where c is the efficiency of the corresponding conventional device and in this paper,
a=0.5 was used as stated previously. Table 1 presents the efficiencies for conven
tional transformers and generators as a function of their power [9,11,12].
The saved energy could be allocated, for example, for reduced use of hard coal or
peat in electricity production and then converted to grams of CO2-equivalent per
kWh, which is a common way of reporting the GHG-emissions.
Generation of electricity is the largest individual contributor to greenhouse gas
emissions in the EU. In 1999, CO2-emissions from electricity generation were 913.6
Mt, while total CO2-emissions from fuel combustion were 3085 Mt. This is
approximately 80% of the total greenhouse-gas emissions from the EU [13]. Table 2
shows the GHG-emissions from different electricity-generation chains. For example,
a typical coal/peat-fired power plant in the EU has an average value of emissions
per kilowatt-hour ekWh=1140 g of CO2-eq./kWh [14]. When the total electricity
production from all sources is considered, an average European value is estimated to
be 475 g of CO2-eq./kWh.
a=0.5 was used as stated previously