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Energy sector

The energy sector reports emissions from fuel combustion (including transport and combustion to produce heat in industry), and fugitive emissions. Figure 9 shows energy emissions by category in 2006.

Fuel combustion is the controlled burning of solid, liquid or gaseous fossil fuels (such as coal, petrol and natural gas) to generate heat or energy.

Fugitive emissions are associated with the production, processing, transport, storage, transmission and distribution of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.

Figure 9: Emissions from the energy sector: 2006

See figure at its full size (including text description).

Fuel combustion

Transport

Transport emissions include those from road, rail, and domestic air, and shipping. To be consistent with the Climate Change Convention reporting guidelines emissions from international air and shipping are not included in the national total.

In 2006, transport contributed 19 per cent (14.4 Mt CO2-e) of New Zealand’s total emissions. Emissions in 2006 have increased by 64 per cent (5.6 Mt CO2-e) from the 1990 level of 8.8 Mt CO2-e.

  • Road transport represented 89 per cent (12.8 Mt CO2-e) of domestic transport emissions and 16 per cent of total emissions in 2006. Emissions from road transport in 2006 increased 67 per cent (5.1 Mt CO2-e) from the 1990 level of 7.7 Mt CO2-e.

  • Aviation contributed 8 per cent (1.1 Mt CO2-e) of emissions from domestic transport in 2006. Emissions from aviation in 2006 have increased 44 per cent (0.3 Mt CO2-e) from the 1990 level of 0.8 Mt CO2-e.

  • Shipping emissions are 2 per cent (0.33 Mt CO2-e) of domestic transport emissions in 2006. Emissions from shipping in 2006 have increased 31 per cent (0.08 Mt CO2-e) from the 1990 level of 0.25 Mt CO2-e.

  • Rail emissions are 1 per cent (0.2 Mt CO2-e) of all emissions from domestic transport in 2006. Emissions from rail in 2006 have increased 99 per cent (0.1 Mt CO2-e) from the 1990 level of 0.1 Mt CO2-e.

Energy industries

Electricity generation, petroleum refining, gas processing and solid fuel manufacturing are all reported under energy industries. Emissions from energy industries were 9.6 Mt CO2-e in 2006 and 12 per cent of national emissions. Energy industries emissions have increased 58 per cent (3.5 Mt CO2-e) from the 1990 level of 6.0 Mt CO2-e. This increase is primarily due to growth in electricity demand in New Zealand, requiring more electricity to be generated by burning gas, coal and oil.

Electricity generation and heat production comprised 11 per cent (8.3 Mt CO2-e) of total emissions, or 87 per cent of the energy industries sub-category. Emissions from electricity generation and heat production have increased 138 per cent (4.8 Mt CO2-e) from a 1990 level of 3.5 Mt CO2-e.

The remaining emissions in the energy industries category are from petroleum refining (10 per cent or 0.9 Mt CO2-e) and solid fuel manufacturing and other energy industries (4 per cent or 0.3 Mt CO2-e). In 2006, emissions from petroleum refining have increased 19 per cent (0.1 Mt CO2-e) from a 1990 level of 0.8 Mt CO2-e. In 2006, emissions from solid fuel manufacturing and other energy industries were 80 per cent (1.4 Mt CO2-e) lower than the 1990 level of 1.8 Mt CO2-e.

Manufacturing industries and construction

Emissions from manufacturing industries and construction includes emissions from the manufacture of steel, non-ferrous metals, pulp and paper, and food processing. Emissions from manufacturing industries and construction contributed 7 per cent (5.1 Mt CO2-e) to total emissions in 2006. This is an 11 per cent (0.5 Mt CO2-e) increase from the 1990 level of 4.6 Mt CO2-e.

Other fuel combustion

Emissions from the commercial, institutional and residential sectors are reported under the other fuel combustion category. The other fuel category includes emissions from agricultural, fisheries and forestry equipment. Emissions were 4 per cent (3.2 Mt CO2-e) of total emissions in 2006 and have increased 12 per cent (0.4 Mt CO2-e) from the 1990 level of 2.9 Mt CO2-e.

Fugitive emissions

Fugitive emissions in 2006 were 1.8 Mt CO2-e, representing 2 per cent of total emissions. This is an increase of 47 per cent (0.6 Mt CO2-e) from the 1990 level of 1.2 Mt CO2-e.