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    Energy

    Natural Gas emission factors

    Natural gas is the most common heating fuel for UK businesses and residential properties. The DESNZ emission factor for natural gas combustion is approximately 0.183 kg CO₂e per kWh (gross calorific value). Natural gas emissions are classified as Scope 1 when burned in on-site equipment such as boilers, furnaces, and CHP systems. Additional upstream emissions from extraction and distribution are included in well-to-tank factors.

    Combustion factor: ~0.183 kg CO₂e per kWh (gross CV)
    Well-to-tank factor adds ~0.025 kg CO₂e per kWh
    Natural gas accounts for ~30% of UK CO₂ emissions
    Heat pumps are typically 3x more efficient than gas boilers

    Why it matters for carbon reporting

    For businesses with significant heating requirements, natural gas is often the largest source of Scope 1 emissions. With the UK government phasing out fossil fuel heating in new buildings and tightening efficiency standards for existing stock, understanding gas emission factors helps businesses plan their transition to heat pumps or other low-carbon alternatives.

    Practical example

    A restaurant group operates 10 sites, each consuming 80,000 kWh of natural gas per year for cooking and heating. Total gas emissions are 800,000 x 0.183 = 146.4 tCO₂e. Replacing gas heating with air-source heat pumps at five sites reduces Scope 1 by approximately 60 tCO₂e.

    How to reduce natural gas emissions

    • 1Replace gas boilers with air-source or ground-source heat pumps
    • 2Improve building insulation to reduce total heating demand
    • 3Install smart heating controls to avoid unnecessary consumption
    • 4Consider the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for heat pump installation

    Sample emission factors

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    Natural gas and services related to natural gas extraction, excluding surveying

    EXIOBASE Multi-Regional Input-Output

    Scope 3
    2.7159kg CO₂e/€

    Natural gas and services related to natural gas extraction, excluding surveying

    EXIOBASE Multi-Regional Input-Output

    Scope 3
    4.8022kg CO₂e/Rp

    Natural gas and services related to natural gas extraction, excluding surveying

    EXIOBASE Multi-Regional Input-Output

    Scope 3
    4.0628kg CO₂e/A$

    Natural gas and services related to natural gas extraction, excluding surveying

    EXIOBASE Multi-Regional Input-Output

    Scope 3
    3.0975kg CO₂e/€

    Natural gas and services related to natural gas extraction, excluding surveying

    EXIOBASE Multi-Regional Input-Output

    Scope 3
    0.5814kg CO₂e/€

    Natural gas and services related to natural gas extraction, excluding surveying

    EXIOBASE Multi-Regional Input-Output

    Scope 3
    0.9092kg CO₂e/€

    Natural gas and services related to natural gas extraction, excluding surveying

    EXIOBASE Multi-Regional Input-Output

    Scope 3
    3.9291kg CO₂e/€

    Natural gas and services related to natural gas extraction, excluding surveying

    EXIOBASE Multi-Regional Input-Output

    Scope 3
    0.1874kg CO₂e/$

    Showing 8 of 6,438 matching factors. Search all factors in the Data Explorer

    Related emission factors

    Electricity (UK Grid)

    UK grid average: ~0.207 kg CO₂e per kWh (2024)

    Diesel

    Combustion: ~2.51 kg CO₂e per litre

    Calculate your natural gas emissions

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