destituting carbon
This place gives me a more generous, direct and concrete feedback on how it can sustain my human body in comparison to an apartment in the city where its modern infrastructures are abstract and externalized. Here it easier to detangle fossil dependencies in my practice.
Disconnecting the electricity, I had forgotten that the water was dependant on the hydro pump. I took the easy way out by getting drinking-water from my neighbour every day. But just carrying the water that bit directed my attention to how crucial it was. That I had been willing to spend all my energy to get it. Because when I got thirsty that was all that mattered. Carrying water made its value sensible.
The limited possibilities of shopping and of disposing of waste taught me a lot about what this environment handle. What kind of waste can this environment integrate? By diluting urine with 5-10 parts water it becomes a gentle fertilizer that enrich the surrounding flora. For this I need to carry 20 litres of water per day. By composting the shit and placing that soil on oak plants, the composition of this land becomes a bit more fertile and diverse. For example cultivating plants that replaces toilet paper saves Co2 from diminished logging, production, transportation, recycling of packaging. As well as the birch leaves replacing soap and shampoo.
Considerations when heating the space:
WOODSTOVE ENERGY USE
MBS Olympia
1) Sunlight → Wood (tree growth)
• Over years, the tree fixes atmospheric CO₂ into wood. In our 3 kg of wet wood:
o Dry wood = 2.55 kg (≈ 85% of 3 kg)
o Elemental makeup of the dry wood (typical): C ~50%, H ~6%, O ~44%
Carbon: 1.275 kg C
Hydrogen: 0.153 kg H
Oxygen (in the wood): 1.122 kg O
2) Harvesting & chopping (human/mechanical energy)
• Human chopping/splitting ~10 min at ~200 W metabolic output → ~0.12 MJ (0.03 kWh) of muscular energy—tiny next to combustion energy.
• If a chainsaw is used, add a bit of fossil fuel energy; still negligible compared to the burn.
3) Storage & drying
• Moisture in the logs: 0.45 kg water.
• During burning, evaporating this costs roughly:
o Heating from room temp to 100 °C: ~0.15 MJ
o Vaporization latent heat: ~1.02 MJ
o Total moisture penalty ≈ 1.2 MJ drawn from the fire.
4) Combustion in the stove (chemistry & energy release)
Energy content
• Net heat of combustion (LHV) for seasoned wood ≈ 15 MJ/kg (wet) →
3 kg × 15 MJ/kg ≈ 45 MJ (≈ 12.5 kWh) released by the fuel.
• With a modern stove at ~75% efficiency, usable room heat ≈ 34 MJ (≈ 9.4 kWh).
Key reaction stages
• Pyrolysis: wood decomposes into gases + char (endothermic).
• Gas flame: volatiles burn (exothermic).
• Char glow: remaining carbon burns to CO₂ (exothermic).
Stoichiometric bookkeeping (from the 2.55 kg dry wood)
• CO₂ formed from carbon:
1.275 kg C → ~4.68 kg CO₂
• H₂O formed from hydrogen:
0.153 kg H → ~1.38 kg water vapor
• Plus the moisture already in the wood: +0.45 kg water
⇒ Total water vapor ≈ 1.83 kg
• Ash (minerals like K, Ca, Mg, Si): typically ~1% of dry mass →
~0.026 kg (≈ 26 g) ash
• Oxygen needed from air (after accounting for oxygen bound in the wood):
~3.5 kg O₂
o That’s ~110 mol O₂, ~2.6 m³ O₂ at room conditions.
o Since air is ~21% O₂ by volume, air drawn in ≈ 12 m³ (not counting the extra “excess air” most stoves actually use).
o Along with this O₂ comes several kilograms of N₂ (inert), which gets heated and exits the flue as warm exhaust.
Other byproducts (small but real)
• CO, unburned hydrocarbons, and fine particulates/soot (PM) if combustion is imperfect; amounts vary with stove quality, draft, and technique.
5) Heat delivery to the room
• Of the ~45 MJ in the wood, about 34 MJ reaches your room as a mix of radiation (through the stove body/window) and convection (warm air).
• The remainder goes up the chimney with hot exhaust and in moisture evaporation and other losses.
6) What leaves the chimney / stays behind
• To atmosphere: ~4.7 kg CO₂, ~1.8 kg H₂O (vapor), warm N₂ from intake air, traces of CO/HC/PM (minimized by hot, clean burns).
• In the stove: ~26 g ash (mineral residue).
7) Cycle note
• The ~4.7 kg CO₂ emitted can, in principle, be reabsorbed by growing biomass (carbon cycle), assuming sustainable forestry and accounting boundaries.
If you want, I can convert these into a tidy reference table (inputs → outputs → useful heat), or tailor the numbers to a different moisture content or stove efficiency.
From the manual for the MBS Olympia stove, a few useful data points— not all the exact numbers for CO₂ per kg wood, but enough to estimate:
• The stove’s declared efficiency / “verkningsgrad” is 87 %. nordicheating.se
• The manual states that normal firing amount is 2 kg/h, with a maximum of 3 kg/h. nordicheating.se
Estimation of CO₂ per kg wood with that stove
We use general combustion chemistry plus the efficiency rating to estimate how much CO₂ is emitted per kg of wood that actually burns (not counting heat losses).
Assumptions
1. The wood has typical composition (dry basis) roughly 50 % carbon by mass.
2. The lower heating value (LHV) of dry wood is about ≈ 15 MJ/kg (this varies with species and moisture).
3. All the carbon oxidizes to CO₂ (ideal combustion, no unburned carbon).
4. The stove operates at declared efficiency, meaning 87 % of released thermal energy goes to useful heating; but that doesn’t reduce CO₂ — all carbon must still be oxidized.
5. We ignore small CO, soot, and inefficiencies in combustion completeness for this estimate.
Carbon → CO₂ chemistry
• 1 kg of carbon → CO₂ has molar mass ratio: C = 12 g/mol, CO₂ = 44 g/mol → mass factor 44/12 ≈ 3.67.
• Thus 1 kg C → ~3.67 kg CO₂.
If wood is 50% carbon (on dry basis):
• 1 kg dry wood → ~0.50 kg C → → 0.50 × 3.67 = 1.835 kg CO₂
• If wood is not fully dry, the actual CO₂ per kg of wet wood is somewhat lower proportionally (because some mass is water), but combustion still releases CO₂ only from the carbon.
So a rough estimate: ≈ 1.8 to 1.9 kg CO₂ per kg of dry wood (in ideal full-carbon-to-CO₂ combustion).
Because the stove is efficient (87 %), nearly all the carbon is oxidized (i.e. CO₂ still must be released), so efficiency doesn’t reduce CO₂ emissions, only affects how much of that heat is captured rather than lost as heat up the chimney.
If wood is 15 % moisture, then 1 kg wet wood = 0.85 kg dry wood → CO₂ emission ~ 0.85 × 1.835 = 1.56 kg CO₂ per kg of wet wood.
Conclusion
Given the data:
• For each 1 kg of (dry) wood, the stove would emit on the order of 1.8–1.9 kg CO₂ (assuming full combustion).
• For wood with moisture (say 10–20 %), more realistically ~1.5–1.7 kg CO₂ per kg of as-fired wood.
If you like, I can dig into that manual for more detailed emission specs (if given) and refine the number further. Do you want me to search if this particular stove gives a manufacturer CO₂ figure?
LUFTVÄRMEPUMP
ENERGY USE
Panasonic CU/CS-CZ25WKE
• The nominal heating capacity is about 3.4 kW (in typical test conditions). Proventas+1
• It uses refrigerant R32. ManualsLib+2bauhaus.se+2
• The unit is “Inverter +” type, meaning its compressor speed (and thus capacity) is variable. Proventas+1
• The manual gives operating data for “heat mode” under various outdoor temperatures. ManualsLib
a typical modern heat pump, fairly efficient.
Step-by-step energy transformation in a heat pump
Here is the journey of energy when the heat pump is heating:
1. Ambient thermal energy (outside air) is absorbed into the refrigerant
o The outdoor heat exchanger (evaporator) allows heat from outside air to transfer into the refrigerant, even when it’s cold outside (down to some limit).
o This requires that the refrigerant is at a lower temperature and pressure (liquid or mixture) so that it can evaporate, absorbing latent heat from the air.
o Thus, thermal energy from ambient air → thermal + latent (phase change) energy in the refrigerant.
2. Compression of the refrigerant (mechanical energy input)
o The compressor compresses the gaseous refrigerant, raising its pressure and temperature.
o Work (electrical energy) is done on the gas, converting electrical energy → mechanical work → internal (thermal) energy in the refrigerant (raising its temperature).
o Because this is an inverter-driven compressor, the speed can vary to match required load, improving efficiency.
3. Condensation in the indoor heat exchanger (condenser)
o The hot, high-pressure refrigerant gas is directed into the indoor heat exchanger (condenser). There, it gives off heat to the indoor air and condenses back into liquid.
o The latent heat released by condensation plus the sensible heat of cooling the gas transfers to the air inside.
o So the thermal energy in the refrigerant → heat delivered to indoor air.
4. Expansion / throttling (reduction of pressure)
o After condensation, the liquid refrigerant passes through an expansion valve (or equivalent) which abruptly reduces pressure.
o The refrigerant cools (some of its internal energy is “used” in the expansion), partly as latent heat as some liquid may flash evaporate.
o Now the cold, low-pressure refrigerant returns to the outdoor side to repeat the cycle.
o This step is necessary to reset pressure and temperature so that the refrigerant can absorb heat again.
5. Recirculation & control
o Fans move indoor air across the indoor heat exchanger, distributing the heat through convection / forced airflow.
o Outdoor fan moves ambient air across the outdoor heat exchanger, enhancing heat transfer.
o Control electronics modulate compressor speed, expansion valve opening, etc. to maximize COP (coefficient of performance) and maintain desired indoor temperature.
Efficiency, losses, and useful output
• The system’s COP (Coefficient of Performance) determines how many kilowatts of heat you get per kW of electrical input. For instance, if the COP is 4.0, then for 1 kW of electricity you get 4 kW of heat output (i.e. 3 kW from ambient plus 1 kW electrical).
• Losses occur in:
o Inefficiencies in the compressor and motor (friction, electrical resistance).
o Heat losses through piping, joints, and in the heat exchangers (some heat is lost to the outside environment).
o Defrost cycles (when the unit must thaw ice on the outdoor coil).
o Pressure drops, non-ideal valve behavior, and imperfect heat transfer (temperature differences, non-laminar flow).
o Auxiliary systems (fans, control electronics) consume electricity but do not directly contribute to heating.
• The useful heat delivered to the indoor air is the sum of:
1. Thermal energy absorbed from the outdoor air (via evaporation)
2. The thermal energy added by compressing the refrigerant (electrical input)
minus all system losses.
• The higher the temperature lift (difference between outdoor air and indoor desired temperature), the more work (electrical energy) is needed, thus reducing COP.
Example (idealized, simplified)
To make it concrete, assume:
• The heat pump is running with a COP of 4.0 (i.e. typical for many air-source pumps under good conditions).
• It is delivering 3.4 kW heat (its nominal output) Proventas
• Electrical input then is 3.4 kW / 4.0 = 0.85 kW of electrical power consumed (the rest, ~2.55 kW, comes from ambient heat).
Thus:
• Ambient heat contribution: ~2.55 kW
• Electric work input: ~0.85 kW
• Total heat delivered: 3.4 kW (minus small losses)
Every second, or every hour, that is the breakdown of energy flow.
DISTRIBUTED HARM
A maimed Luleälv rushes through Porjus powerplant, electricity generates and makes its journey through Aitik’s copper and aluminum, through air and ground, speeding in direction Stockholm.
A) Luleälven hydropower (power-grid regulation)
• Altered flow regime & habitat loss: River reaches are impounded or dewatered; natural spring floods are suppressed; upstream reaches turned into reservoirs; downstream sections can run nearly dry, degrading riparian zones and fish habitat. Amazon Web Services, Inc.
• Erosion & loss of archaeological/natural values: Continual reservoir level fluctuations erode shores and damage ancient remains/cultural landscapes along dammed valleys. Luleå University of Technology
• Blocked migrations & biodiversity impacts: Cascade of dams fragments the river system, impeding fish movement and altering food webs. (The Lule system is one of Sweden’s most heavily regulated.) energiforsk.se
• Methylmercury elevation in boreal reservoirs: Creation of reservoirs in northern peat- and forest-dominated catchments is linked to elevated Hg/methyl-Hg in water and fish for decades after impoundment. stud.epsilon.slu.se+2PMC+2
• Greenhouse-gas & water-quality shifts: Organic matter decomposition in reservoirs and changed sediment/metal transport alter biogeochemistry. energiforsk.se
Sámi / Indigenous harms
• Loss of grazing land & routes: Reservoirs, roads and power infrastructure cut migration paths and winter trails, reduce pasture quality, and fragment landscapes needed for reindeer herding. Amazon Web Services, Inc.
• Procedural injustice / weak inclusion: Research highlights insufficient, unclear inclusion of Sámi herding communities in license reviews and decision-making for hydropower; calls for better participation guidelines. SEI
• Narrative injustice & cultural impacts: Histories of Sámi harms from century-long hydropower expansion in Sápmi are often minimized in official narratives. SpringerLink
B) Aitik mine (open-pit Cu–Au–Ag)
Environmental harms
• Massive land take & habitat loss: Open pit, waste-rock dumps and very large tailings impoundments convert vast areas of boreal habitat. Mine Closure
• Tailings-dam risk & accident history: Tailings facility failure (2000) triggered large emergency discharges; Aitik’s tailings facility today is classified Dammsäkerhetsklass B (high-consequence) under Swedish rules; operator aligns to GISTM due to potential severe consequences if failure occurs. mpi.org.au+2Mine Closure+2
• Water-quality risks: Tailings and waste-rock seepage management is an ongoing concern in closure planning; mining commonly elevates metals and nutrients (e.g., nitrate from blasting) in receiving waters if not tightly controlled. imwa.info+1
• Dust, noise, traffic & energy use: Open-pit operations and haulage create chronic dust/noise and increase wildlife disturbance and collision risk. (Company also notes these pressures.) boliden.com
Sámi / Indigenous harms (Gällivare skogssameby and neighbors)
• Blocked movements & pasture loss: Company documents acknowledge reindeer avoidance around Aitik, fencing that complicates herd movements, and additional pasture impacts from the Liikavaara expansion. boliden.com
• Cumulative disturbance & fragmentation: Peer-reviewed work and impact syntheses describe significant burdens on reindeer herding (loss of grazing, rerouting, stress, accidents, higher workload/costs) from Aitik and related projects. ScienceDirect+2SEI+2
One-line takeaway
• Luleälven hydropower: long-term hydrological/ecological change (reservoirs, Hg in food webs, fragmented river) + structural pressures on Sámi reindeer culture and heritage. SpringerLink+3stud.epsilon.slu.se+3Amazon Web Services, Inc.+3
• Aitik mine: land-intensive, tailings-dependent operation with historical accident and ongoing water/closure risks, and major, acknowledged disruptions to Sámi reindeer herding. ScienceDirect+3mpi.org.au+3boliden.com+3
If you want, I can turn this into a two-column fact sheet (impacts ↔ sources) or a timeline map showing when each major dam expansion and mine expansion occurred and how they overlie Sámi migration routes.
EXTERNALIZED DEPENDENCIES
TERRESTRIAL ECOTOXICITY
FRESHWATER TOXICITY
MARINE ECOTOXICITY
HUMAN CARCINOGENIC TOXICITY
MINERAL RESOURCE SCARCITY
STRATOSPHERIC OZONE DEPLETION
HEATING
TOPS, BRANCHES, TWIGS AND BARK OF SWEDISH FORESTS
THE ATMOSPHERE
FIRE
DAMAGE TO ECOSYSTEMS:
SPECIES*YEARS
DAMAGE TO HUMAN HEALTH:
DISABILITY / ADJUSTED LIFE YEARS
INTERNET:
DAMAGE TO ECOSYSTEMS:
SPECIES*YEARS
DAMAGE TO HUMAN HEALTH:
DISABILITY / ADJUSTED LIFE YEARS
USE OF SCARSE RESOURCES:
ELECTRICITY
LIFE, LAND AND CULTURE OF THE SÁMI
LULEÄLVEN, INDALSÄLVEN, PITEÄLVEN
GLOBAL WIND BELTS
URANIUM ATOMS
THE SUN
DAMAGE TO ECOSYSTEMS:
SPECIES*YEARS
DAMAGE TO HUMAN HEALTH:
DISABILITY / ADJUSTED LIFE YEARS
USE OF SCARSE RESOURCES:
COMPUTER PROCESSING
HUMAN LUNGS IN KAZAKHSTAN
CHILDHOODS, LIVES AND LANDSCAPES IN
CONGO AND NAMIBIA
DAMAGE TO ECOSYSTEMS:
SPECIES*YEARS
DAMAGE TO HUMAN HEALTH:
DISABILITY / ADJUSTED LIFE YEARS
USE OF SCARSE RESOURCES:
ALUMINIUM
ANHYDRITE
ANTIMONY
ARGON
BARIUM
BASALT
BORAX
BROMINE
CADMIUM
CALCITE
CALCIUM
CARBON DIOXIDE, IN AIR
CARBON
CARNALLITE
CERIUM
CHROMIUM
CHRYSOTILE
CLAY, BENTONITE
CLAY, UNSPECIFIED
COAL, BROWN
COAL, HARD
COBALT
COLEMANITE
COPPER
DIATOMITE
DOLOMITE
EUROPIUM
FELDSPAR
FISH, DEMERSAL, IN OCEAN
FISH, PELAGIC, IN OCEAN
FLUORINE
FLUORSPAR
GADOLINIUM
GALLIUM
GANGUE
GANGUE, BAUXITE
GAS, MINE, OFF-GAS, PROCESS, COAL MINING
GAS, NATURAL
GOLD
GRANITE
GRAVEL
GYPSUM
HOLMIUM
IODINE
IRON
KAOLINITE
KIESERITE
KRYPTON
LANTHANUM
LATERITE
LEAD
LITHIUM
MAGNESITE
MAGNESIUM
MANGANESE
MERCURY
METAMORPHOUS ROCK, GRAPHITE
NEODYMIUM
NICKEL
NITROGEN, ATMOSPHERIC
OIL
OLIVINE
OXYGEN
PALLADIUM
PERLITE
PHOSPHORUS
PLATINUM
POTASSIUM
PRASEODYMIUM
RHENIUM
RHODIUM
SAMARIUM
SAND
SHALE
SILVER
SODIUM
SODIUM CHLORIDE
SODIUM NITRATE
SODIUM SULFATE
SPODUMENE
STRONTIUM
SULFUR
TALC
TANTALUM
TELLURIUM
TIN
TITANIUM
ULEXITE
URANIUM
VANADIUM
ZIRCONIUM
XENON
OCCUPATION, ANNUAL CROP, NON-IRRIGATED
OCCUPATION, ANNUAL CROP, NON-IRRIGATED
OCCUPATION, ANNUAL CROP, NON-IRRIGATED
OCCUPATION, ARABLE LAND
OCCUPATION, CONSTRUCTION SITE
OCCUPATION, DUMP SITE
OCCUPATION, FOREST, INTENSIVE
OCCUPATION, GRASSLAND, NATURAL
OCCUPATION, GRASSLAND, NATURAL, FOR LIVESTOCK GRAZING
OCCUPATION, INDUSTRIAL AREA
OCCUPATION, INLAND WATERBODY
OCCUPATION, MINERAL EXTRACTION SITE
OCCUPATION, PERMANENT CROP, NON-IRRIGATED
SHRUB LAND
SEABED
ENERGY, GEOTHERMAL, CONVERTED
ENERGY, GROSS CALORIFIC VALUE, IN BIOMASS
ENERGY, KINETIC (IN WIND), CONVERTED
ENERGY, POTENTIAL (IN HYDROPOWER RESERVOIR)
ENERGY, SOLAR, CONVERTED
Unit, Total Computer, laptop
{GLO}| production | Cut-off, U Aluminium, cast alloy {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Aluminium, wrought alloy {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Battery, Li-ion, rechargeable, prismatic {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Battery, NiMH, rechargeable, prismatic {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Cable, network cable, category, without plugs {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Copper {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Corrugated board box {CA-QC}| market for corrugated board box | Cut-off, S Corrugated board box {RER}| market for corrugated board box | Cut-off, S Corrugated board box {RoW}| market for corrugated board box | Cut-off, S Disk drive, CD/DVD, ROM, for laptop computer {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Extrusion, plastic pipes {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Hard disk drive, for laptop computer {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Liquid crystal display, unmounted {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Magnesium-alloy, AZ {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Magnesium-alloy, AZ, diecast {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Packaging film, low density polyethylene {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Photovoltaic cell factory {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Plug, inlet and outlet, for network cable {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Polystyrene foam slab {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Polystyrene, high impact {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Power adapter, for laptop {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Printed wiring board, mounted mainboard, laptop computer, Pb containing {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Printed wiring board, surface mounted, unspecified, Pb containing {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Printed wiring board, surface mounted, unspecified, Pb free {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Section bar extrusion, aluminium {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Sheet rolling, aluminium {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Sheet rolling, copper {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Sheet rolling, steel {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Steel, chromium steel, hot rolled {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Tap water {GLO}| market group for | Cut-off, S Electricity, medium voltage {GLO}| market group for | Cut-off, S Used laptop computer {GLO}| market for | Cut-off, S Waste polyethylene {BR}| market for waste polyethylene | Cut-off, S Waste polyethylene {CO}| market for waste polyethylene | Cut-off, S Waste polyethylene {CY}| market for waste polyethylene | Cut-off, S Waste polyethylene {IN}| market for waste polyethylene | Cut-off, S Waste polyethylene {PE}| market for waste polyethylene | Cut-off, S Waste polyethylene {RER}| market group for waste polyethylene | Cut-off, S Waste polyethylene {RoW}| market for waste polyethylene | Cut-off, S Waste polyethylene {ZA}| market for waste polyethylene | Cut-off, S Waste polystyrene {BR}| market for waste polystyrene | Cut-off, S Waste polystyrene {CO}| market for waste polystyrene | Cut-off, S Waste polystyrene {CY}| market for waste polystyrene | Cut-off, S Waste polystyrene {IN}| market for waste polystyrene | Cut-off, S Waste polystyrene {PE}| market for waste polystyrene | Cut-off, S Waste polystyrene {RER}| market group for waste polystyrene | Cut-off, S Waste polystyrene {RoW}| market for waste polystyrene | Cut-off, S Waste polystyrene {ZA}| market for waste polystyrene | Cut-off, S Wastewater, unpolluted {CH}| market for wastewater, unpolluted | Cut-off, S Wastewater, unpolluted {RoW}| market for wastewater, unpolluted | Cut-off, S
COMPARISON
Woodstove /luftvärmepump
comparison for delivered heat from your two options: the Panasonic CU/CS-CZ25WKE air-source heat pump and the MBS Olympia wood stove.
Assumptions
Heat pump performance from Panasonic datasheet: COP 4.66 (nominal, +7 °C), COP 2.54 (–7 °C), SCOP ≈ 4.30 (seasonal). 47fd78488d.clvaw-cdnwnd.com
• Swedish grid average emissions (2024): ~18 g CO₂e/kWh electricity. (This is an average across the year; actual hourly intensity varies.) nowtricity.com
• Wood stove efficiency listed around 87 % in public manuals/specs for the MBS Olympia. woodstoves.net+1
• Stoichiometry of wood: ~50% carbon (dry basis) → ≈ 1.8–1.9 kg CO₂/kg dry wood when fully burned. (Efficiency affects heat per kg delivered, not the CO₂ per kg dry wood.)
• Using the worked example we did earlier (3 kg seasoned wood at ~15% moisture, 75% stove-to-room efficiency) gave ~0.50 kg CO₂/kWh of delivered heat. (If your Olympia truly achieves ~87% in practice, the CO₂ per delivered-kWh drops slightly, to ~0.43–0.45 kg/kWh, but it remains two orders of magnitude above the heat pump on Sweden’s grid.)
Emissions per 1 kWh of delivered heat
(Formula for heat pump: grid-intensity ÷ COP)
• Heat pump (Panasonic CU/CS-CZ25WKE)
o Nominal (+7 °C): ~3.9 g CO₂/kWh-heat = 18 ÷ 4.66. 47fd78488d.clvaw-cdnwnd.com+1
o Seasonal (SCOP 4.3): ~4.2 g CO₂/kWh-heat = 18 ÷ 4.3. 47fd78488d.clvaw-cdnwnd.com+1
o Cold (–7 °C, COP 2.54): ~7.1 g CO₂/kWh-heat = 18 ÷ 2.54. 47fd78488d.clvaw-cdnwnd.com+1
• Wood stove (MBS Olympia, seasoned logs)
o Typical real-world figure from stoichiometry + delivered-heat math: ~500 g CO₂/kWh-heat (biogenic CO₂). With higher in-room efficiency (e.g., the 87% figure), this can improve to roughly 430–450 g CO₂/kWh-heat, but it’s still vastly higher than the heat pump on Swedish electricity. woodstoves.net+1
Note on accounting: wood CO₂ is often reported as biogenic and counted as 0 in some inventories, but the molecules still enter the atmosphere at combustion; the “carbon-neutral” claim depends on sustainable regrowth over time.
What if you weren’t on Sweden’s ultra-clean grid?
Even with a dirtier electricity mix, heat pumps stay low per kWh-heat because of the COP multiplier:
• Using the EU residual mix ~452 g CO₂/kWh (2024) as a stress test → ~105 g CO₂/kWh-heat at SCOP 4.3 — still ~4–5× lower than the wood stove. aib-net.org
Particulate matter (PM) & local air quality (brief)
• Heat pump: essentially no on-site PM.
• Wood stove: even modern designs emit fine particulates (PM₂.₅); RWC (residential wood combustion) is a major PM source in Nordic countries, with documented health impacts. Exact g/kWh varies by stove, fuel, and use, but the qualitative gap versus a heat pump is very large. ACP+1
Bottom line (Sweden case)
Per unit of useful heat in the room, your Panasonic air-source heat pump emits on the order of ~4–7 g CO₂/kWh-heat depending on conditions, while the MBS Olympia wood stove lands around ~430–500 g CO₂/kWh-heat (biogenic). That’s roughly two orders of magnitude difference in Sweden’s grid context. discountstoves.net+347fd78488d.clvaw-cdnwnd.com+3nowtricity.com+3
.