4/2/2020 Conversion Factors | SEAI Statistics | SEAI

Conversion Factors

NAVIGATE

View the common conversion factors for energy use in Ireland.

Energy units
Energy is delivered in many di erent fuels and sources and can be expressed in terms of
volume, mass, energy or emissions. Using the below conversion factors, it is possible to
express each fuel or energy source in common units of energy or emissions so that they can
be compared and aggregated.

Energy unit types

Joule(J): Joule is the international unit of energy

Kilowatt hour (kWh): This is the conventional unit of energy that electricity is measured by
and charged for commercially.
Tonne of oil equivalent (toe): This is the conventional standardised unit of energy and is
de ned on the basis of a tonne of oil having a net calori c value of 41,868 kj/kg. A related
unit is the kilogram of oil equivalent (kgoe), where 1 kgoe=103 toe.

Energy conversion factors

To toe MWh GJ

From Multiply by    

toe 1 11.63 41.868

MWh 0.086 1 3.6

GJ 0.02388 0.2778 1

https://www.seai.ie/data-and-insights/seai-statistics/conversion-factors/ 1/8
4/2/2020 Conversion Factors | SEAI Statistics | SEAI

SEAI Chat show

First Name
Calorific values
The Last
conversion
Name of a fuel quantity from physical units into energy units requires a conversion
factor which expresses the heat obtained from one unit of the fuel. This conversion factor is
termed the calori c value or heating value of the fuel.
Email

Fuel Net Calori c Value toe/t Net Calori c Value MJ/t

Start chat

Crude Oil 1.0226 42,814

Gasoline / Petrol 1.0650 44,589

Kerosene 1.0556 44,196

Jet Kerosene 1.0533 44,100

Gasoil / Diesel 1.0344 43,308

Residual Fuel Oil / Fuel Oil 0.9849 41,236

LPG 1.1263 47.156

Petroleum Coke 0.7663 32,084

Coal 0.6650 27842

Milled Peat 0.1860 7,787

Sod Peat 0.3130 13,105

Peat Briquettes 0.4430 18,548

Fuel   Net Calori c Value MJ/m³

Natural Gas   38.3

https://www.seai.ie/data-and-insights/seai-statistics/conversion-factors/ 2/8
4/2/2020 Conversion Factors | SEAI Statistics | SEAI

SEAI Chat show

First Name

Emission factors
The Last
tableName
below shows emission factors for CO2 per unit of energy for speci c fuels.

Email
Fuel tCO₂/TJ (NCV) g CO₂/kWh (NCV)

Liquid Fuels Start

  chat  

Gasoline / Petrol 70.0 251.9

Kerosene 71.4 257.0

Jet Kerosene 71.4 257.0

Gasoil / Diesel 73.3 263.9

Residual Oil / Fuel Oil 76.0 273.6

LPG 63.7 229.3

Naphta 73.3 264.0

Petroleum Coke 92.9 334.5

Solid Fuels and Derivatives    

Coal 94.6 340.6

Milled Peat 116.7 420.0

Sod Peat 104.0 374.4

Peat Briquettes 98.9 355.9

Natural Gas 56.9 204.7

https://www.seai.ie/data-and-insights/seai-statistics/conversion-factors/ 3/8
4/2/2020 Conversion Factors | SEAI Statistics | SEAI

SEAI Chat
Fuel tCO₂/TJ (NCV) g CO₂/kWh (NCV) show
First Name

Electricity (2017) 121.3 436.6

Last Name

Email
Fuel densities
Conversion from volume (litres) to mass (tonnes) for liquid fuels requires the densities of the
Start chat
liquids, with the most common fuels shown here.

Density (in
Fuel litres/tonnes)

Kerosene 1250

Crude Oil 1067

Gasoline (Petrol) 1325

Diesel / Gasoil 1183

Heavy Fuel Oil 1062

LPG* 1915

Biodiesel 1136

Bioethanol 1250

Pure Plant Oil 1087

*Assumes a mixture of 70% propane & 30% butane by  

mass

Primary energy conversion factors

https://www.seai.ie/data-and-insights/seai-statistics/conversion-factors/ 4/8
4/2/2020 Conversion Factors | SEAI Statistics | SEAI

Energy consumption can be expressed as total nal consumption (TFC) or total primary energy
SEAI Chat show
requirement
First Name(TPER). TPER accounts for the energy that is consumed and/or lost in
transformation, transmission and distribution processes. It is calculated by applying
conversion factors, which vary by fuel type, to TFC values. The table below shows the
Last Name
conversion factors for 2018. Historic conversion factors can be downloaded here (/data-and-
insights/seai-statistics/conversion-factors/conversion-factors-primary-energy-historic.xlsx).
Email

Fuel 2018 conversion factor

Start chat

Aviation fuels 1.1

Biogas / land ll gas 1.0

Coal 1.1

District heat 1.1

Electricity 1.962933

Gasoil 1.1

Kerosene 1.1

Light, medium & heavy fuel oils 1.1

LPG 1.1

Manufactured Ovoids 1.2

Marked diesel, road diesel & petrol 1.1

Natural gas 1.1

Peat 1.1

Pure biodiesel / bioethanol 1.1

https://www.seai.ie/data-and-insights/seai-statistics/conversion-factors/ 5/8
4/2/2020 Conversion Factors | SEAI Statistics | SEAI

SEAI Chat
Fuel 2018 conversion factor show
First Name

Solar thermal 1.0

Last Name

Wood briquettes / chips / logs / pellets 1.1

Email

Start chat
RELATED CONTENT

IEA conversion tool

For more information, use the conversion tool on the International Energy Agency website.

Find out more

(http://www.iea.org/statistics/statisticssearch/#sthash.w04XhXaV.dpuf)

SEAI statistics
Learn more about the statistics and data that SEAI o ers.

Find out more

(/data-and-insights/seai-statistics/)

Energy in Ireland report

For more information on Energy in Ireland, download our latest report.

Find out more

(/publications/Energy-E ciency-in-Ireland-2016-Report.pdf)

SUBSCRIBE
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
https://www.seai.ie/data-and-insights/seai-statistics/conversion-factors/ 6/8
4/2/2020 Conversion Factors | SEAI Statistics | SEAI
We have a choice of newsletters for you to sign up to, depending on your interests. Learn about using sustainable
SEAI
energy Chathome, community or business. Hear about our work with schools or get latest updates on ourshow
in your energy
First Name
research and statistics.

Consumer and Communities

Last Name
Business and Public Sector

Schools
Email
Research and Statistics

Start chat
Enter your email address

COMPANY

About Us (/about/)

Contact Us (/contact-us/)

Careers (/careers/)

SEAI Events (/events/)

Publications (/publications/)

Register with SEAI (/register-with-seai/)

COMMUNICATIONS

COVID-19 Notice (/covid-19-notice/)

Blog (/blog/)

Podcast (/podcast/)

News & Media (/news-and-media/)

Case Studies (/case-studies/)

Tools (/tools/)

COMPLIANCE

Legal & Privacy (/legal-and-privacy/)

Disclosures Policy (/disclosures-policy/)

https://www.seai.ie/data-and-insights/seai-statistics/conversion-factors/ 7/8
4/2/2020 Conversion Factors | SEAI Statistics | SEAI

Customer Charter (/customer-charter/)

SEAI Chat show
First
Mailing listName
(/newsletter/)

Last Name

Email

Start chat

 (https://www.facebook.com/SustainableEnergyAuthorityIreland/)
 (https://twitter.com/SEAI_ie)
 (https://www.linkedin.com/company/sustainable-energy-

https://www.seai.ie/data-and-insights/seai-statistics/conversion-factors/ 8/8