# Oxygen: Emissions

A footprint that follows the power grid

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/emissions/

What this tab covers The greenhouse-gas footprint per tonne, split by lifecycle phase (feedstock, production, movement, use, end of life), the global total, other environmental impacts, levers and low-carbon routes, India's position, and where the investment opportunity lies. Emission intensity 0.15 t CO2e per t range about 0.02-0.7 · 250 kWh per t at a world average grid of about 0.45-0.5 kg CO2 per kWh; liquid oxygen 3-4 times higher; near zero on renewable power Global emissions per year 60.0 Mt CO2e per year 2023 · about 400 Mt x 0.15 t CO2e per t

Per t of gaseous oxygen, cradle-to-gate. Intensity: indicative (basis: energy use x grid intensity). Global total: Thunder Said Energy output; indicative intensity.

#### Share of footprint by lifecycle phase
 Production / process 90% Movement 10%

#### Footprint by lifecycle phase

| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Feedstock** | zero (air) | 0% | none | air is free | not applicable |
| **Production / process** | about 0.12-0.14 t CO2e per t | 90% | electricity for compression | on India's grid (about 0.7 kg CO2 per kWh) about 0.18 t per t (indicative) | indicative |
| **Movement** | about 0.01-0.02 t CO2e per t | 10% | liquefaction and trucking for merchant product | near zero for pipeline supply | indicative |
| **Use** | not applicable | – | oxygen itself is not a greenhouse gas | combustion it enables is counted by the user | not applicable |
| **End of life** | not applicable | – | returns to air or forms oxides | not applicable | not applicable |

#### Other environmental impacts

Negligible direct pollution. Large ASUs are significant electricity loads and can act as flexible demand.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Supply ASUs with renewable power purchase agreements
- Run ASUs flexibly with liquid storage to absorb cheap solar power
- Use by-product oxygen from electrolysers (8 t per t H2)
- Higher-efficiency compressors and heat exchangers toward the 51 kWh/t minimum

#### India

Indian oxygen carries a higher footprint because of the coal-heavy grid (about 0.18 t CO2 per t, indicative). Gas companies in India are adding renewable power for ASUs (indicative).
 Emission figures are indicative global averages from the life-cycle studies named; actual footprints vary widely by site, energy mix and method.

#### Low-carbon routes

| Route | Intensity | Cost premium | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **ASU on renewable power** | near zero | depends on power price; often none | gas majors sign renewable PPAs for ASUs (e.g. Linde and Air Liquide in Europe and India, indicative) | indicative |

 For a climate investor Oxygen is a small emitter in its own right; the opportunity is in flexible ASUs as grid loads and in pairing them with electrolysers and DRI steel. A fund can look at captive renewable power for gas plants, and at hospital-scale PSA and distribution, which India found was the real bottleneck in 2021. Builders include INOX Air Products, Linde India and Air Liquide.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/characteristics/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/oxygen/links/index.md)