What CO2 factor and coal GCV does CEA's grid database assume for Indian coal and lignite?
CEA's grid database (user guide v22.0, August 2026) uses 95.8 g CO2 per MJ for Indian coal on net calorific value, 92.5 on gross, with a 0.98 oxidation factor: 90.6 g per MJ. Lignite comes to 100.5 and imported coal 85.2. Where a power station gives no data, CEA assumes coal of 3,755 kcal/kg.
The factors, as CEA prints them
- Indian coal: 95.8 g CO2/MJ on NCV, 92.5 on GCV, oxidation factor 0.98, applied factor 90.6 g CO2/MJ.
- Lignite: 106.2 on NCV, 102.5 on GCV, oxidation 0.98, applied 100.5 g CO2/MJ.
- Imported coal: 89.5 on NCV, 85.2 on GCV, oxidation 1.00, applied 85.2 g CO2/MJ.
- CEA multiplies fuel burnt by its GCV, the GCV-based factor and the oxidation factor, so the applied figure is the one to use with a GCV.
Where the numbers come from
- Indian coal and lignite: India's Initial National Communication to the UNFCCC (2004). For coal it is backed by analysis of about 120 samples from Indian coalfields, converted from NCV to GCV with the Communication's own formula.
- Oxidation 0.98: from unburnt carbon in ash at Indian coal-fired stations, in line with the IPCC 1996 default.
- Imported coal and other fuels: IPCC 2006 defaults, at the low end of the 95% confidence range in line with the CDM grid tool, converted to GCV with IEA factors.
Defaults when a station sends nothing
For coal stations that did not report, CEA assumes a GCV of 3,755 kcal/kg, a gross heat rate of 2,500 kcal/kWh, 8% auxiliary consumption and 1.04 t CO2 per MWh. For lignite stations the default is 1.28 t CO2 per MWh. These fill gaps in the grid figure; they are not a value for your coal.
Using it for your own boiler or kiln
The factor is per MJ, so the figure per tonne depends on your coal's GCV. Take the GCV from the supplier's analysis or your lab report for that lot, convert kcal to MJ (1 kcal = 4.1868 kJ) and multiply. A buyer or verifier will ask which GCV you used, so keep the report with the invoice.
Example: 100 t of Indian coal in a month
- At CEA's default 3,755 kcal/kg: 3,755 x 4.1868 = 15.72 MJ/kg x 90.6 g/MJ = 1.42 t CO2 per t coal, so 142 t CO2
- At 4,500 kcal/kg: 18.84 MJ/kg x 90.6 g/MJ = 1.71 t CO2 per t coal, so 171 t CO2
- Same tonnes, 29 t CO2 apart, only because of the coal's heat value
4,500 kcal/kg is an example GCV. Use the GCV on your own coal analysis.
What Senseible does here
Senseible reads coal tonnes from your purchase invoices and applies a published factor with its source on every line: 1.76 kg CO2 per kg for Indian coal (India BUR-2, 2018) and 2.44 for imported coal (IPCC).
Last reviewed 2026-11-03. CEA publishes a new version each year; check Appendix B of the latest user guide.