Abstract
While the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change classifies coal as anthracite, bituminous coal, and sub-bituminous coal, Korea only distinguishes coal as anthracite and bituminous coal while sub-bituminous coal is considered bituminous coal. As a result, Korea conducted research in the CO2 emission factors of anthracite and bituminous coal, but largely ignored sub-bituminous coal. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to develop the CO2 emission factor of sub-bituminous coal by classifying sub-bituminous coal from resources of bituminous coal activities collected in Korea between 2007 and 2011. The 2007–2011 average carbon content of sub-bituminous coal was analyzed to be 69.63 ± 3.11 %, the average hydrogen content 4.97 ± 0.37 %, the inherent moisture 12.60 ± 4.33 %, the total moisture 21.91 ± 5.45 %, and the dry-based gross calorific value was analyzed to be 5,914 ± 391 kcal/kg; using these analyzed values, the as-received net calorific value was found to be 20.75 ± 7.59 TJ/Gg and the CO2 emission factor was found to be 96,241 ± 4,064 kg/TJ. In addition, the 62.7 million ton amount for the 2009 greenhouse gas emission from sub-bituminous coal as estimated with the analyzed value of this study is an amount that is equivalent to 11.1 % of the 2009 total greenhouse gas emission amount of 564.7 million tons, and this amount is larger than the 9.3 % for the industrial processes sector, 3.3 % for the agricultural sector and 2.5 % for the waste sector. Therefore, it is important to reflect the realities of Korea when estimating the greenhouse gas emission from such sub-bituminous coals.
Highlights
In order to effect significant greenhouse gas reduction and evaluate the reduction potential, greenhouse gas emissions must be identified per source
Jeon (&) Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, 98 Gunja-dong Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-747, Korea e-mail: ecjeon@sejong.ac.kr million ton amount for the 2009 greenhouse gas emission from sub-bituminous coal as estimated with the analyzed value of this study is an amount that is equivalent to 11.1 % of the 2009 total greenhouse gas emission amount of 564.7 million tons, and this amount is larger than the 9.3 % for the industrial processes sector, 3.3 % for the agricultural sector and 2.5 % for the waste sector
Korea currently imports all of its bituminous coal quantities from seven countries—Russia, South Africa, Indonesia, Canada, Australia, the United States and Colombia—and, except for Colombia and the United States of these seven countries, coals from five countries were analyzed in this study
Summary
In order to effect significant greenhouse gas reduction and evaluate the reduction potential, greenhouse gas emissions must be identified per source. Constructing a greenhouse inventory requires clear classification and standardization per category, and greenhouse gas emission factors and activity data are necessary. The 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines classified the categories of greenhouse gas inventory, but when constructing the National Inventory Report, most countries follow the category that fits the emission traits of their country, and put in efforts into securing activity resources and emission factors. Korea is in urgent need of provision in country-specific emission factor regarding greenhouse gas emissions. The total greenhouse gas net emissions in Korea during 2009 were counted as 564.7 million ton of CO2 eq This numerical value increased by 0.6 % compared to 2008. When the consumption forms of 2009 are observed per energy source, the ratio consisted of oil was the highest with 42.1 %, and coal 28.2 %, LNG 13.9 %, nuclear energy 13.1 %, and water power 0.5 % (The Republic of Korea 2011)
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