Energy production, what carbon impact is hidden behind each sector?

To return to these aspects, we must first consider the carbon impact generated by the manufacturing of energy production infrastructures. What we commonly call embodied energy. “This segment of the total carbon impact is also relatively important in the photovoltaic sector, since the construction of a solar panel involves in particular the extraction of quartz and, above all, purification at high temperature,” adds Patrick Biro.

The analysis must then consider the carbon impact of the energy agent used, both in terms of its production and its consumption. And here too, some clarifications are necessary. In certain obvious cases, such as the use of hydrocarbons, the production of the energy agent means the stages involved in its extraction, transformation and provision, such as fuel oil for example. As for its consumption, this obviously concerns the greenhouse gas emissions which result from its combustion. In other cases, such as wind power for example, these aspects of production and use of the energy agent are zero since it is wind. As a final example, green hydrogen does not emit carbon during its consumption but is very energy intensive during its production by electrolysis.

On average, based on 2022 figures issued by the European Environment Agency, the production of one kilowatt hour generated 9% more CO2 than in 2021, but 24% less than ten years ago . In Switzerland, to give an idea, the kWh produced in 2023 emits 83 grams of CO2 on average according to the monitoring platform app.electricitymaps.com. This is, for comparison, more than France – 53 grams, and less than Germany – 372 grams.