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How to select the appropriate fuel
Updated over 7 months ago

This guide aims to help you select the appropriate fuel type for "Heating and Fuel" emission source. Carefully review the descriptions and examples in the tables below to find the fuel type that best matches your needs.

Different fuel types are available based on the country of the location, for which your emissions are being accounted for. If your location is situated in the US, please refer to the second table. If it is located outside of the US, use the first table.

Fuel list for locations that are not in the US

Below is a list of fuels available for selection when creating a data entry or importing data for a location outside the US.

The list is based on the UK Government emission factor source.

Fuel Type

Description

Examples

Aviation Gasoline

Specialized fuel used in aviation engines.

Aviation spirit, Aviation Gasoline

Avtur (renewable)

Renewable jet fuel derived from sustainable sources.

Synthetic paraffinic kerosene, Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA)

Biodiesel

A diesel fuel substitute produced from renewable resources like vegetable oils and animal fats.

Biodiesel ME, Biodiesel ME (from used cooking oil), Biodiesel ME (from tallow), Biodiesel HVO, Off road biodiesel, Biodiesel (100%)

Bioethanol

Ethanol produced from biomass used as a vehicle fuel.

Corn ethanol, sugarcane ethanol

Biogas

Gas produced from biological sources like organic waste, used as a renewable energy source.

Biogas and other Biomass Gases

Biomethane

Methane derived from biogas which can be compressed or liquified for fuel.

Biomethane (compressed), Biomethane (liquified)

Biomethanol

Methanol produced through biological processes as a sustainable fuel.

Biomethanol from wood waste, Biomethanol from agricultural waste

Biopropane

A renewable version of propane produced from biological sources.

Biopropane from glycerol, Biopropane from vegetable oils

Butane

A gaseous hydrocarbon used as fuel.

N-butane, isobutane

Coal

Fossil fuel used widely for electricity generation and industrial processes.

Coal (industrial), Coal (electricity generation), Coal (domestic), Anthracite Coal, Bituminous Coal, Sub-bituminous Coal, Lignite Coal

Coal Coke

A solid carbonaceous material derived from coal used mainly in steelmaking.

Coking coal

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

Methane stored at high pressure used as a cleaner alternative to gasoline.

CNG for fleet vehicles

Diesel

A type of fuel used in diesel engines, derived from petroleum.

Diesel (average biofuel blend), Diesel (100% mineral diesel), Development diesel, Diesel Fuel

Fuel oil

Heavy oils used as fuel in industries like shipping and power generation.

No. 6 fuel oil, bunker fuel

Gas oil

A middle distillate petroleum product used as a diesel fuel and heating oil.

Gas oil, Heavy Gas Oils, Unfinished Oils

Gasoline / Petrol

A petroleum-derived liquid mixture used primarily as a fuel in internal combustion engines.

Petrol (average biofuel blend), Petrol (100% mineral petrol), Development petrol, Motor Gasoline, Natural Gasoline

Grass and straw

Organic materials used as biofuel.

Grass pellets, straw bales

Landfill Gas

Methane-rich gas that is produced by the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste in landfills.

Landfill methane, landfill renewable natural gas

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Natural gas that has been cooled down to liquid form for ease and safety of non-pressurized storage.

LNG for heavy-duty trucks or industrial applications

Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG)

A group of hydrocarbon gases, primarily propane and butane, used as fuel in heating appliances and vehicles.

Propane for heating, propane for forklifts, propane for standby generators, propane for crop drying

Lubricants

Substances used to reduce the friction between surfaces in mutual contact, which ultimately reduces the heat generated.

Motor oil, hydraulic oil

Marine fuel oil

Heavy fuel oils used specifically for ship propulsion.

Low sulfur marine fuel, intermediate fuel oil

Marine gas oil

Distillate fuel oil used in ship engines.

Distillate marine diesel, light marine fuel

Naphtha

A volatile, flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture used mainly as a solvent or diluent.

Naphtha, Special Naphtha

Natural Gas

A fossil fuel used as a source of energy for heating, cooking, and electricity generation.

Natural gas, Natural gas (100% mineral blend)

Petroleum Coke

A solid carbon material derived from oil refinery coker units or other cracking processes.

Fuel grade coke, anode grade coke

Processed fuel oils - distillate oil

Refined petroleum products used as diesel fuel or heating oil.

Distillate Fuel Oil No. 1, Distillate Fuel Oil No. 2, Distillate Fuel Oil No. 4

Propane

A hydrocarbon gas used as a common fuel source.

Propane, Propane Gas

Refinery miscellaneous

Various byproducts from oil refining processes used as fuels or feedstocks.

Other petroleum gas, Refinery miscellaneous, Petrochemical Feedstocks

Residual Fuel Oil

The heaviest fractions of oil distilled, used in ships and power plants.

Processed fuel oils - residual oil, Residual Fuel Oil No. 5, Residual Fuel Oil No. 6

Waste oils

Used or contaminated oils which can be reprocessed or used directly as fuel.

Waste oils, Used Oil

Wood

An organic material derived from trees, used commonly as a fuel.

Wood logs, Wood chips, Wood pellets, Wood and Wood Residuals

Fuel list for US locations

Below is a list of fuels available for selection when creating a data entry or importing data for a location within the US.

The list is based on the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emission factor source.

Fuel Type

Description

Examples

Agricultural Byproducts

Biomass residue from agricultural processes used as fuel.

Corn stalks, rice husks, sugarcane bagasse

Asphalt and Road Oil

Petroleum products used in road construction and maintenance.

Asphalt and Road Oil, Oils with a boiling range equal to or greater than 205 Celisius (401 degrees Fahrenheit) that are intended for use as a petrochemical feedstock.

Aviation Gasoline

Specialized fuel used in aviation engines.

Aviation spirit, Aviation Gasoline

Biodiesel

A diesel fuel substitute produced from renewable resources like vegetable oils and animal fats.

Biodiesel ME, Biodiesel ME (from used cooking oil), Biodiesel ME (from tallow), Biodiesel HVO, Off road biodiesel, Biodiesel (100%)

Biogas

Gas produced from biological sources like organic waste, used as a renewable energy source.

Biogas and other Biomass Gases

Black Liquor

A byproduct from the kraft process of paper manufacturing used in energy production.

North American Softwood, North American Hardwood, Bagasse, Bamboo, Straw

Blast Furnace Gas

Gas released during the iron-making process used as a fuel.

Ironworks gas, metallurgical gas

Butane

A gaseous hydrocarbon used as fuel.

N-butane, isobutane

Butylene

An industrial chemical used as a fuel and in the production of other chemicals.

Butylene for synthetic rubber, butylene for fuel additives

Coal

Fossil fuel used widely for electricity generation and industrial processes.

Coal (industrial), Coal (electricity generation), Coal (domestic), Anthracite Coal, Bituminous Coal, Sub-bituminous Coal, Lignite Coal

Coal Coke

A solid carbonaceous material derived from coal used mainly in steelmaking.

Coking coal

Coke Oven Gas

Gas evolved from coal in coke ovens used as a fuel.

Coke oven methane, coke plant gas

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

Methane stored at high pressure used as a cleaner alternative to gasoline.

CNG for fleet vehicles

Crude Oil

Unrefined petroleum extracted from the ground used as a primary fuel source.

Light crude oil, heavy crude oil

Diesel

A type of fuel used in diesel engines, derived from petroleum.

Diesel (average biofuel blend), Diesel (100% mineral diesel), Development diesel, Diesel Fuel

Ethane

A component of natural gas used as a feedstock in the production of ethylene.

Ethane for petrochemical production

Ethanol

An alcohol used as a fuel additive.

Grain ethanol, cellulosic ethanol

Ethylene

A hydrocarbon used primarily as a precursor to plastics and other chemicals.

Ethylene for polyethylene, ethylene for polyester

Fuel Gas

Various gases used directly as fuels.

Synthetic gas, refinery gas

Fuel oil

Heavy oils used as fuel in industries like shipping and power generation.

No. 6 fuel oil, bunker fuel

Gas oil

A middle distillate petroleum product used as a diesel fuel and heating oil.

Gas oil, Heavy Gas Oils, Unfinished Oils

Gasoline / Petrol

A petroleum-derived liquid mixture used primarily as a fuel in internal combustion engines.

Petrol (average biofuel blend), Petrol (100% mineral petrol), Development petrol, Motor Gasoline, Natural Gasoline

Isobutane

A branched form of butane used as a refrigerant and in aerosol propellants.

Refrigerant R-600a, aerosol propellant isobutane

Isobutylene

A volatile hydrocarbon used as an intermediate in the production of various products.

Isobutylene rubber, isobutylene polymer

Jet Fuel

A type of aviation fuel designed for use in aircraft powered by gas-turbine engines.

Aviation turbine fuel, Kerosene-Type Jet Fuel

Kerosene

A light fuel oil obtained by distilling petroleum, used in heating, cooking, and in jet engines.

Burning oil, Kerosene

Landfill Gas

Methane-rich gas that is produced by the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste in landfills.

Landfill methane, landfill renewable natural gas

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Natural gas that has been cooled down to liquid form for ease and safety of non-pressurized storage.

LNG for heavy-duty trucks or industrial applications

Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG)

A group of hydrocarbon gases, primarily propane and butane, used as fuel in heating appliances and vehicles.

Propane for heating, propane for forklifts, propane for standby generators, propane for crop drying

Lubricants

Substances used to reduce the friction between surfaces in mutual contact, which ultimately reduces the heat generated.

Motor oil, hydraulic oil

Municipal Solid Waste

Non-hazardous solid waste from a community that can be collected and processed.

Household waste, commercial waste

Naphtha

A volatile, flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture used mainly as a solvent or diluent.

Naphtha, Special Naphtha

Natural Gas

A fossil fuel used as a source of energy for heating, cooking, and electricity generation.

Natural gas, Natural gas (100% mineral blend)

Peat

An accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter that is unique to natural areas called peatlands.

Sphagnum peat, horticultural peat

Pentanes Plus

A mixture of hydrocarbons, mainly pentanes and heavier, used in gasoline blending or processed into other petroleum products.

Natural gasoline, condensate

Petroleum Coke

A solid carbon material derived from oil refinery coker units or other cracking processes.

Fuel grade coke, anode grade coke

Plastics

Synthetic materials made from polymers that can be molded or shaped, usually when soft, then set into rigid or slightly elastic forms.

Polyethylene, polystyrene

Processed fuel oils - distillate oil

Refined petroleum products used as diesel fuel or heating oil.

Distillate Fuel Oil No. 1, Distillate Fuel Oil No. 2, Distillate Fuel Oil No. 4

Propane

A hydrocarbon gas used as a common fuel source.

Propane, Propane Gas

Propylene

A colorless gas used in the production of polymers and propylene oxide.

Propylene monomer, polypropylene

Refinery miscellaneous

Various byproducts from oil refining processes used as fuels or feedstocks.

Other petroleum gas, Refinery miscellaneous, Petrochemical Feedstocks

Rendered Animal Fat

Fat derived from the rendering process of animal products used as a biofuel.

Tallow, poultry fat

Residual Fuel Oil

The heaviest fractions of oil distilled, used in ships and power plants.

Processed fuel oils - residual oil, Residual Fuel Oil No. 5, Residual Fuel Oil No. 6

Solid Byproducts

Non-gaseous residues produced from burning coal or waste.

Fly ash, bottom ash

Tires

Used as a fuel source in some industrial processes after reaching the end of their useful life on vehicles.

Tire-derived fuel, shredded tires

Vegetable Oil

Oils extracted from plants used as food or fuel.

Canola oil, soybean oil

Waste oils

Used or contaminated oils which can be reprocessed or used directly as fuel.

Waste oils, Used Oil

Wood

An organic material derived from trees, used commonly as a fuel.

Wood logs, Wood chips, Wood pellets, Wood and Wood Residuals

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