Regionalized GHG emission factors and amounts based on local electricity consumption and energy source generation

Kim, Dowan; Kim, Junbeum

doi:2025.30.6.240596

Environmental Engineering Research 2025;30(6): 240596 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4491/eer.2024.0596

Regionalized GHG emission factors and amounts based on local electricity consumption and energy source generation

Dowan Kim^1,2, and Junbeum Kim²

^†

¹Environmental Technology Institute, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, South Korea
²UR InSyTE Interdisciplinary research on Society-Technology-Environment Interactions, University of Technology of Troyes, France

Corresponding Author: Junbeum Kim ,Tel: +33-06-3420-6571, Email: junbeum.kim@utt.fr

Received: October 9, 2024; Accepted: February 28, 2025.

ABSTRACT

Electricity is often generated in one region and consumed in another. The regions consuming electricity should bear the responsibility for the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with their consumption. A consumption-based calculation helps address the imbalance between generation regions (typically where fossil fuel power plants such as coal and LNG are located) and consumption regions. This approach can reduce the issue of disproportionately concentrating GHG emission responsibility on specific regions. In this context, we propose a regionalized approach that allocates GHG emissions based on electricity consumption rather than production. Utilizing data from the Korea Electric Power Corporation, the study estimates GHG emissions by energy source and considers electricity transfers between regions. The study results revealed that the responsibility for emissions from consumption is concentrated in cities that rely on coal-fired power generation. For example, Seoul, which supplied electricity from Chungnam where coal-fired power is the main source, has an emission factor of 633 kgCO₂eq/kWh. In contrast, Gyeongbuk, which primarily produces electricity through nuclear power, has an emission factor of only 12 kgCO₂eq/kWh. The findings reveal significant disparities in GHG emission factors across each region, highlighting the limitations of the current system and the need for more accurate regional emission assessments.