown that the results obtained with the model can be used as an important addition to and crosscheck for the non-energy use emission accounting in official greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventories prepared according to the guidelines of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The model can help to identify which definitions of non-energy use are applied in the energy statistics employed in national emission inventories and can help to improve national inventory methodologies based on this insight.

Estimating CO₂ emissions resulting from the non-energy use of fossil fuels is not straightforward, because part of the carbon is released quickly as CO₂ whereas another part is first embodied in organic chemicals. To contribute to a more accurate non-energy use CO₂ emission accounting, the Non-energy use Emission Accounting Tables (NEAT) model has been developed, which is in this paper applied to the Netherlands for the time period 1993-1999. For this period, we estimate the total non-energy use in CO₂ equivalents in the Netherlands to vary between 26.1 and 30.2 Mt CO₂. Of this total, 4.6-6.6 Mt CO₂ is emitted in industrial processes and during product use. The remainder is stored, resulting in an overall storage fraction of approximately 80%. Given the uncertainties involved, we cannot distinguish clear trends for the years of study. We show that the definition of non-energy use has a significant effect on the calculated storage fractions. The carbon storage according to the Dutch national greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventory is 5-9 Mt CO₂ lower compared to the NEAT result. As a result, total fossil CO₂ emissions (including those from fossil fuel combustion) according to the national inventory are higher by the same amount, which is 3-5% of the total Dutch emissions. The difference is among other things caused by difficulties associated with the direct use of non-energy use figures from the Dutch energy statistics for CO₂ emission accounting. We recommend improving the Dutch GHG emission inventory making use of the results of this study.