Calculations production numbers
Average passenger car CO2 emissions
The annual CO2 emission from a passenger car in Ireland is 1,962 Kg.
The average NEDC CO2 emissions from new passenger cars sold in 2020 in Ireland is 106,2g CO2/km. In 2010 equivalent number was 133,63g CO2/km. Let’s assume the average CO2 emissions from passenger cars in Ireland is 120g CO2/km.
On average, each private car travelled 16,352 kilometers in 2019 (using 2019 numbers due to covid-19 in 2020).
Formula:
16,352 km * 120g CO2/km = 1962 Kg CO2
Sources:
Monitoring of CO2 emissions from passenger cars (europa.eu)
Transport | Energy Statistics In Ireland | SEAI
Road Traffic Volumes - CSO - Central Statistics Office 2019
Road Traffic Volumes - CSO - Central Statistics Office 2020
Gas
Natural gas is the main source of gas in Ireland. A standard cubic meter of natural gas correspond to around 11 kWh. To produce 1 MWh of electricity from natural gas, around 180 m3 of natural gas is needed, if we assume that the efficiency of the gas-fired power plant is 50%. Please note that these are not accurate numbers – there are variations in the efficiency of gas-fired power plants (and also some questions about definitions in efficiency/energy content).
Formula:
1MWh = 180 m3 natural gas
Power production MWh * 180 m3 = m3 gas reduced
Sources:
Electricity | Energy Statistics In Ireland | SEAI
Convert m3 To kWh (Gas Cubic Meter To kWh Calculator) - LearnMetrics
How to Convert Gas Units to kWh the Easy Way (selectra.co.uk)
CO2 from gas
The CO2 calculations are based on power produced from natural gas. 57,1% of the total energy produced in Ireland was from natural gas in 2020. 1 MWh of natural gas produces about 0,4 tonnes of CO2.
Formula:
Total production * 0,4 tonnes = tonnes of CO2 reduced.
Sources:
Electricity | Energy Statistics In Ireland | SEAI
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Households
In 2020 the average home used 20.955 kWh of energy - split into 76% from direct fuel (non-electric) and 24% from electricity. This 76:24 split of energy sources was steady since 2011. Ireland's government aims to increase the electric splits by 2030.
Our calculations are based on that Ireland households are 100% electrified.
Formula:
Power production kWh / 20.955 kWh = number of households powered.
Source: