About

Quantifying carbon output is the first step toward mitigation. This calculator utilizes stoichiometric ratios and heating values to determine the mass of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) released during the combustion of hydrocarbons. Unlike simple estimators, this tool accounts for the specific carbon intensity of different energy vectors.

The combustion process oxidizes carbon atoms in fuel. For example, the complete combustion of Octane (C₈H₁₈) produces distinct molar ratios of CO2. Indirect emissions from grid electricity vary significantly by regional generation mix (coal vs. nuclear vs. renewables).

Precision in these calculations is vital for regulatory compliance (Scope 1 & 2 reporting) and engineering audits. This tool covers direct fuel combustion and electrical load equivalents.

Formulas

The mass of CO2 produced m_CO2 is calculated by multiplying the fuel quantity Q by its specific Emission Factor EF.

m_CO2 = Q × EF

For stoichiometric derivation of simple hydrocarbons (C_xH_y):

C_xH_y + (x + y4)O₂ → xCO₂ + (y2)H₂O

The ratio of CO2 mass to Fuel mass is derived from molar masses (M_C = 12, M_O = 16, M_H = 1).

Reference Data

Fuel Type	Formula	Energy Density (MJ/kg)	Emission Factor (kg CO2/unit)
Gasoline (Petrol)	C₈H₁₈ (mix)	46.4	2.31 per liter
Diesel	C₁₂H₂₃ (mix)	45.6	2.68 per liter
Natural Gas	CH₄	55.5	1.89 per m³
LPG (Propane)	C₃H₈	46.4	1.51 per liter
Jet Fuel (A-1)	C₁₂H₂₆	43.1	2.52 per liter
Grid Elec (Global Avg)	complex	N/A	0.475 per kWh

Frequently Asked Questions

This seems counterintuitive but is chemically correct. When fuel burns, the Carbon (C) in the fuel combines with Oxygen (O2) from the air. Since an Oxygen atom is heavier than a Carbon atom (Atomic mass 16 vs 12), the resulting CO2 molecule is significantly heavier than the original Carbon atom. For every 1 kg of gasoline burned, about 2.3 kg of CO2 is produced.

CO2e is a metric measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases on the basis of their global-warming potential (GWP), by converting amounts of other gases (like Methane or Nitrous Oxide) to the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide with the same global warming potential.

Grid factors are averages. They vary by country, state, and even time of day. A grid powered heavily by coal will have a high factor (e.g., 0.9 kg/kWh), while a nuclear/hydro grid will be low (e.g., 0.05 kg/kWh). This tool uses a standard global average or specific major market averages.

This calculator focuses primarily on "Tank-to-Wheel" or direct combustion emissions. It does not account for the energy used to extract, refine, and transport the fuel to the pump (Well-to-Tank), unless otherwise specified in advanced settings.