Lifetime Emissions by Energy Source
Source: 5th IPCC Report:
Click Here.
Energy Source
Albedo Effect (CO2 + Methane)
Coal: PC
820
Biomass - cofiring
740
Gas - Combined Cycle
490
Biomass - dedicated
230
Solar PV Farm
48
Rooftop Solor PV
41
Geothermal
38
Concentrated Solar
27
Hydro
24
Nuclear
12
Wind Offshore
12
Wind Onshore
11
Future Technologies:
CCS - Coal - Oxyfuel
160
CCS - Coal - PC
220
CCS - Coal - IGCC
200
CCS - Gas - Combined Cycle
170
Ocean
17
Click To Enlarge
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Note that these emissions are combined emissions from CO2
and CH4 (methane).
One problem with hydro is that for about the first 60 years
of a new dam's life, the submerged vegetation rots and gives off
CH4, so the emissions of a new dam are quite high.