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Energy Use Data Handbook,
1990 to 2008

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Appendix B –
Reconciliation of Definitions

Reconciliation of Definitions for Estimated Greenhouse Gas Emissions Found in This Handbook with Environment Canada’s Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990–2008

Introduction

In this handbook, Energy Use Data Handbook 1990 to 2008 (EUDH), the data on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are estimated using emissions factors developed by Environment Canada (EC). The emissions estimates provided here mirror the sectoral definitions used to calculate the estimates presented in EC’s Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990–2008¹ (CGGI-2008). Both Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and EC use the energy demand data from Statistics Canada’s Report on Energy Supply-Demand in Canada as a base.

However, the two organizations use different sectoral mappings. EC prepares its emissions inventory according to the specifications of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, while NRCan has developed mapping that is more suited to energy end-use analysis.

The objective of this appendix is to help readers understand the similarities and differences between EUDH and CGGI-2008 emissions estimates for the five sectors covered in this handbook.

Residential Sector

EUDH and CGGI-2008 differ in their definitions of residential emissions.

  • EUDH residential emissions include end-use electricity-related emissions, which are reported under power generation in CGGI-2008.

  • Wood energy use differs (EC’s estimate is larger than NRCan’s). Hence, the GHG emissions related to wood energy use presented here are lower than those in CGGI-2008.

Commercial/Institutional Sector

There is only one difference between EUDH and CGGI-2008 definitions of commercial/institutional emissions.

  • EUDH commercial/institutional emissions include end-use electricity-related emissions, which CGGI-2008 includes under power generation.

Industrial Sector

There are many differences between EUDH and CGGI-2008 definitions of the industrial sector.

  • CGGI-2008 re-allocates industrial diesel fuel use from the industrial sector to the transportation sector.

  • This handbook re-allocates producers’ consumption of petroleum products from the producers’ consumption category to the petroleum refining and upstream mining industries. CGGI-2008 reports this as consumption of fossil fuels.

  • CGGI-2008 re-allocates industrial coke use from energy use in the industrial sector to non-energy use in industrial processes.

  • EUDH industrial emissions include end-use electricity-related emissions. CGGI-2008 reports them under power generation.

  • CGGI-2008 includes producers’ consumption of non-fossil fuels in the fossil fuel categories. EUDH does not report this consumption.

  • CGGI-2008 also re-allocates estimates of emissions from upstream oil and gas flaring to fugitive emissions from the fossil fuel sector.

Transportation Sector

EUDH and CGGI-2008 differ in their definitions of transportation emissions.

  • CGGI-2008 re-allocates industrial and agriculture diesel and agriculture motor gasoline to the transportation sector.

  • CGGI-2008 includes pipeline-related emissions in the transportation sector.

  • CGGI-2008 excludes emissions resulting from the use of energy in the foreign aviation and marine subsectors.

  • EUDH transportation emissions include end-use electricity-related emissions, which are reported under power generation in CGGI-2008.

Electricity Generation Sector

There is only one difference between EUDH and CGGI-2008 for the electricity generation sector.

  • CGGI-2008 reports emissions from electricity and steam generation at the aggregate level, while EUDH reports emissions for electricity generation only. Note that in its Annex 9 “Electricity Intensity Tables,” CGGI-2008 reports detailed emissions from electricity generation that are similar to those found in this handbook.

¹ Canada’s official GHG inventory is available on the Environment Canada Web site at www.ec.gc.ca/ges-ghg/default.asp?lang=En&n=83A34A7A-1.

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