GEMIS Glossary

Here you can get a brief explanation of relevant terms used in GEMIS (note: in the GEMIS computer program you can also access the Glossary - see Menu "Help").

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Click on one of the letters above to active the term you are looking for.

A

a (annum) is the acronym for year. 

A&F (agriculture and food) is the acronym in GEMIS for a group of processes from the area of agriculture and food production. The base data came from GhK and are currently updated and extended (in cooperation with partners).

acidification potential (AP) is the result of aggregating acid air emissions, expressed in SO2 equivalents. The AP is an important environmental indicator. 

af is the acronym for ash free and is used to characterize the ultimate analysis.

AGEB (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Energiebilanzen) issues the annual energy balance for Germany which contains important basic data especially for the energy use of industry, electricity generation, and the primary energy use AGEB has a website with more information.

air emissions are products of the type emissions (especially SO2, NOx, HCl, HF, NH3, H2S) for which GEMIS determines the acidification potential, and CO, NMVOC, NOx, for which GEMIS determines the ozone precursor potential. Users cab extend the database with user-defined emissions.

allocation is the distribution of (environmental) burdens of processes to several outputs (products) of these processes. The allocation can be based on e.g. heat values, mass or costs, or by crediting.

AOX (absorbable organic halogens) is a measure for the load of liquid effluents with organo-halogenic compounds.

APME ( Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe) offers LCA data for plastic on  their website (APME data are also part of the GEMIS 4.0 database).

ash is in GEMIS part of the solid wastes. The amount of ash is automatically calculated in GEMIS for combustion processes, for which data on the ash content is used from the ultimate analysis of the used fuel.

ATB is the Institute for Agrartechnik Bornim e.V. in Potsdam, a GEMIS user and cooperating partner for A&F data. More information is given on the ATB-website.

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B

BASiS (Bedürfnisfeldorientierte Analyse von Stoffströmen in scenarios) is a German computer model for material flow analyses. BASiS models also the demand side, i.e. needs like buildings, housing, good consumption etc. It is also dynamic with time series for both the demand, and the supply side.

BaUm (Basisdaten Umweltmanagement) was an IT project of UBA which prepared a public database in the internet for environmental management, life-cycle analyses, and material flow analyses, offering e.g. GEMIS data. The project is now continued under the name ProBas.

BGR is the Bundesamt for Geowissenschaften and Rohstoffe in Hanover, compiling e.g. data for raw material extraction and processing.

BMBF is the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (Bundesministerium for Bildung and Forschung). More Information is given on the BMBF-website. The BMBF sponsors a project of Öko-Institut where GEMIS is used as a tool for material flow analysis - see website Sustainable Cities.

BMU is the Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Protection, and Nuclear Safety (Bundesministerium for Umwelt, Naturschutz and Reaktorsicherheit). More information is given on the BMU-website.

BOD is the biological oxygen demand, a measure for the pollution of waste water with bio-degradable substances.

BP is the acronym for back-pressure turbine (for CHP processes).

BTU means British Thermal Unit, an Anglo-Saxon energy unit.

BUIS (Betriebliche Umwelt-Informations-Systeme) are computerized tools for the environmental management in enterprises.

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C

cards in GEMIS are the "pages" on which information for data records (products, processes, scenarios, references) are stored and displayed. Each data record can have several cards.

card file windows in GEMIS are special windows in which data records can be selected, created, edited, copied or renamed, and deleted, respectively. The data records are always shown in a list on the left side where they can be selected with a mouse click. For the selected data record, a summary of relevant data is shown in the info card on the right side of the card file window. The comment card gives a written On the card "filter" you can select data filter so that only those data records are shown which comply with the retrieval criteria. 

cars in GEMIS are processes of the type person-transport and are listed under name name element "car". GEMIS contains cars using various fuels (gasoline, diesel, natural gas, H2, rape oil, RME, electricity), weight classes, driving cycles, and emission classes.

CAS is the Chemical Abstract System

CC are combined-cycles, i.e. combinations of gas turbines and steam turbines.

CEE is the country code for Central and Eastern Europe.

CER is the Cumulated Energy Requirement, a measure for the total amount of energy resources (primary energies) needed to deliver a product or a service. In GEMIS, a new methodology is implemented for the calculation of the CER -  see CER Project - but this can be changed with a global switch back to the "old" methodology of the VDI Guideline 4600.

CFC are chlorinated fluoro-carbons, chemically rather stable compounds with a very high global warming potential (GWP). In the higher atmosphere, they are decomposed by UV radiation and cause ozone depletion. This effect more than compensates their radiative forcing, because ozone itself is a strong GHG - the "net" GWP is therefore assumed to be zero. CFC were used as working fluids in heatpumps, and foaming agents for insulation materials, but are more and more substituted by H-CFC, butane etc.

CH4 is the chemical formula for methane. Its effect as a greenhouse gas is included in the CO2 equivalents, while its effect as an air pollutant is included in the ozone precursor equivalents.

chem-anorg is a name element in GEMIS for processes in the chemical industry which deliver inorganic base materials.

chem-org is a name element in GEMIS for processes in the chemical industry which deliver organic base materials.

CHP is the acronym for combined heat & power, i.e. the joint delivery of electricity (power) and heat - but also chilling, cooling etc. In GEMIS, CHP processes have the symbol before their name which also contains the acronym cogen or ICE. The name element "th" refers to heat output of a CHP process, while without "th", the processes generally deliver electricity. Because CHP processes generate more than one main product, an allocation is needed to distribute the environmental and cost effects between the main product, and the coupled product. In GEMIS, usually a credit for the couple product is allocated so that the CHP process is modeled on a net base. In the names of CHP processes in GEMIS, this is shown by the "/", followed by the credited process. There are also CHP processes modeled without credit - this is indicated by the name element "gross" after the "/".

CIS is the country code for the Commonwealth of Independent States (former USSR).

city is the acronym for the driving cycle "in the city".

CMR is the Cumulated Material Requirement, a quantitative measure of the total amount of raw materials needed to deliver a product or a service. In GEMIS, the CMR is the material complement to the CER. 

CNG (compressed natural gas) is a methane-rich fuel, especially for vehicles. 

CnHm are hydrocarbons. In GEMIS they are divided into NMVOC and CH4.

CO (carbon monoxide) is the result of incomplete combustion and part of the air emissions in GEMIS. Its effects are included in the tropospheric ozone precursor equivalents.

CO2 (carbon dioxide) is the quantitative most relevant greenhouse gas (GHG) emitted by human activities (especially combustion of fossil fuels).

CO2 equivalents are the result of the aggregation of greenhouse gases (GHG) which takes into account their respective global warming potentials (GWP).

COD is the chemical oxygen demand, a measure for the pollution of waste water with chemically degradable substances.

cogen is the acronym for combined heat & power. For small-scale cogen, see ICE.

combustion is the conversion of a fuel by oxidization. Based in the ultimate analysis, GEMIS can compute the amount of energy (heating value) and flue gas. From that, GEMIS computes the flue-gas concentrations and emission factors for emissions - these are SO2, HCl, HF, CO2 and ash. 

combustion processes are processes in GEMIS in which fuels are converted into heat or electricity (or both) by means of oxidization (combustion). For these processes, GEMIS can compute the fuel-depending emissions, and they can be linked to emission control technologies, and their compliance with emission standards can be tested. Examples are heating systems, thermal powerplants (with FC, ST, GT or CC) and ICE, or systems for combined heat & power.

comment is part of the meta data of a data record and usually offers a description of the record. It further offers some information on the data generation, restrictions, etc. In GEMIS 4.0, the comment is multilingual. 

copy is a Windows® function to copy a selected text or data record into the so-called clipboard. From there, the function Insert enters the content of the clipboard in the currently marked text, list area or another WINDOWS application (spreadsheet, text). The shortcut for Copy is STRG+C, for Insert STRG+V.

core data are the data records of the project STANDARD which come with the GEMIS setup. The core data re protected against changes - to make this visible, the names of these records are shown in color, while the non-core (user-defined) data are shown in black. Core data records can be copied, thereby getting transformed into user-defined data.

country code in GEMIS is an acronym for nations (countries) and groups of nations (e.g. CEE, CIS, OPEC).

credits are a method of allocation for processes which deliver more than one product - see combined heat & power (CHP). CHP processes in GEMIS for which a credit was allocated have the name element "net".

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D

d (diem) is the acronym for day.

data filter in GEMIS are selection criteria for the retrieval and display of records in the database: only those data records are shown in a card file window which comply with the chosen filter criteria. The data filters have their own card which offers - depending on the card file window - several filters. Always the filters for last change, source, owner and data quality are available.

data record is in GEMIS the smallest unit in which data is stored. Each data record has a unique name, an owner and a source. The totality of all data records is called project.

data quality indicator is a hint for the respective origin and quality of the data record and is stored in the metadata card of products, processes and scenarios as well as standards. The indicator refers to the general quality of the data record and is used in GEMIS results to show for each part of a scenario result the data quality. The indicator highlights also the uncertainty of results, and has 5 levels. The meaning of these levels is as follows:

DeNOx is the acronym for denitrification, i.e. reduction of NOx. In GEMIS, DeNOx processes belong to emission control technologies, and there are Low-NOx, SCR and SNCR.

DIW is the German Institute for Economic Research (Deutsches Institut for Wirtschaftsforschung) in Berlin. It operates as the central office for AGEB. More information is given on the DIW-website.

driving cycles are standardized routes which are traveled by vehicles with pre-determined speeds, and gears (incl. start-up, acceleration, etc.) to determine emission factors. In GEMIS, vehicle emissions refer to the driving cycles hiWay, rural and city.

DSI (dry sorbent injection) is a type of FGD which captures SO2 and halogens using a dry sorbent like CaO which is directly added to the fuel, or introduced into the combustion area. The reaction product is then collected with the ash, and fly ash. Due to the low reactivity of most sorbents at high temperatures, the control efficiency of DSI is quite low, and the amount of additional waste generated quite high. Still, DSI is relatively inexpensive to install, so that it is used often to retrofit older (coal) plants.

DSM (Demand-Side Management) is the general term for energy efficiency programmes (NegaWatt).

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E

efficiency is the quantitative ratio of  the outputs of a processes to its input, but excluding auxiliary energy or material inputs (these are entered explicitly). Note that the efficiency of energy systems usually refers to the higher heating value, but in other countries also the higher heating value is used (especially USA).

el is the name element in GEMIS for electric.

EMAS (Environmental Management and Auditing Scheme) is the EU guideline for environmental auditing, which allows enterprises to certify their environmental management to obtain an EMAS label.

emission classes are legal classes of emission limits for vehicles, referring especially to driving cycles and several weight- and age classes. For trucks, GEMIS offers the emission classes EURO 1 to EURO 5 and for cars the emission classes EURO 1-4.

emission control technologies in GEMIS are special processes which can be linked to combustion processes to reduce their emissions (e.g. FGD). GEMIS determines then automatically the respective "clean gas" emissions, i.e. the effective emissions after the emission control technology. Furthermore, the effects on residues, the respective auxiliary energy (see net efficiency), and the cost impacts of the emission reduction are added to the data of the combustion process.

emission standards - see standards

energy carrier are fuels (e.g. gasoline, coal, H2, wood) and electricity, heat (hot water etc.), as well as uranium.

environmental indicators are categories to describe quantitatively the environmental burdens. GEMIS encompasses the following environmental indicators

environmental management is  the active dealing with environmental issues on the level of organizations, especially enterprises (see BUIS) and public administrations (cities & towns), and concerns environmental reporting, environmental audits, development of an environmental policy etc. (see EMAS and ISO Standards 14040 ff) which govern environmental reporting, and life-cycle analyses.

EPS is expanded polystyrene.

ESP is an electrostatic precipitator, an emission control technology to reduce particle emissions. It traps dust by charging the particles in a high-voltage electrostatic field, and precipitating the charged particles on an electrode. 

ESU is the group energy-materials-environment at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) in Zurich/Switzerland, which co-operated with the GEMIS project and offers with ECOINVENT a special data base for life-cycle analyses in Switzerland. More information is given on the ESU-website.

€ (Euro) is the new European currency. In GEMIS, the currencies of countries from the Euro zone are automatically converted by the fixed exchange rates.

external costs in GEMIS are the monetarized environmental costs of emissions and solid wastes. These costs represent the monetary value of damages or the avoidance associated with emissions or residues. External costs are not part of the usual economic calculation which factors in only private costs: the societal costs of emissions and residues are beyond the scope (external) of the private economic consideration. From the societal perspective, though, external costs should be included in decisions regarding investments or procurement. The GEMIS core data on external costs offer values for air emissions and greenhouse gases which are derived from the cost to avoid (and control) these emissions. For nuclear risks, a "memory value" of 3 Pf/kWh nuclear electricity is used.

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F

FBC (fluidized-bed combustion) is the combustion in a layer (bed) of inert material (e.g. sand) with a small share of combustibles (fuel). The upward flow of the combustion air in the bed maintains a state of suspension (fluidization) which is extremely turbulent. The result is a high burnout rate even at low temperatures (<900 °C), allowing low NOx emissions (but relatively high N2O formation). Furthermore, desulfurization is possible by injection of a sorbent (e.g. lime) into the combustion zone. FBC can be either stationary or circulating (CFBC), and can operate at atmospheric pressure (AFBC), or in a pressurized state (PFBC).

FfE (Forschungsstelle for Energiewirtschaft) is a private research institute in Munich and a GEMIS user especially for CER. More information is given on the FfE-website

FGD is the acronym for flue-gas-desulfurization (emission control technology). In GEMIS are several types of FGD: wet, semi-dry (SDA), dry (DSI).

FGD-residue is the solid waste from FGD which in GEMIS is calculated automatically. It is shown as a solid waste in result tables and graphs.

fuels in GEMIS are records of the type product and are part of the energy carriers. For fuels, GEMIS stores the ultimate analysis, based on which the heating value or higher heating value and emissions can be computed. Furthermore, the price of the fuel, and metadata are stored. 

fuel cells (FC) convert hydrogen (H2) or H2-containing gases in electricity (and heat) using an electrochemical process which oxidizes H2 with O2 from the air ("cold combustion"). This conversion yields low noise and low emissions, and relatively high electric efficiencies(40-60%), but needs the pre-processing of the fuel (e.g. natural gas) which causes losses. Currently, phosphoric acid FC, molten carbonate FC and solid oxide FC are developed for stationary applications, while PEM-FC are developed especially for mobile applications (cars). 

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G

GEMIS is the Global Emission Model of Integrated Systems, a life-cycle model of  Öko-Institut. Since version 3.0, the software and its database are public domain, and available at no cost. To access the homepage of the GEMIS website, click here.

GEMIS 3.x is the eXtended version of GEMIS 3.1 and a demo version of GEMIS 4.0

GhK (University of Kassel) - Center for Environmental Analysis - was participating in  the development of GEMIS, and contributed to GEMIS data on agriculture and food (A&F). More information is given on the GhK website.

global switches are novel in GEMIS 4.0 - they allow to change the system boundaries of life-cycles with one mouse click: inclusion of the construction materials, transports, credits, and methods for the CER (efficiency of resource extraction, treatment of heat values of materials), as well as waste treatment can be selected now. Using this on- an off-switching and sequential re-computation, the sensitivity of GEMIS results as regards system boundaries can be identified quickly.

global warming potential (GWP) is the mass-based equivalent of the radiative forcing of GHG, based on the specific forcing of CO2 - therefore, it is expressed in CO2-equivalents. Because GHG have different atmospheric residence times, the GWP is determined as an integral over a period of time. Usually, GWP data refer to a time horizon of 100 years.

greenhouse gases (GHG) are gaseous emissions contributing to global warming. GHG are relevant environmental indicators and can be aggregated to the global warming potential (GWP). GHG are CO2, CH4 and N2O as well as SF6, PFC and HFC (Kyoto gases).

gross is a name element in GEMIS of processes with combined heat & power (CHP), but for which no credit for the cogenerated couple product is given, i.e. no allocation. In GEMIS 4.0 there is now a switch  to set all cogeneration processes into the "gross" mode, so that all credits for all processes are ignored when a life-cycle computation is performed.

GT is the acronym for gas turbine.

GTZ is the Deutsche Gesellschaft for technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH (see GTZ-website)

GWP (global warming potential) - see GWP

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H

H2S is the chemical formula for hydrogen sulfide.

HCl is the chemical formula for hydrogen chlorine.

HDPE is high-density polyethylene.

heat coefficient of CHP-processes is the ratio of the cogenerated heat to the cogenerated electricity. In GEMIS, this value is the quantitative expression of the credit which an electricity-delivering CHP process receives for the heat (net definition). The heat credit is entered into a process record as a negative auxiliary energy link.

hessenENERGIE is the energy agency of the State of Hesse and is a GEMIS user. The hessenEnergie operates its own homepage.

HF is the chemical formula for hydrogen fluorine.

HFC (hydrofluorocarbons) are greenhouse gases and have a high global warming potential.

HHV - see higher heating value

higher heating value (HHV) is the amount of energy from the complete oxidization (combustion) of a fuel including the vaporization heat of the water vapor. In international institutions, and especially the USA, the efficiency, costs, and emission factors are often based on the HHV, while in Europe and various other countries, these values are mostly based on the lower heating value. The differences are, depending on the fuel type, 5-20%. In GEMIS 4, there is now the option to switch between HHV and LHV.

hiWay is the acronym for the driving cycle "highway".

HMULF is the State Ministry for Environment, Agriculture, and Forestry of the State of Hesse, and is the main sponsor of GEMIS. For more information, see the HMULF website.

Ho - see higher heating value

Hu - see lower heating value

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I

ICE-cogen are internal combustion engines delivering electricity and heat (combined heat & power). They are mostly fueled with natural gas, diesel or biogas.

IN is used in GEMIS as the acronym for industry.

IZW is the Information Center on Heatpumps and Cooling technologies (Informationsszentrum Wärmepumpen und Kältetechnik) which has created special data records for heatpumps in GEMIS 4. The IZW has own pages in the Internet. 

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J

J (Joule) is a basic energy unit, mostly used in multiples (kilo = 103, Mega = 106, Giga = 109, Tera = 1012), especially MJ, GJ and TJ. 3,6 MJ are equivalent to 1 kWh. 

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K

k is the electricity-to-heat ratio of a CHP process, i.e. the ratio of the cogenerated electricity to the cogenerated heat. In GEMIS, k is the quantitative expression of the credit which a heat-delivering CHP process receives for the cogenerated electricity (net definition). The electricity credit is entered into the process record as a negative auxiliary energy link.

kW is the acronym for kiloWatt, a unit for power

kWh is the acronym for kilo-Watt-hours (= 3,6 MJ).

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L

LCA  is the acronym for life-cycle analysis.

LCI  is the acronym for life-cycle inventory.

LDPE is the acronym for low-density polyethylene, a plastic.

life-cycle is a concept used in life-cycle analyses and material flow analyses to determine the environmental burdens of products and services from "cradle-to-grave", i.e. from the source (raw material- or primary energy extraction) through the use phase to the "sink" (e.g. waste treatment, or recycling) and to include the materials needed for the construction, all transports and auxiliary inputs as well. The links of all processes which contribute to a life-cycle are called process chain.

life-cycle analysis (LCA) is an approach to identify, compare and value the environmental burdens of products and services based on the life-cycle concept. The LCA consists of the inventory and the valuation stages, and follows special rules given e.g. by ISO, or SETAC.

life-cycle inventory (LCI) is the part of a life-cycle analysis in which the data base for energy and material flows and all necessary transports are compiled and linked to emission factors. The inventory also comprises the system boundaries, allocation rules, and data quality.

links in GEMIS are the connections between data records. There are links between processes, between products and processes, between scenarios and processes, and between references and products, processes, scenarios and standards. Links establish process chains which can be displayed via the local menu (right mouse click!). If you rename a data record, all links in GEMIS are adjusted to the new name automatically. If you copy a data record, all existing links of the original record become also part of the copied data record.

LH2 is liquid hydrogen. 

LHV - see lower heating value

liquid effluents in GEMIS are the environmental indicators AOX, BOD, COD, as well as N, P, and inorganic salts.

LNG  is liquefied natural gas.

local menu is a new feature in GEMIS 3.x/4.0 which is activated by clicking the right mouse button when a data record is selected. Local menus drastically simplify the user interface, because all relevant menu options and commands of the GEMIS program can be accessed directly.

location in GEMIS is an attribute of processes which reflects the geographic setting. It can be used to filter the database, as well as to group results for a selected location. See also country code. 

lower heating value (LHV) is the amount of energy resulting from the complete oxidization (combustion) of a fuel excluding the vaporization heat for the water vapor. In international circles and especially the USA, data for efficiency, costs and emission factors often are based on the higher heating value, while in Europe and most other countries, these data refer to the LHV. The differences between LHV and HHV are, depending on the fuel, 5-20%. GEMIS 4 offers the possibility to switch the basis, i.e. data entry and display can be switched between lower heating value (default) and higher heating value.

LowNOx is the acronym for so-called primary NOx reduction using combustion modification, e.g. staged burning.

LPG is liquid petroleum gas.

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M

material flow analysis (MFA) is a method based on life-cycle analyses to determine the environmental effects of life-cycles, but the data are more general and refer not only to a specific products or service, but to groups of products or goods, or need areas.

materials in GEMIS are products representing raw or auxiliary matter used in processes. 

MC (molten carbonate) - see molten carbonate FC

MeOH is the acronym for methanol, a liquid energy carrier derived from hydrocarbons (natural gas, mineral oil, coal or biomass), and which can be used as a chemical or as a fuel (e.g. in FC vehicles).

metadata is information on data, e.g. a description (comment), data on the origin (source), on the owner,  data quality or location or the grouping in nomenclatures. Furthermore, references are important elements of metadata.

mi is the acronym for mile, i.e. approx. 1.609 km. 

MJ is the acronym for MegaJoule (= 103 Joule).

molten carbonate FC (MC-FC) are fuel cells which can achieve rather high electric efficiencies (> 40 %) and offer waste heat at  400 °C (or more) - therefore, MC-FC are well-suited for combined heat & power generation. 

monetary processes are a new process type in GEMIS 4.0 which represent the environmental impacts of production values or expenditures for goods or services from statistical sectors of the economy. These processes are useful if no detailed information is available on the upstream processes, or the inputs to the product or service are a too complex combination of material, energy or transport services (e.g. banks, toys, hospitals). For these processes, one can determine the upstream impacts using an Input-Output-Table (IOT) which reflects the monetary links to the other economic sectors. In GEMIS 4.0, all economic sectors from German UGR have been implemented, i.e. there are now processes for the whole economy. The current database of the UGR is the year 1995, and covers air emissions, greenhouse gases and primary energy requirements (CER). Monetary processes can be used in scenarios to supply services and products for which a demand has been defined in monetary terms (money), i.e. expenditures for the services, or the production values of the economic sectors.

multilingual is a new feature of GEMIS 4.0 which allows to switch both the user interface of the computer program as well as its database between a country language and the fixed system language (English).

MW is the acronym for MegaWatt, a unit for power (= 1 MJ/s).

MWel is the acronym for electric MegaWatt

MWh is the acronym for MegaWatt-hours (103 kWh)

MWth is the acronym for thermal MegaWatt, i.e. heating power

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N

N2O is the chemical formula for nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas.

NACE (National Accounts in Europe) is a European system to structure the economy into statistical sectors, and has been implemented into GEMIS as a nomenclature. For a list of NACE codes, see NACE system.

names are the identifiers of data records. Because GEMIS 4.0 is multilingual, names are always entered in a country language (e.g. German) and the fixed system language (English). 

net is a name element in GEMIS of processes with combined heat & power (CHP) for which a credit for the cogenerated couple product is given, i.e. allocated. In GEMIS 4.0 there is now a switch  to de-activate the credit for all cogeneration processes (i.e. switch them to "gross" mode), so that all credits for all processes are ignored when a life-cycle computation is performed.

net efficiency is in GEMIS the efficiency of a processes, taking into account the energy use for linked emission reduction technologies.

NH3 is the chemical formula for ammonia, an acidifying air emission which is included in SO2-equivalents.

NMVOC are non-methane volatile organic compounds. Their effects as air emissions are included in the in ozone precursor equivalents.

nomenclatures are systems of names which follow a structure. In GEMIS 4.0, the NACE (statistical sectors) and SNAP (emissions types) are implemented. Both can be used as a data filter to retrieve and list processes in the database, and to aggregate results from scenarios. 

NOx (nitrogen oxides, given as NO2) are acidifying air emissions  - this environmental effect is taken into account in SO2 equivalents. NOx also acts as a precursor for summer smog which is included in the ozone precursor equivalents.

nutrition potential (NP) is a measure for the potential over-supply of nutrients into water bodies (lakes, rivers), and soil.  Nutrifying substances are N, P, phosphate (PO43-), ammonium (NH4+), NOx, nitrate (NO3) and COD. Due to the rather bad data availability for P emissions, GEMIS calculates no NP values (so far).

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O

O2 is the chemical formula for oxygen.

O3 is the chemical formula for ozone.

Öko-Institut (Institute for applied ecology) is s an independent, private environmental research institution. It was founded in 1977 and is recognized by law as a non-profit organization, and a charity. Öko-Institut's key areas of work are organized in divisions and encompass chemical industry, energy and climate, genetic engineering, environmental law, material flows and products, nuclear safety, and transport. The Öko-Institut carries out life-cycle and material flow analyses and offers with GEMIS a public database and model. More information is given on the Institute's website.

OPEC (Organization of Oil-Exporting Countries) is the country code for the group of oil-exporting countries.

overburden is in GEMIS a part of the solid wastes, characterizing the wastes from extraction of primary energies and raw materials.

owner is in GEMIS the one who is responsible for a data record in the database, i.e. the owner can enter and edit (change) the record. See also source.

OxCat is the acronym for oxidizing catalyst, an emission control technology for CO and CnHm

ozone (O3) is the reactive form of oxygen (O2). In the higher atmosphere, ozone is a greenhouse gas, but also protects from UV radiation of the sun (ozone layer). The depletion of stratospheric ozone by e.g. CFCs is a global environmental problem, while near-ground (tropospheric) ozone directly damages human heath, and crops, and contributes to summer smog. 

ozone precursor equivalents are the quantitative expression of the tropospheric ozone precursor potential (TOPP) and are calculated from the relative ozone formation rates of the air emissions CO, NMVOC and NOx and the greenhouse gas CH4. The more ozone precursor equivalents, the higher is the possibility for summer smog.

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P

P = phosphor

PA - see phosphoric acid FC

PEM (proton-exchange membrane) is a fuel cells which uses a polymer as an electrolyte. The electric efficiency for PEM-FC are around 40 %, with waste @ 70 - 90 °C, so that the process can be used for combined heat & power generation. When adding a reformer, PEM can also use other fuels than H2 (e.g. natural gas, biogas, methanol).

PFC (perfluorocarbons) are greenhouse gases with a high global warming potential. 

phosphoric acid FC (PA-FC) are fuel cells using phosphoric acid as an electrolyte, thereby achieving relatively high electric efficiencies (> 40 %), and waste heat of > 200 °C. PA-FC are suitable for combined heat & power. 

PP (polypropylene) is a plastic.

ppb are parts per billion 

ppm are parts per million 

primary energies in GEMIS are energy resources, including fossil and nuclear energy carriers (non-renewable), renewable energies (biomass, geothermal, hydro, solar, wind), but not wastes (these are secondary resources). The sum of all primary energies needed to deliver a products or a service is the CER.

ProBas (Prozessorientierte Basisdaten für Umweltmanagementinstrumente - process-oriented base data for environmental management instruments) is the successor of the BaUm project. ProBas is a web-based data server for LCA inventory data (modules, processes) managed by the German Umweltbundesamt. More information is given on the ProBas website.

projects in GEMIS are the total of all data records which are stored under a joint filename. A project consists of single files for products (*.PRD), processes (*.PRC), scenarios (*.SCN) and references (*.REF) as well as standards (*.STD), interest rate (*.CST), external costs (*.EXT), global warming potentials (*.GHG) and categories (*.CAT), groups (*.GGR) and sources (*.G4S).

products in GEMIS are the in- and outputs linked to a process. They are - depending on the process type - energy carriers (especially fuels), emissions, residues, resources or materials and services. The most relevant ones are air emissions, greenhouse gases, solid wastes, liquid effluents, and services (freight and person transport, monetary services) are hard-wired into GEMIS, all others can be adjusted or freely added as user-defined products.

processes in GEMIS are activities which convert, transport or emit a product. New types of processes in GEMIS 4.0 are monetary services, and waste treatment.

process chains are generated from links between processes and represent a network whose nodes (processes) jointly deliver a certain benefit (product or service). In GEMIS, process chains can be displayed graphically with a special function (via local menu). The "beginning" (source) of a process chain is always an extractor which converts a resources into primary energy or raw materials, while the "end" (sink) of a process chain is waste treatment. 

PS = polystyrene

PU = polyurethane

PV = photovoltaic (solar cells)

PVC = polyvinyl chloride

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Q

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R

raw materials in GEMIS are resources which are converted into useful primary materials. Examples are ores (for metals), minerals (e.g. chalk, gravel, sand, stones), air and water, but also oil, natural gas, coal and biomass if they are used as matter (e.g. construction materials, lubricants). 

RE is the acronym for the residential sector (households).

RE/CO is the acronym for the residential and commercial sectors.

reference in GEMIS is a data record which contains information on a data source (report, study, measurement, personal communication etc.). A reference consists of a name (e.g. author + year) and a text which describes the reference in detail, e.g. the full title (literature citation), or details for the reports etc. References can be linked to all data records in GEMIS (products, processes, scenarios, standards, costs, global warming potentials, external costs).

resources in GEMIS are products representing the stock of primary energies and raw materials. Resources are the inputs for extractor processes, and therefore the "beginning" of process chains. 

rural is a driving cycle (outside of cities, but not on highways).

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S

scenarios in GEMIS are the combination of demands (e.g. for heat, electricity, transports) with supply processes (e.g. heating system, powerplant, car). For scenarios, GEMIS calculates emissions, residues, resource use, costs etc. for life-cycles. 

SCR (selective catalytic reduction) is a emission reduction technology for NO which converts nitrogen oxides in a catalyst with NH3 addition into N2 and water.

SDA (spray-dryer absorption) is a form of FGD which adds a liquid additive in a spray-dryer into the flue-gas to capture SO2 and halogens. The reaction product is collected in a post-SDA fabric filter or ESP.

SE is the acronym for steam extraction turbine (for CHP processes).

secondary resources in GEMIS are wastes (residues) with the potential for energy- or material re-use. In the GEMIS calculation for CER and CMR, they are shown in the category "other". 

SETAC (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry) is a non-profit scientific organization dealing especially with methodological issues of life-cycle analyses. More information is given on the SETAC website.

SF6 is the chemical formula for sulfur hexafluoride, a greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential.

SNAP is the European system for emissions CORINAIR which structures processes based on emission types. In GEMIS 4.0, the SNAP-97 code is implemented as a nomenclature. For a list of the SNAP-97 codes, see SNAP system.

SNCR (selective noncatalytic reduction) is a emission reduction technology for NOx which converts nitrogen oxides without a catalyst, but with NH3 addition in the hot flue-gas into N2 and water.

SO2 is the air pollutant sulfur dioxide, an acidifying gas which also causes respiratory health damages, and surface corrosion.

SO2 equivalents are the quantitative expression of the acidification potential, based on the relative acidity of SO2. In SO2 equivalents, also the air emissions NOx, HCl, HF, NH3 and H2S are included.

solid oxide FC are fuel cells which use solid oxides as their electrolyte - this achieves very high electric efficiencies (> 55 %) and waste heat @ > 500 °C. Furthermore, SO-FC can use fuels like natural gas and biogas directly (i.e. no pre-processing reformer), because the high operating temperatures cause H2 to separate from the hydrocarbon fuel. Therefore, SO-FC are well-suited for combined heat & power generation. When adding a CC, the SO-FC yield electric efficiencies of 65 %

solid wastes are in GEMIS the emissions of solid residues, and are part of the relevant environmental indicators. Solid wastes encompass overburden, ash, sewage treatment sludge, FGD-residues, and production wastes.

source is in GEMIS a special text referring to an institution or group which has entered several data records into the database. In card file windows, the source can be used as a data filter.

SPOLD (Society for Promotion of Life-Cycle Analysis Development) is a non-profit business dealing with the development and sponsoring of life-cycle analysis. More information is given on the SPOLD website.

standards in GEMIS 4.0 are rules for legal emission limits for which the program can check if combustion processes comply with the standard. The standards can also be used as a filter in card file windows.

StBA is the Federal Statistical Agency (Statistische Bundesamt) in Wiesbaden. More information is given on the StBA website.

ST is the acronym for steam turbine.

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T

tCE is ton coal equivalent, an energy unit (= 29300 MJ)

TEMIS is the English version of the GEMIS program (until version 3.1).

"th" (thermal) indicates heat as output (product). 

tOE is ton oil equivalent, a energy unit (= 43000 MJ)

TOPP (tropospheric ozone precursor potential) - see ozone precursor potential.

tropospheric ozone precursor potential (TOPP) is the mass-based equivalent of the ozone formation rate from precursors, measured ozone precursor equivalents. The TOPP represents the potentially formation of near-ground (tropospheric) O3 which can cause summer smog.  

tSKE is ton coal equivalent, an energy unit (= 29300 MJ)

turnover is the amount of energy, materials, or transports which is delivered by processes in a scenario.

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U

UBA (German Federal Environment Agency - Umweltbundesamt) is the administrative body of the BMU in Berlin, offering more information on their website.

UGR is the environmental-economic total accounting of the StBA. It included the so-called emitter structure derived from Input-Output-Tables and their linkages to emission factors . The UGR data are now integrated into GEMIS 4.0 as a new process type "monetary".

ultimate analysis is the quantitative description of the chemical composition of fuels from which GEMIS determines the heating value and - via a combustion calculation - the flue-gas volume and emission factors. The ultimate analysis reflects also the water (w) and ash (a) content and refers either on the "as delivered" status of  fuels (incl. w + a ) or assumes the fuels to be ash-free (af), water-free (wf) or water- and ash-free (waf). 

US-DOE (Department of Energy) is a GEMIS user and sponsor (see TEMIS). More information is given on the DOE-website.

user-defined in GEMIS means that data records are added to extend the environmental indicators, or the other parts of the database. User-defined entries are especially possible regarding air emissions, residues or liquid effluents. For example, users can add the heavy metal "lead" as an air emission in the product database, and then insert this emission in processes which emit lead, and add lead emission data. In the result tables, the user-defined emissions and residuals are shown as well.

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W

W see Watt

waf is the acronym for water- and ash-free and is used to characterize an ultimate analysis.

waste treatment is a new process type in GEMIS 4.0 which is used to handle solid wastes from other processes - it reflects the "back end" of process chain: a sink. Waste treatment processes can - as all other processes - have direct emissions (and residues !), links to auxiliary inputs (energy, materials) and materials for construction, as well as costs. Waste treatment processes are - similar to emission control technologies - linked to other processes which generate residues (and to a transport process). GEMIS then computes the environmental effects from the waste treatment (or disposal) for this process.

Watt is the basic unit for power (= 1 J/s)

wf is the acronym for water-free and is used in the ultimate analysis.

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X

XPS is extruded polystyrene

Xtra is in GEMIS a name element for extraction, i.e. processes which convert a resources into either primary energies or raw materials (but secondary resources into those).

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Y

 

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Z

 

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