Data and Data Manipulation FAQ
Where can I get information on energy use? (Source data, time-series, graphs & charts)
It is most likely that the information you require is available on the databank hosted for SEAI on the CSO web pages. Click here for instructions on how to download data from the databank.
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How do I use the databank?
On the SEAI homepage click on the statistics link which is the third button the right-hand-side of the page or there is also a permanent link across the bottom of the page. Once on the statistics page click onto the energy statistics data bank button on the top of the page just under the logo, it is the first of four buttons. This links to the databank hosted by the CSO. On the left-hand-side click onto the energy balance statistics, it is the first heading under statistical products. Then choose the appropriate statistics.
For exampleFuel consumption (ktoe) by Sector, Year and Fuel type.
Please note that the units are in kilo-tonnes of oil equivalent. You will need to apply conversion figures to get your desired units. You can then download the data or charts as you choose.
Click here to find out how to navigate to statistics section from the homepage.
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Ireland’s Energy Balance – What is it? Where can I get the data? When is it available?
The energy balance is the presentation of energy statistics expressed in energy units in the form of commodity balances between the supply and use of energy commodities.
The latest energy balance is available here.
Annual surveys are sent out in year t for energy used in the year t-1. A provisional energy balance for year t-1 is released at the end of March every year. All responses are gathered by September of year t which means that the balance for year t-1 can be finalised in October of year t.
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What is a kilo-tonne of oil equivalent?
A kilo-tonne of oil equivalent is a thousand (103) tonnes of oil equivalent. A tonne of oil equivalent is a conventional standardised unit of energy and is defined on the basis of a tonne of oil having a net calorific value of 41686kJ/kg. A related unit is the kilogram of oil equivalent (kgoe) where 1kgoe = 10-3 toe.
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How do I convert between different energy units? What conversion factors do you use?
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has an on-line conversion tool. Click on the following link:
http://www.iea.org/stats/unit.asp
Alternatively use the following table:
| To: | toe | MWh | GJ |
| From: | Multiply by |
| toe | 1 | 11.63 | 41.868 |
| MWh | 0.086 | 1 | 3.6 |
| GJ | 0.02388 | 0.2778 | 1 |
Energy Units:
joule (J): Joule is the international (S.I.) unit of energy.
kilowatt hour (kWh): The conventional unit of energy that electricity is measured and charged for commercially.
tonne of Oil Equivalent (toe): This is a conventional standardized unit of energy and is defined on the basis of a tonne of oil having a net calorific value of 41686 kJ/kg. A related unit is the kilogram of oil equivalent (kgoe), where 1 kgoe = 10-3 toe.
Decimal Prefixes
| deca (da) | 101 | deci (d) | 10-1 |
| hecto (h) | 102 | centi (c) | 10-2 |
| kilo (k) | 103 | milli (m) | 10-3 |
| mega (M) | 106 | micro (m) | 10-6 |
| giga (G) | 109 | nano (n) | 10-9 |
| tera (T) | 1012 | pico (p) | 10-12 |
| peta (P) | 1015 | femto (f) | 10-15 |
| exa (E) | 1018 | atto (a) | 10-18 |
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What fuel densities do you use?
| | Density |
| | Litres/tonne |
| Kerosene | 1250 |
| Crude Oil | 1067 |
| Gasoline(Petrol) | 1325 |
| Diesel /Gasoil | 1183 |
| Heavy Fuel Oil | 1062 |
| LPG* | 1915 |
| Biodiesel | 1136 |
| Bioethanol | 1250 |
| Pure Plant Oil | 1087 |
| | |
| *Assumes a mixture of 70% propane & 30% butane by mass |
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What net calorific values do you use?
| | toe/tonne | kWh/litre |
| Kerosene | 1.0556 | 9.821 |
| Crude Oil | 1.0226 | 11.146 |
| Gasoline(Petrol) | 1.065 | 9.348 |
| Diesel /Gasoil | 1.0344 | 10.169 |
| Heavy Fuel Oil | 0.9849 | 10.786 |
| LPG | 1.1263 | 6.84 |
| Biodiesel | 0.8901 | 9.113 |
| Bioethanol | 0.6304 | 5.865 |
| Pure Plant Oil | 0.8907 | 9.53 |
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What are the emissions per unit of energy for specific fuels?
| | tCO2/TJ | gCO2/kWh | tCO2/toe |
| Liquid fuels | | | |
| Gasoline | 70 | 251.9 | 2.931323 |
| Jet Kerosene | 71.4 | 257 | 2.98995 |
| Other Kerosene | 71.4 | 257 | 2.98995 |
| Gas/Diesel Oil | 73.3 | 263.9 | 3.069514 |
| Residual Oil | 76 | 273.6 | 3.18258 |
| LPG | 63.7 | 229.3 | 2.667504 |
| Naphta | 73.3 | 264 | 3.069514 |
| Petroleum Coke | 92.93 | 334.5 | 3.891541 |
| | | | |
| Solid Fuels & Derivatives | | | |
| Coal | 94.6 | 340.6 | 3.961474 |
| Milled Peat | 116.7 | 420 | 4.886935 |
| Sod Peat | 104 | 374.4 | 4.355109 |
| Peat Briquettes | 98.9 | 355.9 | 4.141541 |
| | | | |
| Gas | | | |
| Natural Gas* | 56.9 | 204.7 | 2.382747 |
| | | | |
| Electricity * | | | |
| 2008 | 154 | 553 | 6.4326 |
* Varies annually.
The emission factor for electricity depends on the electricity generation mix in any particular year. The SEAI emission factors for electricity are calculated from the generator inputs (public thermal plants and CHP units) thus inherently including any generator own use electricity and system losses (transmission and distribution). The electricity emission factor may differ from than that produced by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and Eirgrid depending on whether the figures quoted use gross or net electricity generation and also whether or not CHP is included.
The gas figure depends on the mix of imported and indigenous gas used for any particular year. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides the natural gas emissions fact to SEAI.
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How much emissions are there from electricity use? (CO2 g/kWh)
This figure changes annually as it depends on the final generation mix that was used in any particular year. In 2008 electricity produced 553 g/kWh of CO2
Historical values are available online.
Online direction from the SEAI webpage:
Once on the SEAI statistics landing page, click on “Emission Factors” from the menu on the left hand side. Then click on the historical electricity emission factor file underneath the table.
The emission factor for electricity depends on the electricity generation mix in any particular year. The SEAI emission factors for electricity are calculated from the generator inputs (public thermal plants and CHP units) thus inherently including any generator own use electricity and system losses (transmission and distribution). The electricity emission factors may differ from than that produced by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and Eirgrid depending on whether the figures quoted use gross or net electricity generation and also whether or not CHP is included.
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How much CO2 is avoided by wind turbines or other renewable energy sources?
This figure changes annually as it depends on the final generation mix that was used in any particular year. In 2008 wind energy and other renewables avoided 515 g/kWh. This figure assumes zero carbon emissions from the renewables and excludes any other lifecycle emissions there may be from the manufacturing stage of the renewable energy. Please refer to the latest Renewable Energy in Ireland report for details on the methodology used to calculate the avoided emissions from Renewable Energy.
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