International Network
Non-energy use and CO₂ emissions

NEU-CO₂
 

    Contents

1. Objective & Activities

2. Results

3. Documents prepared by the Network

4. Other documents

5. NEU-CO₂ Partners

6. Co-ordination

• The approach that is currently used in national GHG emission inventories - i.e., the so-called Reference Approach of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) can result in under- and overestimations of total national CO₂ emissions.
• This error can be substantial if compared to the GHG emission reduction target of the European Union (-8%).
•  Hence, the use of the default carbon storage factors in the Reference Approach or the Tier 1 Sectoral Approach for CO₂ emissions is not advised without careful consideration of their relevance for the respective country.
• Application of the NEAT Model (developed by the NEU-CO₂ Network) has shown that carbon storage varies considerably between countries. As a consequence, country specific bottom-up analyses are required.

Moreover, statistical data on non-energy use must be clearly improved (harmonisation of definitions and system boundaries). The IPCC reporting framework should also be extended by more accurate default factors for process emissions from the production of ammonia, olefins, methanol and carbon black.

Many of the findings were derived by use of the NEAT model (NEAT stands for Non-energy use Emission Accounting Tables). The NEAT model is a bottom-up material (carbon) flow analysis to calculate CO₂ emissions that originate from the non-energy use of fossil fuels in the chemical industry (emissions from feedstock use only).

A paper on the NEAT model (Neelis, M.L., Patel, M.K. and Gielen, D.J.: Modelling non-energy use CO₂ emissions and carbon storage with the Non-energy use Emission Accounting Tables) is being prepared for publication in a special issue of the journal “Resources, Conservation and Recycling” (RCR). The special issue will further contain country analyses for the Netherlands, Italy and Korea and the United States.

The latest version of the NEAT model (February 2003) can be downloaded here, together with a User Manual describing the method. Because of the complexity of the model, it is strongly advised to contact Utrecht University before using the model.

Due to the complexity of the NEAT model and its demanding data requirements a Simplified Model has been developed. This simplified model makes use of the insights gained in the extensive models and it is particularly suites for countries with a very limited statistical basis (e.g., some developing countries); it can also serve as a cross-check for countries for which detailed analyses have been conducted.
The Simplified Model can be downloaded here, together with a description.

Using the NEAT methodology detailed country studies have been conducted for

• Flanders (Theunis, J., Joul, H., Van Rompaey, H.: Flemish carbon balance for non-energy use. Study in Dutch prepared by VITO / Flemish Institute for Technological Research for ANRE /Afdeling Natuurlijke Rijkdommen en Energie/Department of Natural Resources and Energy. Mol, Belgium, 2002
• the Netherlands (Neelis, M.L., Patel, M.K. and de Feber, M.: Improvement of CO₂ emission estimates from the non-energy use of fossil fuels in the Netherlands. Prepared by Utrecht University, Department of Science, Technology and Society (STS), Netherlands for the Netherlands’ Ministry of Environment/VROM, April 2003) and
• Germany (Weiss, M.; Neelis, M.; Patel, M.: Estimating CO₂ emissions from non-energy use of fossil fuels in Germany. IN PREPARATION by Utrecht University, Department of Science, Technology and Society (STS), Netherlands for the German Federal Environmental Agency, Umweltbundesamt).
  

These studies are available upon request.

A good overview of the work of the NEU-CO₂ network can be found in the special issue of the journal “Resources, Conservation and Recycling” (RCR), Volume 45, Issue 3, Pages 193-330 (November 2005). The table of contents of this special issue is available here.

The NEU-CO₂ network has made substantial contributions to the revision of the IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. While CO2 emissions from non-energy use were so far not adequately reflected in the IPCC Guidelines (the IPCC published their last guidelines in 1997: Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Volume 1-3: IPCC WGI Technical Support Unit, Hadley Centre, Bracknell, UK, 1997), the new guidelines do account for emissions from non-energy use in a rather comprehensive manner. These new guidelines will be published in 2006/2007.

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• Summary of the International Network NEU-CO₂, Conclusions of phase III (September 2006)
• Petrochemical flows in IEA/Eurostat Energy Statistics , by Tim Simmon (2006)
• Pooling and analysis of information on materials with complicated pathways:
  - Work package "Industrial processes", by Kristien Aernouts, (2006)
  - Work package "Survey on Solvents, Oils and Lubricants", by Andreas Windsperger and Stefan Steinlechner (2006)
• Methods for verification of emission trading, by Martin Weiss and Martin Patel (2006, WP3 of NEU-CO2-III)
• Summary of the International Network NEU-CO₂, Conclusions of phase II (September 2003, 12 pp.)
• Assessment of progress made in harmonizing non-energy use data (September 2003, 3 pp.)
• Recommendation of strategies for reducing GHG emissions related to the non-energy use of fossil fuels (September 2003, 6 pp.)
• Final report of phase I of the network (1999-2000), (54 pp.)

3.2 Proceedings of NEU-CO₂ Workshops

• Proceedings of the First NEU-CO₂ Workshop, Paris, 23-24 September 1999 
• Proceedings of the Second NEU-CO₂ Workshop, Brussels, 13-14 April 2000
• Proceedings of the Third NEU-CO₂ Workshop, Paris, 7-9 November 2001
• Proceedings of the Fourth NEU-CO₂ workshop, Amsterdam 21-22 November 2002
• Proceedings of the Fifth NEU-CO₂ workshop, Amsterdam 23-24 June 2005
• Proceedings of the Sixth NEU-CO₂ workshop, Utrecht 9-10 February 2006
  

3.3 Presentations and Papers

Publications 2009:

• Weiss, M., Neelis, M.L., Blok, K., Patel, M.K. (2009): Non-energy use of fossil fuels and resulting carbon dioxide emissions: bottom-up estimates for the world as a whole and for major developing countries. Climatic Change.

Publications 2008:

• Weiss, M., Neelis, M.L., Blok, K., Patel, M.K. (2008): Non-energy use and related carbon dioxide emissions in Germany: a carbon flow analysis with the NEAT model for the period of 1990–2003. Resources, Conservation & Recycling 52, pp. 1252-1265.
• Weiss, M., Neelis, M.L., Zuidberg, M.C., Patel, M.K. (2008): Applying bottom-up analysis to identify the system boundaries of non-energy use data in international energy statistics. Energy 33, pp. 1609-1622.

Publications 2006:

• Simmons, T., M.L. Neelis, R. Freed and M.K. Patel. IPCC 2006 Guidelines CO₂ emissions from the non-energy use of fuels. Submitted to the journal Climatic Change, August 2006

Publications 2005:

• Weiss, M., Neelis, M.L., Patel, M. (2005): Material Flow Analysis of Non-energy Use and Related CO₂ Emissions in Germany 1990-2003. Presented at the 3rd International Conference of the International Society for Industrial Ecology, Stockholm, Sweden, 12-15 June 2005. Slides
• Worrell, E.; Neelis, M.; Patel, M.: Editorial note to the Special Issue on Non-energy use and CO₂ emissions. Resources, Conservation and Recycling (RCR). Resources, Conservation and Recycling 45 (2005), pp. 193–194.
• Patel, M.; Neelis, M.; Gielen, D.; Olivier, J.; Simmons, T.; Theunis, J.: Carbon dioxide emissions from non-energy use of fossil fuels: Summary of key issues and conclusions from the country analyses. Resources, Conservation and Recycling (RCR). Resources, Conservation and Recycling 45 (2005), pp. 195–209.
• Olivier, J. G. J.; Peters, J. A. H. W.: CO₂ from non-energy use of fuels: A global, regional and national perspective based on the IPCC Tier 1 approach. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 45 (2005) 210–225.
• Neelis, M. L.; Patel, M.; Gielen, D. J.; Blok, K.: Modelling CO₂ emissions from non-energy use with the non-energy use emission accounting tables (NEAT) model. Resources, Conservation and Recycling (RCR). Resources, Conservation and Recycling (RCR). Resources, Conservation and Recycling 45 (2005), pp. 226–250.
• Neelis, M. L.; Patel, M.; Blok, K.: CO₂ emissions and carbon storage resulting from the non-energy use of fossil fuels in the Netherlands, NEAT results for 1993–1999. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 45 (2005) 251–274.
• Freed, R.; Mintz, C.; Lanza, R.; Hockstad, L.: Analytic framework for analyzing non-energy uses of fossil fuels as petrochemical feedstocks in the USA. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 45 (2005) 275–294.
• Park, H.: Fossil fuel use and CO₂ emissions in Korea: NEAT approach. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 45 (2005) 295–309.
• La Motta, S.; Santino, D.; Ancona, P.; Weiss, M.: CO₂ emission accounting for the non-energy use of fossil fuels in Italy: A comparison between NEAT model and the IPCC approaches. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 45 (2005) 310–330.

Publications 2003

• Neelis, M. and Patel, M.: Improvement of CO₂ emission estimates from the non-energy use of fossil fuels in the Netherlands. Presentation to the Project Group CO₂ monitoring of the Netherlands’ Ministry of Environment (VROM), Utrecht. 25 March 2003, Utrecht. Slides
• Neelis, M. and Patel, M.: CO₂ emissions from non-energy use of fossil fuels. Presentation to the Working Group I of the EU Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Mechanism Committee, Copenhagen, 24-25 June 2003. Slides
• Neelis, M. and Patel, M.: CO₂ emissions and carbon storage resulting from the non-energy use of fossil fuels – a bottom up carbon flow analysis. Presentation at the Wuppertal international workshop, “Material Flow Analysis – Where do we go? - Issues, Trends and Perspectives of Research for Sustainable Resource Use”, Wuppertal, Germany, 9-10 October 2003. Abstract
• Neelis, M.L. (2003): With CBS Statistics to CO2 Emissions: Improving CO₂ Emission Estimates from the Non-energy Use of Fossil Fuels in the Netherlands. Presented as CBS (Central Bureau of Statistics), Voorburg, The Netherlands, 13 June 2003
• Sjardin, M., CO₂ Emission factors for non-energy use in the non-ferrous metal, ferroalloys and inorganics industry, 2003. Abstract

Publications 2000/2001

• Gritsevitch, I.: Carbon Stored in Materials and Products in Case of Non-Energy Use of Fossil Fuels: Problems and Approaches to Assessment of Related CO₂ Emissions. Proceedings of the GHGT-5, Cairns, Australia, 13-16 August 2000. Paper
• BP's Presentation on olefin production, Proceedings of the Third NEU-CO₂ Workshop, Paris, 7-9 November 2001. Slides

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• Best available techniques Reference Documents (BREF reports) of the European Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Bureau (EIPPC)
• Non-energy Use of European Union Countries, 1995-2000 (Excel-File; 207 KB)
• Non-energy Use of Non-European Union Countries, 1995-2000 (Excel-File; 428 KB)
• SNAP-Code 1997 (Excel-File; 532 KB)
• Annual Energy Balance Questionnaires (IEA/EUROSTAT/UNECE), (July 2002)

• Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
• SBSTA Meeting 31 May - 11 June 1999 (PDF Document; about 9 MB)
• Atmospheric Emission Inventory Guidebook (October 2002) 
• Common Reporting Format Tool V1.22 (September 2003, Excel-File; 1,45 MB)
• Good Practice Guidance and Uncertainty Management in National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (May 2000)

6. Co-ordination

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