Ethane
Reviewed by Afonso Firmo, Co-Founder & Director · Updated 7 July 2026
Ethane has a combined Scope 1 emission factor of 56.56 kg CO₂-e/GJ under NGA Factors 2025. Worked examples, state Scope 3 factors and an emissions calculator.
Emission Factor Value
56.56 kg CO₂-e/GJ
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Estimated emissions
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Ethane combustion is reported under Scope 1 at 56.56 kg CO₂-e/GJ (NGA Factors 2025, Table 5). Cubic metres are converted at an energy content of 0.0629 GJ/m³. Ethane used as chemical feedstock (not combusted) is excluded.
Official Source & Citation
This emission factor is sourced from the Australian National Greenhouse Accounts Factors 2025 , Table 5 — Gaseous fuels including liquefied natural gas, published by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
Citation: DCCEEW (2025). Australian National Greenhouse Accounts Factors 2025. Commonwealth of Australia. Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/publications/national-greenhouse-accounts-factors-2025
Notes
Combined Scope 1 factor of 56.56 kg CO₂-e/GJ = CO₂ 56.5 + CH₄ 0.03 + N₂O 0.03 (NGA Factors 2025, Table 5). Energy content 0.0629 GJ/m³. 1 GJ of ethane combusted = 56.56 kg CO₂-e. Upstream Scope 3 factors (Table 7): 23.7 kg CO₂-e/GJ in NSW and 5.7 in Victoria, reported separately.
Calculation Example
If your petrochemical plant combusted 3,000 GJ of ethane as furnace fuel:
| Working | Result |
|---|---|
| 3,000 GJ × 56.56 kg CO₂-e/GJ = 169,680 kg CO₂-e | 169.68 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1) |
Ethane is a niche fuel in Australia — piped from Bass Strait and Cooper Basin processing plants to a handful of petrochemical facilities — but where it appears, it is a major line in the site’s Scope 1 inventory. It also comes with a wrinkle: the same molecule can be a fuel or a feedstock, and only the combusted portion takes this factor.
Below are the NGA Factors 2025 numbers, three worked examples, and the state-based upstream Scope 3 factors that apply to ethane supply.
Quick Verdict
Ethane has a combined Scope 1 emission factor of 56.56 kg CO₂-e per gigajoule under the NGA Factors 2025 (Table 5) — CO₂ 56.5 with negligible CH₄ and N₂O components — at an energy content of 0.0629 GJ/m³, the densest of the pipeline gases. The factor applies to organisations combusting ethane in furnaces, process heaters or engines, chiefly petrochemical operators; ethane cracked as feedstock is treated separately. Upstream supply carries its own Scope 3 factors under Table 7: 23.7 kg CO₂-e/GJ in NSW and 5.7 in Victoria. Per gigajoule, ethane emits about 10% more than natural gas, a direct consequence of its higher carbon-to-energy ratio.
How to Calculate Ethane Emissions
Emissions (kg CO₂-e) = Energy consumed (GJ) × 56.56 kg CO₂-e/GJ
Convert cubic metres at 0.0629 GJ/m³ and megajoules at 1,000 MJ per GJ.
Worked Example 1: Petrochemical furnace fuel
A plant combusts 3,000 GJ of ethane in its furnaces over the year.
3,000 GJ × 56.56 = 169,680 kg CO₂-e
169.68 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1)
Worked Example 2: Process heaters billed in megajoules
Process heaters consume 450,000 MJ of ethane.
450,000 MJ ÷ 1,000 = 450 GJ
450 GJ × 56.56 = 25,452 kg CO₂-e
25.45 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1)
Worked Example 3: Pipeline offtake metered in cubic metres
A site meters 10,000 m³ of ethane for combustion.
10,000 m³ × 0.0629 GJ/m³ = 629 GJ
629 GJ × 56.56 = 35,576.24 kg CO₂-e
35.58 tonnes CO₂-e (Scope 1)
How ethane compares with other gaseous fuels
| Gaseous fuel | Combined Scope 1 factor (kg CO₂-e/GJ) |
|---|---|
| Biomethane | 0.13 |
| Coke oven gas | 37.08 |
| Natural gas (pipeline) | 51.53 |
| Coal seam methane | 51.63 |
| Ethane | 56.56 |
| Town gas | 60.27 |
| Blast furnace gas | 234.05 |
NGER and AASB S2 Reporting
Combusted ethane is reported as Scope 1 under the NGER scheme using this factor, with feedstock quantities handled under separate NGER methods and upstream supply reported as Scope 3. The same combustion emissions flow into your Scope 1 inventory under AASB S2 — document the fuel/feedstock split clearly, as it is the first question an assurance provider will ask.
Related Emission Factors
Frequently Asked Questions
Disclaimer
This page is provided for general information, not professional or compliance advice. The factor shown is reproduced from the official publication cited above, and while we work to keep it current, government factors change — the publication is always the authoritative source.
- Before using this value in any formal reporting — including under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 — confirm it against the current official publication and the methods specified by the Clean Energy Regulator.
- NetNada is independent of the Australian Government, DCCEEW, and the Clean Energy Regulator. Government data is Crown copyright, Commonwealth of Australia.