EIA: cold winter drove up CO2 emissions in 2013

US CO2 emissions from the energy sector increased 2.5pc in 2013 because of the cold, lingering winter, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said today.

EIA said increased energy intensity in 2013 contributed 134mn metric tonnes, or 0.5pc, more CO2 into the atmosphere than the previous decade's trend. Overall emissions from all factors were up 193mn tonnes over the previous decade's trend, though EIA noted that 2013 emissions were still 10pc lower than in 2005.

There were also 18.5pc more heating degree days in 2013 than in 2012, EIA said. The cold winter and increased price of natural gas also contributed to a 4.8pc increase in coal-fired electricity generation, while natural gas-fired generation dropped by 10pc. The resulting 0.2pc increase in carbon intensity is counter to a decades-long trend toward lower carbon intensity of the US economy, EIA said, though that boost in coal generation was offset by increased wind, solar and nuclear electricity generation.

"An increase in energy intensity … was a leading cause of the 2013 increase in energy-related CO2 emissions when compared with the trend from the prior decade, which was -2.0pc," EIA said. "Weather played an important role in the year-to-year increase in CO2 emissions."

The residential sector accounted for the largest increase in CO2 emissions, with the first and fourth quarters of 2013 showing particularly high emission levels compared with 2012, EIA said.

But the commercial sector accounted for the largest increase in energy consumption, boosting demand by 3.7pc and emissions by 3.8pc over trend. The cold winter was a major cause of the increase in energy consumption in the commercial sector, EIA said, but economic growth also played a role in increasing demand.

EIA concluded that in the long term, trends cutting CO2 consumption like increased vehicle fuel efficiency and renewable electricity generation could play a "continuing role in subsequent years and help to mitigate future emissions growth."

jh/tdf

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